When Suzanne and Michael purchased their early-1900s Victorian home in the Shaw Historic District, in July 2013, it had been converted by its previous owners into a boardinghouse. Suzanne began planning the renovation immediately, down to the exterior brick.
“I really wanted the historic nature of the house to be preserved, so I kept anything I could that was historic.”
She held onto the moldings and had missing pieces re-created, refurbished the fireplace, and even reinstalled pocket doors that a previous owner had removed; she added a tin ceiling that, she says, “everyone thinks is original.” Even so, the inlaid hardwood floor was too thin to salvage. (“We were very upset about that because it was a beautiful floor.”) And they gutted the structural elements, installing new plumbing, electrical, and a geothermal heating system. “It was a really fun process,” she says. “It’s not necessarily something I’m going to dive into again. Ever.”
The heating system was one of the most expensive items, costing more than $40,000. The outside masonry work cost $16,000, one-third of the planned budget.
With such extensive renovation planned for inside and outside the home, the project required approval from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, as well as the Shaw Historic District. The couple hired Melinda Stewart, a historical consultant, to compile the application, and they received Department of Economic Development approval for historic tax credits.
Suzanne changed little in the layout of the home, so she didn’t have much trouble following the historical standards. But integrating modern amenities without altering the original landing on the second floor “was a particular challenge to my contractor, RJN Properties,” she adds.
Sometimes the day-to-day decision-making was overwhelming, she says—“You’re making a thousand decisions a day, also with a full-time job”—but RJN was a lifesaver, bringing in historical renovations expertise and “making sure that this is a house that’s going to be in good shape in 50 years. Really, the heart of it is finding a good contractor.”
Demolition: $11,000
Roof replacement: $11,000 (shingles)
Masonry/Tuckpointing (interior/exterior and bricklaying): $16,000
Patio: $14,000
Garage: approximately $20,000
Plaster/drywall: $24,000
Insulation: $7,000
Plumbing: $20,000
Tubs/showers/toilets/sinks: $5,200
Electrical: $24,000
Hardwood: $13,000
Tile: $9,000
Carpet: $3,000
Interior paint: $16,000
Cabinets: $13,400
Appliances: $6,700
Finish Carpentry: $26,000 (studs, cabinets added to pantry and third floor)
Millwork/doors: $8,000
