Some projects are straightforward. And then there are projects like this one — a century-old home in northern New Jersey that needed everything. New kitchens, new bathrooms, custom built-in cabinetry throughout, and the kind of finish work that makes a house feel like it was born that way.
This is the story of that renovation.
The Challenge
The home had good bones — solid construction, a great layout, a neighborhood with character. But decades of deferred updates had left it feeling tired. The kitchens were outdated, the bathrooms needed a complete overhaul, and the interior lacked the built-in storage and detail work the owners had always wanted.
The added complexity: terra cotta brick lining the walls in several areas. Not every contractor wants to touch 100-year-old construction. We’ve been doing it for four decades.
The Kitchen
Before: A functional but dated kitchen with limited storage, aging appliances, and no connection to the character of the rest of the home.
After: Custom cabinetry designed to match the architecture of the house, new countertops, updated fixtures, and a layout that finally made sense for how the family used the space. The tile work — a mix of glass and ceramic the owners had their hearts set on — was something other contractors had refused to attempt. We did it, and it became one of the signature features of the finished kitchen.
The Bathrooms
Before: Tired fixtures, outdated tile, and layouts that hadn’t been touched in years.
After: Complete gut renovations with marble surfaces, updated fixtures, and lighting that made each bathroom feel like a spa. Every material was selected by the owners; our job was to execute their vision flawlessly — and make sure marble, fixtures, and lights all worked together as a cohesive whole.
The Built-Ins
One of the owners’ priorities was built-in cabinetry throughout the home — the kind that looks like it was part of the original construction, not an afterthought. That’s exactly what we built.
Custom built-ins in the living areas, the hallways, the bedrooms — designed to fit the proportions of each room and the architecture of a century-old home. The result: storage that disappears into the house and craftsmanship guests assume was always there.
How It Went
Projects of this scope and complexity live or die by the team on the ground. Sal was on site and reachable throughout. Our crew worked nights and weekends when needed to stay on schedule — not because we were behind, but because we were committed to finishing on time. We minimized disruption to the neighbors. We kept tight control over costs and walked the owners through every extra before we proceeded.
“So now that it’s all done, we live in a house that feels more like a fine hotel. We love the beautiful built-in cabinets throughout the house that look as if they were the originals… We recommend you and your team without hesitation.”
— Mark and Pamela
The Bottom Line
A 100-year-old home, completely transformed. On budget. On schedule. With craftsmanship that looks like it was always there.
That’s what 40+ years in this business looks like.
If you have a project — big, complex, or somewhere in between — we’d love to hear about it. Call Sal at 201-715-8008 or reach out here. We serve homeowners throughout Summit, Chatham, Short Hills, Madison, Basking Ridge, Westfield, Warren, New Providence, and surrounding communities in Morris and Union County, NJ.