Shadyside Parlor Restoration

When an 1800s parlor needs updating, you don't strip the character—you restore it. Dual sinks, modern plumbing, period-appropriate cabinetry, all built to code. This is what happens when you don't shy away from what's inside the walls.

Close-tolerance mockup before final installation. This wet bar required evaluating which original paneling could be preserved and what needed replacement to meet current code. The kind of detail work that separates a project from a renovation.

The original parlor doors' frames were structurally sound but replacement raised panels were machined and installed. all original woodwork was stripped down an repaired to original geometry and surface fairness.

This is what happens when an older home's walls get the right attention: rough mechanical, thermal, and electrical upgrades sequenced before finish carpentry. Our crew handles the hidden complexity so the fine work can be right.

Several closets required individual spray painting to assure perfect furniture grade finish. Lacquer primer shown here in the white color.

The small closet is now shown after the final Limoges Blue soft gloss lacquer applied. This closet was ultimately an electronic equipment bay so it required a vertical row of power and network outlets. The shelf niche to the left shows newly installed maple faced plywood rear panel which will be painted in a later stage.

The oval routed shapes you don't see are what make a door hang right for decades. This is the kind of precision joinery that separates finished work from lasting work — every angle matters when hardware is concealed.

Another view of the detail work.

Electrical rough-in done right. Every junction box cutout positioned and installed to current code before drywall closure—the kind of prep work that separates built-to-last from built-to-pass inspection.

Multiple closets shown after installation of Limoges Blue lacquer finish, with white electrical outlets and junction boxes visible on the rear panels. Each compartment required individual spray application to achieve the furniture grade finish across the varying wall configurations.

Built-to-code electrical installation in custom closet framing. Every outlet, junction box, and mounting point accounted for before drywall closure—the kind of rough-in work that prevents callbacks and code violations down the line.

The details that hold it together. Precision-drilled support rails and code-compliant mounting — built to last and designed to carry real weight without compromise.

Structural precision starts before the doors close. Every drilled hole, every finish detail is engineered for the work that comes next—because we don't leave anything to chance.

When the risk to irreplaceable stonework is too high to replace, restoration becomes the only honest choice. We spent the time to repair this original paneling—checking and all—rather than risk the carved mantle. The result: flawless character preservation.

This soffit rebuild required hand-finishing on linen-covered plaster and multi-piece crown molding sequencing to match the original ceiling line. The kind of detail work that separates a restored home from a generic remodel.

Authentic restoration starts with understanding what was there. This detail shows the patchwork and hand-scraping required to preserve original finishes—no shortcuts, no machine sanders—before primer and final finish. The kind of work most crews avoid. We don't.

Every nail hole filled, sanded, and primed before the final coat. This is the kind of detail work that separates a renovation that lasts from one that shows its shortcuts.

Detail of the original wood paneling and crown molding junction at the parlor ceiling soffit edge, showing the multi-piece trim assembly with the reddish vegetable stain and shellac finish requiring complete removal and refinishing to restore the original appearance.

This is what precision looks like. Original wood paneling requires hand-finishing at every soffit, header, and reveal to match the grain and character of the rest of the room. It's not something you can rush.

These panels are ready for spraying primer. Careful systematic sectioning of the various areas to avoid overspray contamination. Lacquer is fast-drying and spray painting on site is tricky. Cross draft condition is required to ventilate the organic compounds that are a hazardous component of lacquers. Lacquer has a fast-drying property, so we needed to contain overspray and painting in stages was the only way to avoid it.

This is what systematic execution looks like. Every surface protected, containment staged, application sequence dialed in before the first spray gun fires. The kind of preparation that separates character-appropriate finish work from quick fixes.

Parlor paneling and soffit assembly enclosed with protective plastic sheeting and masking to contain spray overspray during lacquer application and systematic sectioning of the finish work across individual panels.

The unglamorous work that separates lasting finishes from shortcuts. Lacquer undercoat provides the adhesion and self-leveling properties that keep doors operating smoothly for decades. This is the kind of detail most crews skip—we don't.

Surface preparation is where the finished work begins. We sand every primer coat to uniform texture—this is the difference between a job that lasts and one that doesn't. It's the step most crews skip. We don't.

This is the first (ground) coat of lacquer paint. Depending on the quality of the primer surface, this coat could be very smooth but ultimately a second application is required with sanding in between each coat. This ensures a flawless finish and a thicker buildup of the topcoat for durability.

Contained and sealed. When the fireplace comes out, the rest of the house stays clean. This is how we protect the work and respect the space.

Quartzite protected during final paint. Custom cabinetry framing the wet bar space—sequencing the finish work to preserve materials and maintain installation quality from start to handoff.

When the space doesn't fit standard cabinets, we build custom. This wet bar required hand-fabricated units on a raised platform—every detail integrated to look like it belongs in the house, not retrofitted into it. This is the kind of problem most contractors avoid.

Final assembled wet bar cabinet run built to spec with integrated Scottsman ice maker, True beverage cooler and kegerator, and Blanco sink—the kind of precision integration other crews skip over. Built right means it works right.

High-end beverage refrigeration integrated into custom cabinetry with purpose-built ventilation—the kind of thoughtful mechanical planning that separates built-to-last kitchens from standard installs. This is what proper equipment integration looks like.

The work isn't done when the cabinet closes. We install every appliance—even the ones nobody sees—to the same standard we'd want in our own kitchen. Built to last, built to code, and built to work without surprises.

Proper under-sink rough-in isn't just about connections — it's about knowing the code, spacing the P-trap for accessibility, and leaving room to work when it matters. This is how a sink install that lasts gets built.

This is the level of detail that separates built-to-last from built-to-flip. Dovetail joinery, Blum undermount hardware, and hand-fitted drawers that'll operate smoothly for decades. The kind of work that doesn't photograph well but feels right every time you reach for it.

The prep work is done. New panels installed, protective masking in place, and this wall is ready for finish. This is what execution looks like when someone knows what they're doing from start to finish.

We stage material choices on-site so you see exactly how your cabinet restoration will look before final installation. This is how we eliminate surprises—three generations of wood, three different finishes, one integrated result.

That transom detail is what separates work that belongs in the house from work that just happens to be in it. When you're matching the character of a pre-1950 home, every piece of trim, every light arrangement, every finish has to read right—not just function correctly. This is the kind of work that takes institutional knowledge and a crew trained to see the difference.

Before the final finish coat goes on, containment and protection are non-negotiable. This is how we maintain installation quality and protect the surrounding spaces during precision spray work on custom cabinetry.

This century-old window sash was completely stripped, refinished with furniture-grade lacquer, fitted with new glass, and returned to its original built-in position—requiring full wall disassembly and installation executed to standards that honor both the original craftsmanship and current code.

Every component matters. This restored double-hung sash — from the original brass hardware to the authentic glazing and hand-fitted frame — represents the kind of character-appropriate work that transforms a house into a home. Built to current code. Built to last.

This parlor is what happens when a crew knows how to finish a historic room without erasing its character. Custom lacquer cabinetry, original fireplace detail, and shelving that looks like it was built for this house—because it was done right.

This historic parlor was finished to current code without losing a single character detail. Custom cabinetry, hand-finished in Limoges Blue lacquer, tempered glass shelving, and restored stone work — the kind of outcome that happens when a crew knows exactly what they're doing in an old house.