Drywall , hardwood floors, doors, trim, and tile have all been installed.  Paint colors are going up on the exterior and samples have been applied to the interior walls.  Barn doors are being designed and created for the master bedroom.  The screened porch is being trimmed out this week.  Millwork  for the family room is also starting this week.  As more interior finishes are being installed, one can see the final design begin to take shape and the  owner’s excitement begins to build.

A cool discovery was made last week when the contractor’s crew demoed the existing hearth that had been built during the 90’s. Under the flooring around the now exposed hearth, you can clearly see where the original wall was for the living room and the indications of a fireplace that served four rooms which is common for the 1915 floor plan. Sometime during the 90’s the dividing wall was removed between the living area and the dining room to create a wide open space. In doing this, they removed two sides of the 4 sided fireplace. In their place, they created one large wood burning fireplace to accommodate the large living area. It is truly amazing the things that you find through out a renovation project of an older home.

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Check out Pell St Studio’s 315 Pell St page for the history and design story of this house. More construction photos and materials palettes for particular rooms have been added to the page as well as renderings.

Pell St Studio’s second renovation to 317 Pell St is in its final stages. The expansion of the kitchen into the sunroom created a much more open kitchen full of light and added another layer of functionality that was missing before. The kitchen floors are a remilled pine that blends with the existing floor through out the house. The bamboo base cabinets and island warm the kitchen up and are paired with a cool gray paint color and a carrara marble tile backsplash that runs all the way to the ceiling. The leathered charcoal gray counter top unifies the two color schemes and creates a very natural feeling aesthetic. White lacquered upper cabs will finish out the kitchen and are in the process of being installed. The washer and dryer have been concealed in a bamboo cabinet with a piano hinged top for top load access. We have to make every space count in these quaint bungalows.

More photos to come soon.

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Construction on 317 Pell Street’s new kitchen is in it’s final stages. Paint and stain are drying. The island is being put into place along with the last few upper cabs. The new sleek materials add the finishing touches to this charming house which went through a significant renovation just two years ago. The kitchen was the final room to be revitalized. But what about…Final photos to come soon.

The house with the bunny who greets visitors on the porch will start construction soon on their new kitchen. This house’s family needs more storage and a classic update to the kitchen as soon as possible. Functionality and simple line aesthetic were the main goals. Demo to start soon. Check back soon for photos. Project to be completed by mid to late August.

After several set backs – spring showers, existing pier cave-ins, and terrible soil – 315 Pell Street’s addition is coming out of the ground. The soil in the back half of the property was found to be primarily clay and silt that had been continuously filled over almost a century. An old creek bed is the likely culprit. Helical piers were brought in to stabilize the new addition. If you have never seen these put in before, its a cool process – not cheap but cool. Sixteen of them were drilled into the ground at varying depths until good soil and the correct psi was achieved. The depths varied between 21′ and 30′. These piers will structurally stabilize the addition permanently so the connection between the new and existing becomes important in terms of flexibility because the existing structure will continue to move. A web of rebar is created to bridge between each pier all around the perimeter of the addition. Wood form work is built around the rebar creating a continuous grade beam once the concrete is poured. Gravel is then added to help drainage around the grade beam, footings and under the concrete slab for the basement which will be poured tomorrow. The block wall and water proofing has begun as well.

Helical piers are becoming more prevalent in poor soil conditions in this area.

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Jokisch Construction has started demolition on 315 Pell St. All plants have been transplanted to a neighboring yard for the duration of the project. Siding and insulation has been removed from the rear elevations of the existing house. As demo begins, Material selections are being finalized for the interior. Cabinets, millwork, tile, counter tops, appliances, paint colors, and plumbing fixtures are being reviewed and ordered. Check out the new kitchen and family room renderings below and the material selections for several of the bathrooms.

Spring fever has hit! We are proud to announce several new projects have started this month. Kitchens, covered decks, screened porches, and additions oh my! Check back with us soon as we update our pages to include these exciting new projects.

Saturday night the new look for 305 Taylor was unveiled to friends, coworkers and neighbors. The glow of the exterior lights reflecting from the beautifully restored historic tin ceiling welcomed guests as they walked up the new gravel path. The new open interior easily accommodated the numerous party goers. The kitchen twinkled with light reflecting off the wall of penny rounds and a luminescent glow emitted from the display cabinets in the dining room all giving a sense of warmth and welcome. The revelers ended the night promising to return soon for an evening on the screened porch.

A significant two story addition for 315 Pell St was approved Monday Feb 6th at this month’s COA hearing. In Historic Oakwood and other historic districts in Wake County, home owners have to seek approval from the RHDC and the COA committee. Existing plans, proposed plans, plot/site plans, existing elevations, proposed elevations, a written description of the project, architectural details, photos of existing, and examples of other similar additions in the neighborhood were submitted. The verdict was unanimous.

Submission drawings and other info found under the 315 Pell St tab.