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Meet Ashley and Sarah Kendrick’s most challenging project to date – Harrison House!

This huge, nearly 5000 sq. ft. home near central Hyde Park was the definition of an “eyesore” when Ashley and Sarah first “met” it. The house, built in 1900, had suffered significant damage over the years, including damage from a massive first-floor fire that burned its way through the second and third floors and then on through the roof – resulting in an unwelcome portal to nature’s harshest elements and a convenient entry point for all manner of birds and wildlife seeking shelter from those elements. According to Ashley, “There was more missing from the house than there was left of it.”

Entire sections of floors were completely missing, the plumbing was unusable, the electrical wiring was in tatters, and broken windows lurked around every corner. Since there was little plaster or drywall remaining, remnants of two past conversions of the once stately mansion into multifamily use were visible. The oldest had been a conversion into five apartment units; the latter, a late-80s duplex conversion. Without drywall, the home’s once magnificent interior was now a skeleton maze of mystery studs, broken stair-steps, and dead-end hallway mysteries.

Ashley and Sarah walked away from the home that first day, but not for long. They couldn’t forget the house and kept thinking about its amazing potential. Eventually, they realized that they were the ones meant to save this home. It was a long journey, but today, two years later, the home is 100% renovated and has been returned to its former glory – with dozens of modern touches that have made the residence one to remember.

Before

The Kendrick’s goal was to preserve as many of the home’s original features as possible, but with the fire damage and the subsequent deterioration from the elements, this would be a tall order. The first step of the transformation was to rebuild its framework from the inside out – including new studs, joists, electrical wiring, and all new HVAC and plumbing. Aside from the exterior “skin” most all of the interior woodwork and fixtures were in shambles. Still many of the home’s more unique architectural features – such as its three stories of bay window alcoves – were able to be saved/reconstructed.

Converting the home from a duplex back to its origins as a single-family home allowed the first floor to be largely returned to its original floor plan The home’s entryway, formal kitchen, living room, and dining room areas were by and large returned to their original dimensions. However, wider entrances between those rooms opened up the space to provide better natural flow between the spaces and enhanced sight lines across the long front-to-back expanse of the first floor.  The identity of each room as a separate space was maintained while the new openness would allow guests at a larger gathering to still feel connected.

Several other architectural details throughout the house were revealed or enhanced as a tribute to the home’s 100+ year history. Although building codes were challenging, there are several areas where brick fireplace chases were uncovered and left exposed. And, on the expansive third floor – which was once a large ballroom – Sarah Kendrick was able to save the original hardwood flooring in two of the larger rooms facing the front of the house. Once they were sanded and stained, they came back to life in a big way with a beautiful, eye-catching shine.

One of the most striking rooms in the renovated home is the second-floor primary suite – particularly the en suite bathroom. The room boasts custom double vanity cabinetry, an all-new fully-tiled walk-in shower, luxury fixtures, and the pièce de resistance – a glorious soaker tub flooded with natural light from the large bay window that surrounds it. And, for those preferring a night soak, light is provided by a one-of-a-kind crystal-like pendant.

In addition to the spa-like en suite, another unforgettable space is the large first-floor kitchen. Beautiful blonde wood custom cabinets line the long walls here, juxtaposed by refreshing natural light from the room’s deep-set windows. Sarah Kendrick’s primary focus was to keep the original window openings and build out the rest of the kitchen around them. The kitchen also features a custom-crafted range hood and a substantial eat-in island and, again, keeping sightlines in mind, the entire room opens into the adjacent dining room. 

Despite the many obstacles (and, according to the Kendricks, a few new gray hairs!) that came along with this massive two-year renovation project, both Ashley and Sarah felt the look and feel of the finished project far exceeded their initial expectations. This amazing Hyde Park renovation was literally snatched from the grasp of forthcoming demolition by the city and the home now stands proudly beside the other beautiful historic homes that line this amazing block on Harrison Street.

Can’t wait to see more of this gorgeous home renovation? Watch the video below for a closer look at the home and an interview with Sarah and Ashley as they share more of the details in taking on this two-year labor-of-love restoration project!