Watching HGTV home remodeling shows can bring about excitement if you are a new homeowner, but eventually the reality of renovation will sink in.
There are many questions you will likely ask yourself: Where do I start? How is my renovation feasible? How long will it take to complete?
You may worry about limitations for your project, especially if you live in one of St. Louis’s historic neighborhoods like Kirkwood.
However, the skilled team at Agape Construction can make all your renovation dreams a reality regardless of the age of your home. The process can seem intimidating at first, but our talented designers, architects, carpenters and builders can take care of all your questions by offering in-depth explanations for each step of the project.
Here is a great example of a historic renovation Agape tackled a couple years ago that we are still proud to show off.
Historic Kirkwood Tudor Renovation
In 2016, Agape had the honor of working with Homeowners Paul & Chris Ziegler, who owned a historic home in the Kirkwood neighborhood. They sought to use their original 1936 house as a starting point to create a home that, as Paul put it, “combines old house charm with modern amenities.”
They wanted to seamlessly blend elements of the classic Tudor style throughout the new additions that added over 1,500 square feet to their home.
Home Before Addition: 2452 sq. ft.
After Addition: 4173 sq. ft.
Sustainably repurposing the original and beautiful round top wooden front door and original stones, the new square footage was also built using matching brick.
Agape Master Carpenter Chris Gagnon, whose superb craftsmanship shines throughout the home, crafted a new custom wood storm door that tucks into the entryway like it’s been there forever.
New Master Suite
The new master suite features a custom bench and bookcase nook. It is truly a bookworm’s dream!
Kitchen Expansion and Renovations
A new island and new utilities were included as part of the kitchen renovations Agape completed. Our Selections team helped the Zieglers’ pick out elegant chandeliers and new kitchen fixtures to add a modern touch to their historic home.
Agape also opened up the kitchen area and created a new breakfast nook and wet bar.
Lovely New Family Room Features Custom Wood Trusses
Part of the interior renovations included opening up the living space so that the kitchen area flowed seamlessly into the family room. Agape’s handiwork is very evident in the expanded step-down family room.
It features a soaring vaulted ceiling with custom made decorative wood trusses, which beautifully accentuate the majestic stone fireplace in true Tudor style.
While a modern open-floor plan often looks minimalist, the custom wood trusses, stone and other Tudor elements keep the den cozy and comfortable.
Mudroom & Three Car Garage
The Zieglers’ wanted expanded storage and recreation areas. The new mudroom features custom cubbies and a small planning desk.
Paul considers his new three-car garage with a special epoxy floor coating as another favorite part of the historic Kirkwood home renovation.
“The garage is great for kids to play hockey, darts, etc.,” Paul said. “Whenever we host large parties, we just move the cars out! Recently we hosted a party for new school families that had 160 people in attendance!”
[Editor’s note: This was in 2016, in the days before social distancing. However, we bet that the Zieglers’ outdoor space allows for some fantastic socially distanced gatherings!]
Screened-In Porch with Fireplace
Keeping true to the historic home’s Tudor style, the outdoor fireplace is also built from stone.
The screened-in patio also has a fan, so this porch can be used by the family in both the summer and winter.
Historic Homeowner Satisfied with Award-Winning Project
Agape was nominated and won the 2016 Home Builder’s Association of St. Louis Homer Award for this historic Kirkwood renovation. Paul and Chris Ziegler couldn’t be happier with the finished product!
“Chris Gagnon was great at designing custom wood pieces that fit in beautifully with the historic elements of our home. Everywhere you turn in this house, details really make the difference. Thanks to Laurie Smith and the Agape team, the house is custom, well-built and has the open floor plan we dreamed of. Our family makes use of all of it. This summer, we spent many evenings laughing, talking and eating dinner together on the screened-in porch.”
-Chris & Paul Ziegler, Kirkwood Homeowners
