Blog

Renovations and additions to this ca. 1890 barge board side-gable cottage in Gretna’s McDonoghville Historic District are approaching completion. 20^thcentury modifications, including low –ceilinged additions at the rear and a concrete slab front porch with dropped soffit were removed, as were the asbestos shingle roof and siding.

Removal of dropped ceilings and layers of vinyl tile flooring revealed original t&g wood ceilings and heart pine flooring, which have been restored. Aluminum windows were removed throughout and replaced with aluminum clad wood double-hung windows. Custom-designed french doors with period-appropriate detailing and new wood windows have been installed at the front façade. The front porch was re-built with period-appropriate details. A new bedroom and porch were added at the rear beneath a new cross-gable roof, maintaining the original eleven foot ceiling height throughout. The original four-square floor plan was modified to create open-plan entertaining space on one side of the center wall, with bedrooms, bath and utility spaces on the other side.

Renovation of ca. 1920 Neoclassical home on Ursulines Avenue as a single family residence is moving into finishing stages. Partitions that divided this house into four rental units have been removed and the original stair is being restored, along with original plaster cornices and cypress millwork. Ludovici French terra cotta tile roof has been restored, with a custom copper gutter installed to match original. New porches have been created at the first and second stories under an existing roof at the rear of the house, and a one-story addition demolished to create space for backyard entertaining. The first floor rear porch opens off of an expansive open plan kitchen/entertaining area, and the second floor porch will be accessed directly from the Master Suite. Anticipated completion: end of 2015.