JOLLY POST PRESERVED: HONORING THE CHARACTER OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY

The Jolly Post Story: Part Three

When we last visited this project, drywall had not yet gone up. By month five, cabinets and countertops were being installed, trim was going in, and flooring was underway. For the first time in months, the finished rooms began to emerge.

This episode showcases the design decisions that maintained the home's character. These decisions were especially meaningful for the homeowner, as the goal was to preserve her childhood home.

Design Decisions

A project of this magnitude presents many choices. Some parts of the home were removed so the team could address damage and rebuild. Other pieces could be saved, but only if someone recognized their value during demolition and found a place for them later.

When demolition began at this century old Pendleton home, the plan was to install a new ceiling in the primary bedroom. In this instance, the team was able to salvage enough of the original beadboard to cover the ceiling. An old mantel and cast-iron grate from another bedroom also found a new home in the primary bedroom. Now, the bedroom carries pieces of the house’s past into its next chapter.

The team took the same approach in other areas of the home. Repurposed paneling became wainscoting in the dining area. In the great room, lumber from the original structure was reused to wrap a structural beam and build a mantel.

None of those materials had to be sourced elsewhere to make the home period appropriate. They were already here. Repurposing them gave the family something more personal than a reproduction: a familiar history, updated for the next 100 years.

Craftsman Character

Salvaged materials alone could not carry the character of an entire house. Once the walls were rebuilt, the team had to decide what the new details should look like.

They studied the trim that had been in the home and identified its Colonial Craftsman style. That became the guide for selecting and planning trim. It may sound like a small detail, but trim surrounds doors and windows and connects one room to the next. It’s noticeable if it feels out of place.

The aim was for visitors to recognize the home’s age and character, while enjoying the benefits of modernization. The old beadboard, paneling, mantels, and lumber complimented new cabinetry, flooring, and finishes in a unified design.

Rooms Realized

With any renovation project, you never know exactly what you’re dealing with until you open the walls. Early in the project, the team uncovered extensive termite damage and other unforeseen conditions. At the outset, the project was expected to take about 14 months, but after five months of careful scheduling and relatively few material delays, the team hoped to finish three months ahead of schedule.

There was still plenty of work ahead. But the change since month three was striking. As the home took shape, the clients could finally see the rooms they had imagined, along with the design details that defined the home's historic character.

Are you contemplating a major home renovation? Speak with a Daniel Builders project guide by calling 864.506.5546 and discuss the best path forward for your custom renovation or get your renovation started here!

Part One of this series introduces the overall vision for the project and captures the home during demolition. Part Two follows the team through the structural changes, showing how the house was stabilized, repaired, and expanded. Part Three shows how the design details came together to preserve this legacy property. Part Four showcases the final transformation of the property.

Watch episode one: Jolly Post Revealed (1 of 4).

Watch episode two: Jolly Post Renewed (2 of 4).

Watch episode three: Jolly Post Preserved (3 of 4).

Watch the stunning conclusion: Jolly Post Transformed (4 of 4).

Watch the client testimonal: Jolly Post Journey.