CAMBRIDGE, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Charlie Allen Restorations, the Cambridge-based firm specializing in the renovation and restoration of period homes, has won two 2011 Preservation Awards-one each from the Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC) and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC).
"When I first came to this area to attend college in 1966, I was amazed by the period architecture that can be seen on almost every street. These historic homes are a treasure we all share, and I'm grateful to organizations like the CHC and the SHPC that support and recognize efforts to preserve them," says Allen.
The firm's award from the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission acknowledges work done on the landmark Edward Crane House.
"We first began working on this house in 1998 under the stewardship of its previous owners," says Allen. "When the current homeowners moved in, they refused to do anything less than the right thing for their historic house, and I'm thankful that they have entrusted us with its restoration."
The project recognized by the CHC involved the thorough exterior restoration of a 1923 Colonial Revival house named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
"This home was designed by Lois Lilley Howe, founder of one of the first all-female architecture firms in America," says Allen. "It was a thrill to return it to its original condition."
Steps taken to restore the home's exterior included removing a replacement roof balustrade and constructing a new one at original dimensions (calculated from a photograph supplied by the CHC), rebuilding a deck balustrade at the back of the house (again using historical photography as a guide), and replacing all broken and loose roof slates with matching slate. Following a paint consultation with the CHC, all exterior trim, window wells, decks, and balustrades were sanded, scraped, and re-painted, and stucco was completely removed from the chimney and reinstalled after flashing was replaced and the crown fixed. In addition, original exterior shutters were salvaged from basement storage, re-painted and reinstalled on the front of the house.
Charlie Allen Restorations is an award-winning remodeling firm specializing in the seamless integration of modern amenities into period homes while retaining original period details. Charlie Allen Restorations combines expert tradespeople and professional project management techniques to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction.
For more information about Charlie Allen Restorations, please call 617/661-7411 or visit www.charlie-allen.com .
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