How do you foresee the unforeseeable? Dana King Design-Build Remodeling was put to the test when events outside their control threatened to derail a Shaw home’s kitchen remodel.
Vision for a Kitchen
For homeowners Mary and Dave, it wasn’t their first time working with Dana King. After a positive experience on a previous garage addition project, they turned to the team again when it was time to tackle their outdated kitchen.
The existing layout included clunky closets from when the home was converted decades earlier to a single-family home, a disconnected bar area, and very little counter space, which made cooking and family time frustrating. With three young children in the house, they wanted a kitchen that was both more functional and welcoming.
One common challenge of remodeling in historic homes is creating a space that feels fresh and functional without erasing the character that makes the house special. For this family, that meant finding a way to cook, gather, and store essentials more easily in the kitchen, all while still honoring the craftsmanship in their 1920s home.
Dana King architectural designer, Meg Blaies, approached the design with that balance in mind. Inefficient closets and a disjointed bar area were reimagined into lots of pull-out pantry shelves and storage. Appliances were to be moved to locations that allowed for a better workflow triangle, and a custom hutch was designed to resemble a built-in antique, complete with an appliance garage.
Historic details were carefully preserved where possible, but new elements were layered in to modernize the space. For example, Blaies paired classic subway tile with a herringbone pattern, a nod to contemporary style that still feels timeless. Cove molding provided a transitional crown detail that didn’t compete with the home’s original trim. And when an existing window above the sink had to be removed, Blaies sourced wavy glass that echoed the look of the original panes, ensuring the new kitchen still retained historic details.
Once a beautiful design that the homeowners loved was created, extensive planning began with a team of professionals that specialize in historic homes. Even a single window replacement triggered a review with the State Historic Preservation Office. Dana King’s team knew to expect the added step and navigated the process early, minimizing delays.
But some home renovation obstacles can’t be predicted.
Disaster Strikes
As the demo crew took a sledgehammer to the walls, Paul, the project manager, had to call the structural engineer almost immediately. He discovered that a structural ceiling joist—one that was literally holding up the house—was damaged beyond repair and had been for years.
When walls were opened, old ductwork was uncovered that revealed possible asbestos. It was mere hours before testing confirmed its presence and the environment team quickly secured the area to begin asbestos remediation.
As the old flooring was pulled up to make way for the beautiful new tiles, Jeff, the site manager, discovered that the subfloor was made of disintegrating wood planks that were far too thin and brittle to support the floor they’d envisioned.
Removing the subfloor uncovered the worst news of all. Paul called the electrical partner: “We need you to come take a look at this right away—it looks like old knob-and-tube wiring tied into new lines under these floors.” Knob-and-tube wiring, prohibited in St. Louis for decades, is known to be a dangerous fire hazard.
“I thought we were through with surprises,” says Blaies, who launched into action with the extended team of experts.
Hope on the Horizon
From Day 1, because of the age of the house, the Dana King team built into the plan all lead safety protocols, a critical step in a home with young children. Replacing the subfloor, rewiring the kitchen, replacing the ceiling joist, and abating the asbestos were swiftly handled by the team. Steady behind-the-scenes progress kept the rest of the project moving forward.
Mary and Dave stayed calm throughout the process, in large part because of the team’s transparency.
“Throughout this process, our experience working with Dana King focused on communication,” Dave recalls. “It’s always a challenging process to have a kitchen completely remodeled and to be cooking out of a small space when your house is already tight. They did a great job keeping us up-to-date on where they were, what they needed from us, and when the process would be done with.”
In the end, weeks instead of months were added to the Shaw project timeline, which is remarkably fast, given the scope of structural, electrical, and environmental surprises uncovered. For the homeowners, it was proof that remodeling an older home doesn’t have to be overwhelming when the right team is at the helm.
“Historic homes come with quirks—that’s part of their charm,” says Blaies. “Our job is to anticipate as much as we can, and when the unexpected happens, be ready with the right solution.”
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Dana King Design Build. To learn more, visit danaking.com.
