Historic Home Renovation

historic home renovation

Built in 1935 and fully restored to last another century. New dual-pane windows match the original historic grid pattern; original brick was repointed and cleaned by hand.

Built in 1935 and fully restored to last another century. New dual-pane windows match the original historic grid pattern; original brick was repointed and cleaned by hand.
historic home renovation interior

The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.

The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.
historic home renovation interior

A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

AWARD WINNER

2026 NARI of Greater Phoenix Remodeler of the Year – GOLD 

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and Over

Historic Home Renovation in Phoenix | 1935 Brick Residence Transformed

This one was a labor of love. Built in 1935, this brick beauty had lived many lives — and it showed. When a newly married couple came to us wanting to make it their own without losing what made it special, we knew we had something worth fighting for. They wanted modern comfort and accessibility, but they also wanted to honor the craftsmanship of the original 1930s build. That balance is exactly what drives us.

The result? A home that looks like it always belonged here — because it has.

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

historic home renovation interior

The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.

The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.
historic home remodel

After Photo | The den was rebuilt from the ground up — new walls, ceiling, and roof — then raised to match the dining room height. For the first time in its history, it’s fully conditioned and visually connected to the home.

After Photo | The den was rebuilt from the ground up — new walls, ceiling, and roof — then raised to match the dining room height. For the first time in its history, it’s fully conditioned and visually connected to the home.
historic home remodel

Before Photo | Bay windows deteriorating and in need of full reconstruction. Original dining room-to-den opening with outdated trim — inconsistent with the surrounding doorways.

Before Photo | Bay windows deteriorating and in need of full reconstruction. Original dining room-to-den opening with outdated trim — inconsistent with the surrounding doorways.
historic home renovation

After Photo | The bay windows were fully rebuilt to support the new windows, and the dining room-to-den opening was re-plastered to match the character of surrounding doorways. New lighting completes the transformation, enhancing the traditional warmth of the space.

After Photo | The bay windows were fully rebuilt to support the new windows, and the dining room-to-den opening was re-plastered to match the character of surrounding doorways. New lighting completes the transformation, enhancing the traditional warmth of the space.
historic home renovation kitchen

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.
historic home renovation Willo neighborhood, Phoenix AZ

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.
historic home renovation

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.

Before Photo | Low ceilings, dark cabinets, and a layout that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the home. The space had potential that simply needed to be unlocked.

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

After Photo | A confined galley footprint completely reimagined: peninsula seating, custom cabinetry to the new ceiling height, crown molding, and a garden window flooding the stove wall with natural light.

After Photo | Refreshed kitchen nook

After Photo | Refreshed kitchen nook

After Photo | The den was rebuilt from the ground up — new walls, ceiling, and roof — then raised to match the dining room height. For the first time in its history, it’s fully conditioned and visually connected to the home.

After Photo | The den was rebuilt from the ground up — new walls, ceiling, and roof — then raised to match the dining room height. For the first time in its history, it’s fully conditioned and visually connected to the home.

After Photo | Master Bedroom Calm, proportional, and grounded by restored hardwood floors. The master bedroom sets the tone for the rest of the home: quietly historic, effortlessly livable.

After Photo | Master Bedroom Calm, proportional, and grounded by restored hardwood floors. The master bedroom sets the tone for the rest of the home: quietly historic, effortlessly livable.

Before Photo | The original master bath, with a dated pink palette and a tub that needed to go. The footprint was reimagined entirely for accessibility and modern living.

Before Photo | The original master bath, with a dated pink palette and a tub that needed to go. The footprint was reimagined entirely for accessibility and modern living.

After Photo | Modern materials and concealed systems preserve the home's character without visible intrusion. A curbless shower and blocking for future accessibility features are seamlessly woven into the design — beautiful, functional, and built for the long term.

After Photo | Modern materials and concealed systems preserve the home's character without visible intrusion. A curbless shower and blocking for future accessibility features are seamlessly woven into the design — beautiful, functional, and built for the long term.

After Photo | Designed for accessibility without compromising elegance: curbless shower, double bowl vanity, widened water closet, and arched doorways that echo the 1930s architecture throughout the home.

After Photo | Designed for accessibility without compromising elegance: curbless shower, double bowl vanity, widened water closet, and arched doorways that echo the 1930s architecture throughout the home.

After Photo | Music room has new French doors that open out to the renovated outdoor living area.

After Photo | Music room has new French doors that open out to the renovated outdoor living area.

After Photo | Converted from a third bedroom, this room now opens to the backyard through French doors. Original exposed brick was preserved as a feature wall — a detail that’s been part of this home since 1935.

After Photo | Converted from a third bedroom, this room now opens to the backyard through French doors. Original exposed brick was preserved as a feature wall — a detail that’s been part of this home since 1935.

Before Photo | Living Room

Before Photo | Living Room

After Photo | The original front door and historic stained glass were restored and repainted to complement the new window and trim colors. New windows echo the historic grid pattern, while thoughtful paint choices and a new kitchen doorway accentuate the stepped ceiling detail.

After Photo | The original front door and historic stained glass were restored and repainted to complement the new window and trim colors. New windows echo the historic grid pattern, while thoughtful paint choices and a new kitchen doorway accentuate the stepped ceiling detail.

Before Photo | A collapsed ceiling, no stem wall, and zero HVAC. This space was rebuilt entirely, from the foundation up.

Before Photo | A collapsed ceiling, no stem wall, and zero HVAC. This space was rebuilt entirely, from the foundation up.

After Photo | The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.

After Photo | The original stepped ceiling detail — a signature of 1930s craftsmanship — is now the centerpiece of the room, accentuated with a carefully chosen paint palette and new sight lines through to the kitchen.

