Camden and Heather immediately knew when they spotted what would eventually become their home. “It had been abandoned for many, many years. There was no way you could live in the house in its condition…maybe if you were a squatter,” Heather describes.
According to Camden, it took a definite leap of faith to see past all the years of neglect and envision the possibilities. “It’s hard to see the end result when you’re looking at such a mess,” he explains.
So for nine months the couple worked tirelessly to rehab their house back into a home while living off-site in a rental. Once the home was functional (with things like running water and electricity), the family—which includes now eighteen-year-old daughter Maddi and now three-year-old son Kingston—moved into their home for the final three months of the renovation.
“We knew we wanted concrete countertops,” Heather explains of the initial Internet search that led her to Brian Sieffert of Take Pride Construction. “When Brian came to see the house we realized he also worked as a contractor, so it ended up being a perfect fit. We designed our house to include concrete floors, walls and countertops.”
The homeowners also paired with Nicole Santella of Concrete Zen to bring about the look that they wanted. “They knew they wanted concrete countertops and they knew they wanted wine storage in the kitchen, so we decided to combine the two,” says Santella. “Their countertops and wine racks were cast as one piece.”
Santella describes Camden and Heather as very creative people. “The muted color scheme they chose is a great backdrop for the punches of color they have chosen in their finishes and décor.”
“They were also very adamant about reusing as much original material from the existing house as possible.”
This included reusing original trim, sealing existing brick walls and finding new uses for some old pieces.
The homeowners added unique touches to their space here and there, but perhaps the most interesting is the swing in the dining room that keeps their young son entertained.
Camden and Heather enjoyed restoring their once condemnable shell of a house into a contemporary haven so much so—neighborhood petitions trying to stop them and all—that they are planning on doing it again.
“We’re starting a modern movement in the North Side,” Heather says of their plans. “We’re the talk of the neighborhood.”