Throwback Thursday; “It’s Got Good Bones”
When we said “It’s got good bones”, we knew that was pretty much all it had. We stripped this house right down to its skeleton and rebuilt it entirely, discovering along the way that there was more character than we knew hidden beneath the years of abuse.
Augusta House, situated in the sought after village of Corktown, is a historic Hamilton gem. Originally constructed in 1912, this house sat vacant for years and terribly neglected. From our first visit we felt an instant connection to this house and the neighbourhood. It yearned to be reborn and transformed into a home; to be loved again. This renovation took on a life of its own, breeding community support and affirmation of our vision, and creating life-long friendships throughout the journey.
After painstaking effort, meticulous planning and relentless attention to detail, this home now bleeds character at every turn. From the fully reinvented 100-year-old mahogany trim and baseboards, the restored linen cabinet original to the home, the traditional stain glass window unique to Corktown, and preservation of an original brick feature wall at the front entrance, extreme care and craftmanship was committed to preserving the original charm and character of this beautiful historic home.
Exterior improvements included the reinvention of the front porch to give a more modern aesthetic and transform it into an outdoor living space that owners and neighbours would gravitate to and enjoy together. The original charm of the wood railing, a design consistent throughout the neighbourhood, was fully preserved by a meticulous process of stripping, filling, sanding and staining. An additional newel post and new section of railing along the staircase was constructed to replicate the existing design and maintain the character of these historic elements. Board and baton was installed at the front entrance to showcase a regal front door, and new black windows and doors with black capping were installed to complement the existing colour palette of the brick and siding, greatly improving curb appeal.
Augusta House now has new life, is loved by all, and truly stands up to the charisma and character of Augusta Street and the heartbeat of Corktown!
Click this link for photos and a virtual tour of Augusta House: 83 Augusta Street, Hamilton, ON L8N 1R1, Canada (homeontour.com)
Click this link for details on some of our other featured projects: MeglioBuilt (squarespace.com)
