This is the section where we will stay up to date on Thomas Troy's renovation progress at the Castlewoods residence.  To see Thomas Troy's last product, click here.  

CASTLEWOOD IS COMPLETE!  Have a look at this quick photo essay: 

 

 

 

Final cleaning and staging in progress.  First open house for real estate brokers will be on 9/14 10-2, followed by Twilight champagne viewing 7-9PM.  Open house events for the public:  Sat/Sun 9/18-19 1-5PM.

Wow, what a difference.  The hardwood flooring has been stained, bedroom carpets are in.  The kitchen appliances are in, cabinets are nearing completion with their custom stain and knobs.  All bathroom lighting is in. 

This last week was chock full of progress!  The Oak hardwood flooring was installed and will be finished later with a custom TTW-mixed blend of stains. 

Try as he might to find a color for this house, TTW kept it simple and classic with museum white throughout the inside and out of this home.  The custom kitchen cabinetry was installed this week.  There is some fine-tuning to be done before final staining, but they are looking good. 

The new driveway was poured.  A special eco-friendly product was sprayed on the wet concrete to remove the top layer so that the concrete exposes some of the aggregate mix.  It looks great! 

The rain gutters were installed as well.  Interior and exterior painting continues.  

This week marked the completion of framing and hand plastering the interior of the residence and the beginning of exterior landscaping.  Carolina trees now provide privacy and a soft entrance to this linear contemporary classic.  The repurposed/recycled aggregate pads are installed in the back yard,  exterior plastering gets completed, and the hardwood flooring gets acclimated to its new home.   You can also see the Rio gravel mix ready for spreading.  Each and every step of this renovation is carefully and thoughtfully considered and performed.   

As the walls of this home were originally hand plastered, we couldn’t just patch with drywall and mud.  It wouldn’t look right.   The original ceilings have been re-plastered as well.  

As you can see in the photos above, Tom is working on the color scheme.
  

Week 5:  The kitchen received new glass doors that lead to a new courtyard/outdoor cooking area.  A wall was installed at the entry to the kitchen that will house a flat panel television. 

The garage has been dry-walled and painted.  It gives the garage a much more buttoned-up look. 

All new electrical, telephone, smoke detector and cable lines in each room.

All original cabinet/closet hardware removed, cleaned and nickel-plated. 

Week 4: 

We reconfigured the powder room and closet at the entry.  Now, there’s more of a natural transition/alcove/coat closet that leads to the powder room.  The jalousie window was replaced with a fixed pane of glass.  The powder room awaits its custom cabinets and vessels.

In the master bedroom, new glass doors were installed that lead to the back yard and the closets have been reconfigured. The master bath received new windows as well.      

Week 3:

 We started out this week inspecting the cathedral ceiling in which we had to do from the top of the roof, we will do the attic space later.  This week also marked the replacement of all of the faschia.  All the rough framing is done and we are starting the electrical, phone, cable, and internet.   

We have decided to recycle the old concrete and aggregate walkways and patios by cutting them into 2 foot by 3 foot pieces that will be used for the new walk ways.
The rough plumbing is in and we should be ready for rough inspection early next week.
Tomorrow we start removing and replacing exterior doors and windows.
all kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliance have been ordered which should be here in about 4 weeks.  We have to finalize the cabinetry and then we’ll be good to go.

All of the interior doors have arrived.  They are beautiful glass doors that will be painted to match the rest of the residence.  The kitchen appliances have been ordered.  The entire kitchen will be Viking.  All of the cabinetry throughout the entire residence will be custom made and unique to this residence. 

Week 2:
Monday the roofers tear off the two old roofs, we inspect the deck all looks good and we’re ready for the new roof material but first we have to replace the fascia so that is on Wednesday......we'll just dry it in and do all of the repair....

Also, Boston Brick and Stone start the renovation of the fireplace. We have to reline the flue cap, the top and tuck point the exterior, should be done tomorrow.

The sewer has been repaired and is flowing well.
Tuesday we get city Inspection and all is good, tomorrow we start framing.

Day three: We are having the sewer line pressure cleaned and find that there is a break in the pipe so we are preparing to dig up the drive and locate the problem. Will let you know how it turns out. Maybe even an online exclusive video of the inside of the sewer!

Day two: Elissa and Tom from Scrafano Architects stop by with the final plans and to hang their sign.  

Day one: We got the dumpster and started to remove the kitchen. At first I thought it was too big but after day three I see I was wrong. We have the kitchen completely removed and are ready for a small amount of reframing and rough electrical.

5/19/10 It has begun

Tom's first thoughts: 

TTW:  When I saw the picture on the Realtor web site and read the description of a 1961 Mid-Century Residence that had never been on the market before, totally original and owned by the same owner since it was built, I knew I was going to love it. Upon driving up I knew I was right. There it was, in need of love, a great big rambling Mid-Century California

Ranch with walls of glass, views of the valley below, soaring ceilings, big open rooms, original baths and kitchen waiting for someone to wipe away the years of neglect.

When we arrived to the first showing which was an open house there was a buzz going on with all the people that were there interested in this property. They were all talking about gutting the house and reshaping its bones.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing! They want to destroy this gem! That's when I knew I had to have it for my next product.

This will be my attempt at restoring this great house, trying to keep its original character, while adding today’s modern conveniences.

So here we go.......Bring on the hammers.......