The remodeling of a 108-year old Central West End home is under way, and it continues to be an adventure in discovering some beautiful historic architectural details.

In December, we found the original pocket doors hidden in the walls.

And this week, as we were removing the drywall ceiling to repair some damage from the second floor bathroom leak, we uncovered the original coffered ceiling. We’re just as thrilled as the clients are!

Learn more about coffered ceilings.

We’re creating a master bedroom suite in the 2nd floor space above the ground floor living room, so it is important that we make the joists structurally sound. We can really dress up this room by bringing back the coffered ceiling and enhancing the look with a fresh coat of paint.

Original pieces that can be salvaged and restored will be used again. Our skilled carpenters will replicate the original beams that have been damaged over the years from a 2nd floor bathroom water leak.

This historical surprise adds an exciting and fun twist to the remodeling project, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this client’s good fortune as they enhance their home with their personal flair and style.

We are preparing to remodel the master suite and kitchen of a 108-year old home in the Central West End. During a pre-construction walk-thru, the owner made a comment that surely there was once pocket doors that closed off the front rooms from the entry hall.

Our estimator Tim (shown above) is a veteran carpenter who has worked on houses of all ages. He responded that people typically either remove the doors and stash them in a basement, attic or carriage house or they simply push the doors back into the wall and cover over them. Worst case scenario is the doors get pitched.

With that said, Tim pulled out a pry bar and popped off a piece of molding in the middle of the door frame and…

…sure enough, there was a pocket door! He had to jimmy and prod quite a bit, but was able to yank the door from its deep hiding place.

It appears that when the door came off the track, rather than repair it, they simply shoved the door out of sight and covered up the storage well. Because of this forethought from a previous owner, the door remains in excellent condition, hardware and all. Getting this beautiful pocket door back in working order has been added to the remodeling project, and it’s good to note when a pleasant surprise pops up!

We have just begun a new project in the Fountain Park neighborhood in North St. Louis city. The owners have lived in the stately, stone-faced house (built in 1893) for 30 years. Over the years, two 2^nd floor rooms were converted into a large master bedroom with a makeshift closet. Now, the owners are treating themselves to an official master suite. The space will be stripped down to the brick walls and studs, and new flooring, walling and bay windows will go in. It promises to be a dramatic and gratifying transformation.

It’s also exciting to be in this historic neighborhood. Fountain Park (the fountain is shown above) was first plotted in 1857, and landscaped by the City of St. Louis in the 1890s, which is also when most of the homes surrounding it were built.

This old postcard below shows a Fountain Park church just down the street from our project site:

The church was erected in 1895, and the original congregation was a merging of the Third Church with the Aubert Place Church. The Centennial Christian Church occupies it today.

And it’s this type of history in such a picturesque setting that makes this such an exciting project. Mosby gets to combine modern design and amenities with historic restoration sensitivities. Plus, after 30 years, the homeowners have decided that they – and their home – deserved a gorgeous new space. It’s all about living right!