Before Photo | A leaking shower, broken-down cabinetry, and a layout that had seen better days. Completely redesigned with preserved historic inspiration.

Before Photo | A leaking shower, broken-down cabinetry, and a layout that had seen better days. Completely redesigned with preserved historic inspiration.

After Photo | Rich 4-inch green wall tile paired with Spanish Colonial floor tile — an homage to the 1930s era that feels thoroughly contemporary.

After Photo | Rich 4-inch green wall tile paired with Spanish Colonial floor tile — an homage to the 1930s era that feels thoroughly contemporary.

The Homeowners’ Vision for their Space

From the very beginning, this was never going to be a simple refresh. The homeowners came with a detailed vision for this historic home renovation and for how they wanted to live in the space — and the ambition to match. For a 1935 brick home, their wishlist touched nearly every corner of the property:

  • A reimagined kitchen with more workspace and better flow
  • A private master suite with an accessible, curbless shower
  • All-new windows that matched the historic style while actually performing
  • Restored original hardwood floors throughout
  • A rebuilt den ceiling to visually connect with the dining room
  • A third bedroom converted into a music room with French doors to the backyard
  • The detached garage was brought back to life as a real two-car garage
  • Laundry moved indoors
  • A redesigned landscape focused on privacy and low maintenance

Every single one of those goals came with a construction puzzle to solve.

The Challenges (There Were a Few)

Aging Infrastructure

Historic home renovations don’t come without surprises — and this one was no exception. The electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems were well past their prime. The existing 3-wire HVAC system needed a specialized panel with a six-month lead time — so instead of waiting, we engineered a full upgrade on the spot: new 400-amp panel, a roof-mounted heat pump, and completely reconfigured ductwork.

Getting the HVAC to Actually Work

The ductwork had been crammed into the crawl space when the system was originally added, routed in ways that completely clashed with the new layout. We worked with our HVAC partner to reroute flex ducts through the attic and used strategic soffit modifications to get conditioned air flowing to the third bedroom and den — no mini-split needed. For the first time in 90 years, this home has balanced, consistent temperatures throughout.

Underground Plumbing

It was deteriorated, full stop. We trenched around the entire home and replaced all the underground lines, pitching them correctly for the bathrooms, laundry room, and kitchen. The kitchen sink relocation required running new pipe through an interior wall, out the side of the house, under a step, and tying into the backyard connection. Not budget-friendly, but absolutely worth it.

Foundation & Envelope

One of the most critical aspects of any historic home renovation is protecting the original structure. Settlement cracks and failing mortar joints had compromised the exterior. We ground and repointed the mortar, repaired the stucco and block walls, and applied foam roofing for energy efficiency. Original brick was cleaned and reused wherever possible — keeping the authenticity intact.

The Den Was a Mess

The den had no stem wall, no weather-resistant envelope, and a roof leak that had caved in the ceiling. We rebuilt the entire thing from scratch: new exterior walls, ceiling, and roof structure. We raised the ceiling to match the dining room and ran new ductwork through the framing trusses. The doorway connecting the den to the dining room was plastered to match the other original openings in the home. You’d never know it was ever a problem.

Kitchen in a Tight Footprint

The original kitchen was dark, cramped, and completely cut off from the rest of the house. We reconfigured the layout with a new peninsula, punched through a doorway into the living room, and took the cabinets all the way to the new ceiling height with crown molding. Glass cabinet doors kept the space feeling light. And yes — we kept the original milk door. Restored, rewired, and now up to code.

The Garage

The detached garage had largely been converted into a non-functional casita and was showing serious water and stucco damage. We rebuilt the door framing, installed proper garage doors, re-stuccoed to match the home’s original hand-brushed texture, and enclosed the side entry for security. It’s a real two-car garage again.

The Details That Matter

The aesthetic choices throughout this historic home renovation were intentional. Neutral tones, warm wood, ivory and green tile, exposed brick — everything nods to the 1930s without feeling like a museum. Doorway heights were matched across the home for visual continuity. Original hardwood floors were refinished and brought back to life.

The master bath became a fully accessible en suite, with a curbless shower, double bowl vanity, widened water closet, and arched doorways inspired by the home’s original architecture. The guest bath got Spanish Colonial floor tile and rich 4-inch green wall tile that’s honestly stunning. The kitchen features quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and under-cabinet task lighting.

New dual-pane Pella windows replaced every original — matching the historic grid pattern from the outside while delivering real energy efficiency and soundproofing from the inside. Original stained glass in the front door? Kept and restored.

The Result

This historic home renovation transformed a charming relic with serious structural issues into a refined, livable gem — one that honors its 90-year history while meeting every modern expectation. The homeowners have the accessibility they need, the storage they didn’t think was possible, and a home that feels like it was always meant to look this way.

As one of them put it after settling in:

“I am surprised, I have never been able to store so much in a kitchen.”

That’s what this work is about.

Home Remodeling in the Greater Phoenix Area

AWARD-WINNING HISTORIC HOME RENOVATION IN THE WILLO NEIGHBORHOOD

For high-end home design, build, and remodeling in the greater Phoenix area that reflects your vision, Homework Remodels will help you love your home again. Start your project by calling us at (602) 478-5102 or emailing steve@homeworkremodels.com to discuss your remodeling project.  We offer a free in-home consultation.

Our NARI-certified award-winning designers and craftsmen are eager to work with you to make your vision for your home a reality!   To help you plan your remodel, you can find great information in our Core Guides.  Learn more about our Design-Build Approach, where we unite preconstruction planning, design, budgeting, and construction under one experienced team. This streamlined process allows for greater transparency, reduces risks, and accelerates timelines, making it the smarter, more efficient way to remodel and build.