1886 Italianate Complete Whole House Restoration - Lincoln Park - Chicago

1880's Whole House Remodel. A basic gut job down to the brick. I myself fully restored the black walnut stair and railing, found an old newel post from a salvage company in Chicago. The post was originally installed in a railing of the opposite hand but I was able to refit it into the railing. I stripped and refinished all the woodwork. I built the front porch and fence from the foundations up. Fully restored the front bay and door, installed new Marvin Magnum Historic double-hungs throughout. I was truly impressed how the double hung windows were able to cut out the city noise. 

Street elevation facing west - Reconstruction of original stair - New wood railing in the spirit of the 1880's style - Stripping of paint at bay window, doors and cornice and repainting/staining per landmark district directives.


 
Original walnut staircase before and during restoration - original newel post was split in half and had to be cut out.

 
Stair case fully restored with a salvaged walnut and birdseye birch newel post.


 
Interior of living space during construction - floor and ceiling were totally out of level, required new sub structure and sheathing, required all new insulation, wall finish and a four piece trim to match the existing.

 
Restoration of original marble fireplace with replacement of cracked marble hearth. The four piece trim was reproduced in poplar because the original fir molding was not salvageable due to being too soft for removal and stripping. 

 
Finished work - view looking west