Category Archives: Historic

Carpentry, Countertops, Custom, Flooring Installation, Historic, Home Remodeling, Kitchen cabinets, Kitchen Remodel, remodel, tile, Tiling, vinyl window

Historic Beverly, Chicago Kitchen Remodel

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Francis Bryan Remodeling was excited to work with this Beverly area family to update their well lived, well loved, historic Murray D. Hetherington designed home and create the open kitchen, dining room and living room of their dreams.

The homeowners enjoy gathering family and friends and their desire was to open up their small cramped kitchen to the formal dining and living room and install a new kitchen that flowed beautifully with the dining and living room areas.

The homeowners wanted a new stylish yet classic, state of the art kitchen flowing seamlessly into the dining room including a beautiful new lighted pantry and integrating an island that connected the three spaces with additional seating for family and friends. The homeowners wanted to retain the historic nature of their home while selecting finishes, fixtures, tile and cabinetry that put their own personal stamp and unique style on the new space.

FBR enjoyed working with these clients to make their dreams come true and not just meet but exceed their expectations. The result is a beautiful, stylish yet classic, open, efficient and bright kitchen, dining room and living room combination. FBR appreciates that the homeowners trusted them to bring their vision into reality.

This family and project epitomize the message behind our logo, “Your home is your castle and where your heart is, we honor that in all we do”.

View the photos below and find out about the historic arch that was discovered in the process. See the beautiful result.

After kitchen — View of the new beautiful kitchen through to the new arched rear entrance from the back hall. FBR installed a new heating unit under the sink tied to the existing hot water heating system. The kitchen window is new and finished to match the existing historic windows in the home.

Kitchen after — The new kitchen including the quartz counter tops and island

New Kitchen — The new kitchen island overlooking the living room

After photo kitchen and dining roon — View from the far end of the kitchen through to the dining room

After photo of the dining area. — View from the living room in to the new dining room area

Wall to be opened up between the living room and dining room

bathroom, Bathroom Gut Remodel, Carpentry, Carpentry Work, Countertops, Custom, Flooring Installation, Historic, Home Remodeling, Kitchen cabinets, Kitchen Remodel, painting, plumbing, remodel, tile, Tiling

Historic Hyde Park Coach House Remodel

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Francis Bryan Remodeling, (FBR) enjoyed working with these homeowners again on their latest project, their own home in beautiful Hyde Park.

This historic coach house was converted into a single family home many years ago. The homeowners chose to remodel their home and update the systems while still retaining a historic look and feel.

FBR specializes in remodeling beautiful historic homes. This project was a labor of love for the family and FBR was happy to work with them to modernize and restyle their dream home. Enjoy viewing the gorgeous result as well as a few before photos which show the historic nature of the project.

FBR worked with a custom cabinet maker and the owners designer to complete the installation of the custom fireplace and surround to match the cabinetry in the new kitchen.

An interesting “before” photo of the fireplace. See the ancient tile.

Another view from the fireplace through to the new French doors under original refurbished historic transom panels above.

Beautiful new, weather proof French doors with historic style hardware were installed in the living and dining room area.

Drafty, old doors were removed. Remaining historic glass transom panels were refurbished to match the new doors.

The overhead beams, which were once white, were restyled to match the living room/dining room and kitchen floors. The kitchen flooring was removed, wood that matched the species, Douglas Fir, and grain of the original floors was sourced and installed and all floors were sanded, stained and finished to match the beams through out the home.

New flooring in the kitchen prior to stripping, staining and finishing of all floors.

Beautiful new custom kitchen with custom cabinetry, stone backsplash, and copper farmhouse sink. A few special touches include the custom made back door with glass panels inserted into the original door. The wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed to open up the area and hardwood floors were installed, stained and finished to match the rest of the first floor living area.

Beautiful copper farmhouse sink and classic faucet and a view of the new kitchen through to the back door entrance.
An interesting “before”. Part of the wall is still up. The new floor is not installed yet. The back door has not been re-styled. The overhead beams have not been converted.
Hang in there it will all be worth it!

FBR truly enjoyed working with the designer and homeowner to redesign this multi-purpose first floor 3/4 bath and laundry room. The client and designer selected the unique tile, shower enclosure and custom designed and painted cabinetry for the laundry. FBR worked closely with the designer and cabinet maker to install and insure this beautiful result.
Beautiful, historic and unique. What is not to love!

This interesting and historic tile was found as the bath/laundry room were being gutted.

FBR worked with the homeowner to insure the floors through out the first floor were stained the exact color that they preferred. These are the important details that go into every FBR project.

From start to glorious completion this project was a labor of love for the family and epitomizes the FBR motto,
“Your home is your castle- and where your heart is- we keep that in mind in all we do.”

