McCamy Construction

2019 Renovation Brings Harmony To A 1919 Craftsman

Wednesday, May 29th, 2019

When Sequoyah homeowners bought a 1919 craftsman-style home with approximately 3,000 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 3½ baths 19 years ago, they knew they had serious work to do. “It was a money pit in the beginning,” the homeowner said, adding,”Everybody thought I was nuts for buying it, but I loved the property. It’s in a neighborhood, which I like, but the way it sits is very private.” Given the ideal location and property, the homeowners knew the home had promise.

However, the house hadn’t had any major remodeling or structural work done since the 1960’s. “Everything needed to be redone and updated,” the homeowner said. “Over the last 19 years, we’ve remodeled pretty much everything that we could. We also added a brand new 1,200 sq ft addition on the first floor two years ago with a master bedroom and bathroom suite that includes a big laundry room and a closet the size of Texas.”

The addition was designed by a friend to match the home’s craftsman style, but the homeowner felt that because it was so fresh and new the adjacent living and dining rooms stood out all the more as being old and mismatched. “The dining and living room area was the last part of the house that said, ‘I don’t fit,’” the homeowner said. “For several years, I thought about somehow opening up the two rooms into one big, usable space, but it took me a long time to really figure out what I wanted to do.” Last fall, the homeowners decided it was time to take the plunge and have the dining and living room space remodeled. They had noticed a McCamy Construction sign at a nearby neighbor’s house and were curious about their remodeling experience. “McCamy did a remodel inside and out of a split-level ranch near us,” the homeowner said. “They made what was a humdrum split ranch into a really cute home with a craftsman bend to it. I talked to the homeowner in his yard one day and he said they were really happy with McCamy’s work. I then talked with other Sequoyah homeowners who’d worked with McCamy, and they were also very pleased with their results. “We asked Grant to come out to take a look at the house, and we never looked back after meeting with him.” The homeowner said that it was clear from the beginning that it was very important to Grant and the project superintendent, Ben Davenport, to maintain the integrity of both the craftsman style and the age of the house. “Not everybody can take a house built in 1919 and remodel it right,” she says, adding, “That takes a lot of understanding of the architecture and what can be done well. Ben was our point person throughout the process, and he really cares. He was good at answering anything I asked and it helped that he was so attentive from start to finish.” After the remodel, she said, “They took a lot of wasted space and incorporated it into usable space. It has completely changed how we use the rooms. I once used the living room almost like a warehouse, as a place to pile light fixtures and materials when we were doing the master suite addition. I just shut the door and closed it off. But it’s a big room and had a lot of potential. Now it’s my office, and it’s so beautiful that I want to be in there. I just love it.” The living room space is near the master suite addition, and the dining area is adjacent to the kitchen, so it was crucial that all three areas flowed together well. “Making it all flow was mostly about the finishes,” the homeowner said. “The judges paneling all matched, and big crowns were carefully incorporated to make sure the spaces flowed easily.” The chimney in the living room also had to be rebuilt, which was unanticipated but became an opportunity to build it in a style that was more consistent with the master suite addition. “The renovation turned out better than I imagined,” the homeowner reflected, “and the difference is huge. The house all sings together now, as if it’s all in harmony.” And about that money pit that people once thought she was nuts to buy? She said, “Today I love every bit of the house, and people now think I was really smart to buy it. Our best decision was to trust McCamy with the transformation.” The team at McCamy Construction is inspired by creating custom solutions for each homeowner, whether for a renovation or construction of a new home. Take a look at some of our other projects on our website and blog, or follow us on Facebook to see updates on exciting projects we’re working on! Whatever your dream may be, we can build it. If you’re considering renovating or building a custom-designed home, we would love to meet with you. Schedule your consultation by filling out this form or give us a call at (865) 247-7068.