Who does not love French Renaissance Revival Architecture? Maybe my dad. All kidding aside, I have always been fascinated by architecture. In particular, the opulent mansions of the robber baron era. From the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, to the shores of Newport, Rhode Island, these structures are a reminder of the innovations in modern construction that were taking place at that time while also acknowledging the master builders from centuries ago.
Architecture: My passion for Art and Science
While I may not have had a chance to work on these mansions yet, I did have a unique opportunity to work alongside my dad in a yearlong renovation of his 1929 family home in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Through many long hours and lots of creativity, we finished the project. The goal was to transform all of the bathrooms and open up spaces to allow the beautiful natural light to stand out. We were working with a minimal budget, so we had to get creative in how he approached each job. My dad enlisted me as the person responsible for finding deals on Facebook Marketplace for construction materials that were leftover from other jobs. Often times getting materials 80% less than if we shopped at one of the big box stores. In particular, I was most proud of the main bathroom, which consisted of reframing the shower and a heated Carrara marble floor
Renovation of 3912
One of the biggest lessons I learned from this project came after working on repairing a plaster ceiling. What I did not realize was that back 100 years ago they used economical calcimine-based paint. Because of its chalky residue, other paints didn't adhere well to it. Over time, the weight of numerous coats of paint applied over the years could cause the buildup to tear away from the plaster. And it did.