Carpentry, Carpentry Work, Countertops, Custom, Flooring Installation, Historic, Home Remodeling, Kitchen cabinets, Kitchen Remodel, paint, painting, remodel, tile, Tiling

FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING and a historic Chicago bungalow kitchen

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FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING enjoyed working with these Beverly area homeowners in the remodel of their historic Chicago style bungalow kitchen. The owners chose to keep their beautiful historic sink and traditional layout and FBR was happy to work with them. A custom made cabinet surround was created under the sink to allow for heat from the radiator below to escape. The sink was refurbished and turned out beautifully. Finish with a beautiful fresh coat of paint and bright white trim. Finally, the homeowners selected period finishes and light fixtures for a beautiful historic and updated look. What a beautiful sink and kitchen!

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Morgan Park area of Chicago – Bathroom, Gut Remodel

Francis Bryan

Enjoy viewing the complete gut- bathroom-remodel in this historic home in the Morgan Park area of Chicago. The clients chose to remove the tub and install a walk-in shower as well as custom-shelving installed in its place. FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING was happy to accommodate. The clients also asked to have the original door converted into a pocket-door in order to save on space. The new pocket-door looks great! This second floor gut remodel included new copper plumbing and electrical runs through to the basement. A new energy efficient, opaque window was installed as well as all new fixtures through out. The clients chose a beautiful large format ceramic tile combined with a colorful mosaic tile for the walk-in shower. To complete the new bath a European radiator/towel holder was custom installed. This bathroom is not only stylish but it is warm and cozy as well. The owners love to enjoy warm towels after a shower!

Below are some work in progress photos to view.

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Custom Carpentry at it’s Best! Custom Built Mudrooom Closets and More..

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FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING worked with these homeowners to design, build, install and finish these custom coat cubicles or “cubbies”. The once cluttered slightly narrow hallway is now a vision of organization and style! The owners of this historic Beverly home are thrilled with their new custom designed mudroom, “cubbies”. Now shoes, coats, gloves and hats all have a place, with cabinet space above for extra storage.

FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING also stripped, stained and finished the hardwood floor, patched, plastered and painted the stairwell and hall in classic colors selected by the client, installed new shelving in the upstairs bathroom linen closet and…an exterior vented fan/light in the bathroom ceiling as well as patched some historic tile.

Why work with several contractors when all you need is one, FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING!

FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING will help you design and build a custom cabinet, bookcase, shelf system or fireplace surround that you will enjoy for many years to come!

See the before photo of the hallway and the custom work in progress below:

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FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING Remodels a Historic Beverly Powder Room

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Watch as the FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING remodels a small cramped powder room and creates a bright stylish, custom designed powder room that you would be proud to have guests use!

This powder room now includes Carrera and black marble basket weave pattern floor tile. Carrara marble base boards, custom made, wall mounted, Carrara warble sink top and back splash with under mount stainless bowl. Capped off with stainless Grohe faucet and accessories. highlighted by an ebony wood medicine chest and unique Moroccan star light fixture.

Carpentry Work, Countertops, Custom, Flooring Installation, Historic, Home Remodeling, Kitchen cabinets, Kitchen Remodel, paint, painting, remodel, tile, Tiling

FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING can work with you to update your outdated kitchen!

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See the BEFORE and AFTER photos of this historic Beverly, Chicago home. These homeowners updated their eat in kitchen without replacing the existing cabinets or changing the configuration. The end result is a beautiful classic/contemporary kitchen for less than half the cost of a new kitchen.

Yes, the top 3 photos are the “BEFORE”. The kitchen was not a disaster by any means, but it was dated, and not in the style, that the homeowners preferred. The homeowners wanted a contemporary look with traditional elements and that is exactly what they achieved!

BEFORE****BEFORE****BEFORE****BEFORE****BEFORE

WHAT WAS DONE TO TRANSFORM THIS KITCHEN/EAT IN AREA:
Moved the cabinets up the wall a few inches to the ceiling, added crown molding.
Had a custom “L” shaped storage bench installed around the eat in dining area.
Painted all of the cabinets, cabinet boxes and trim a bright white.
Painted the walls a beautiful light neutral color.
Installed absolute black “honed” granite counter tops.
Installed black and white checkerboard porcelain 12 x 12 tiles.
Installed new classic hardware on the cabinets.
Installed new vintage style light fixtures.
Removed the old appliances and replaced with top of the line stainless steel.
Replaced the over the range microwave with an industrial ventilation hood.

AFTER **** AFTER **** AFTER **** AFTER **** AFTER

If you would like to update your kitchen, bath or any area of your home, without spending a small fortune, contact FRANCIS BRYAN REMODELING and we will work with you, your ideas and your budget!

Chicago area home remodeling experts