Welcome back to the latest and most exhilarating update on our duplex renovation journey! After months of meticulous planning and anticipation, the transformation is truly accelerating, bringing our vision to life in ways that are simply breathtaking. It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating the completion of the drywall phase, but the progress since then has been monumental, pushing us ever closer to the finish line of creating two distinct, beautifully functional homes. Get ready to witness a significant leap forward in this incredible project!
The Duplex Transformation: From Vision to Vibrant Living Spaces
A Fresh Canvas: Walls and Trim
Stepping into the right-side unit’s living room, as seen above, it’s clear the space is beginning to embody its future elegance. The walls now boast a soothing coat of Sherwin Williams Spare White, a nuanced, barely-there gray that provides the perfect delicate contrast to the crisp Sherwin Williams Extra White trim. This carefully selected palette extends throughout every single room in the duplex, creating a cohesive and serene backdrop.
Our intention with this understated wall color was deliberate. Given the vibrant and bold choices we’ve made for other elements – including colorful tile selections, distinctive doors, unique stair risers, and eye-catching cabinetry – a neutral foundation was essential. It allows these more expressive design elements to truly shine without overwhelming the senses. Even in its current, relatively simple state, the living and dining area already showcases a remarkable evolution from its initial condition when we first encountered the property:
Embracing Historic Charm: The Chippendale Railings
But before we delve into details like the expanded doorway at the rear or the stunning indoor transom window we’re integrating, let’s focus on an immediate showstopper that greets you upon entry: our exquisite Chippendale railings, sourced all the way from Richmond, are now beautifully installed!
A Fateful Discovery
For those who caught this week’s podcast episode, you’ll know the incredible story behind these railings. We initially removed them from our porch in Richmond – simply to open up the space before a fresh coat of white paint – only to discover, quite miraculously, that they were a perfect fit for the duplex stairs! It was one of those serendipitous moments that truly felt like fate, adding a layer of personal history and charm to this new project.
Opening Up the Space
Each side of the duplex now features one of these beautiful railings at the base of the steps. The decision to open up the staircases was a significant one, as they were originally completely enclosed and dark, as depicted by the old framing below. Imagine drywall covering the entire stairwell, creating a constricted and unwelcoming entryway:
To further illustrate the original layout, consider this view looking down from upstairs. A narrow doorway was all that connected the upper level to the living room below, creating a sense of confinement:
The transformation is dramatic. Having the bottom five stairs now openly integrated into the living space makes an enormous difference in both aesthetics and functionality. It still genuinely astounds us that the precise size of railing needed for this renovation happened to be the exact dimensions of the railings from our Richmond porch! The cosmic coincidences didn’t stop there; two straight railings also removed from the sides of our Richmond porch are virtually the exact length required for the top of the stairs on each side of the duplex. With just a few minor trim adjustments, they will integrate seamlessly. The odds of such perfect alignment truly make this feel like a meant-to-be detail.
In essence, witnessing the bottom railings fit so perfectly and achieve exactly the geometric interest and openness we envisioned for the interior has been incredibly rewarding. We might still refine the newel post (I affectionately refer to the round top as a “hamburger” and envision a more contemporary square finish), but this minor detail doesn’t diminish our excitement for this stunning feature.
Architectural Details: Transom Window & Solid Wood Doors
Our focus isn’t solely on the front of the house; the rear also boasts significant and exciting developments. A key addition is the transom window we’re integrating above the now much wider doorway leading into the kitchen. Sean brilliantly mocked this up using two 1×6 inch boards to establish the base and assess proportions. This valuable exercise led to a consensus that a slightly narrower bottom trim, a 1×4 inch as marked by Sean, would create a more balanced glass-to-trim ratio – allowing for more glass while maintaining consistent trim sizing on the sides. It’s a subtle adjustment that promises a more refined aesthetic, and again, this small refinement doesn’t detract from our enthusiasm for this elegant architectural detail.
Adding to the structural improvements, almost all of our primed solid wood five-paneled doors have been hung. As you’ll soon see, some have even received their initial coat of paint (hint: they’re not staying white, as evident in the unpainted door below). It’s incredibly satisfying to see this area come together. The beautiful paneled doors, the classic transom window, and the exposed brick chimney in the kitchen all contribute to a feeling of timeless character and quality. Our ultimate goal has always been for these elements to feel as though they’ve been an integral part of the house’s history, and we’re thrilled with how naturally they fit within the space.
For many years, this house served as a rental property, leading to numerous small, budget-friendly upgrades and quick fixes over time. Consequently, there was significantly less original character to salvage compared to our previous “pink house” project. Most of the original doors, light fixtures, and hardware had been replaced with newer, less charming alternatives. This context underscores why our efforts to reintroduce an older, more soulful charm – through elements like the transom window, the exposed brick chimney, and high-quality solid wood doors – are so profoundly exciting to see materialize in the space. These details are instrumental in restoring the home’s authentic character.
Kitchen & Laundry: Functionality Meets Style
While the kitchen itself is currently a temporary storage space for our bathroom vanities, it’s destined to become a truly exceptional area. The dimensions feel perfectly balanced, and we especially appreciate the wide opening that connects it gracefully to the dining room. Complementing this flow are the elegant double pocket doors that lead into the combined laundry room and mudroom. This space will be enhanced with even more engaging details, including a striking wall of tile extending all the way to the ceiling, a feature you can explore in depth in this post dedicated to our tile selections.
The glass in the pocket doors, currently protected by paper, will eventually reveal its beauty, adding to the charm of this transitional area. We’ve been in a thoughtful debate about whether to paint or stain these pocket doors. While the natural wood is appealing, the challenge lies in staining them to perfectly match the distinct color of the nearby diamond-paned door, especially since they are crafted from different base wood types. Furthermore, the adjacent kitchen will feature light blonde wood cabinets. Therefore, even if we achieved a match with the diamond door, it wouldn’t harmonize with the kitchen’s lighter cabinetry. This is why John advocates for painting them (though not white, a choice we’ll elaborate on shortly). Conversely, for the identical pocket doors on the opposite side of the duplex, staining is the preferred option, as that kitchen will boast blue cabinet doors and its diamond door is already painted. Ultimately, both kitchens will showcase a dynamic and balanced blend of wood and painted accents, reflecting thoughtful design choices.
A Pop of Color: Distinctive Door Hues
Speaking of painted accents, Sean’s team has already begun painting some of the interior doors upstairs, and the results are precisely what we envisioned. For the right-side unit, all doors are being painted in Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay. This sophisticated shade is best described as a gray-blue with a subtle hint of seafoam, offering a beautifully neutral yet distinctive pop against the white walls and trim. We are absolutely enamored with this wall, trim, and door combination – it brings an undeniable vibrancy and character to the space.
And observe how charmingly they complement the subtle shadow cast by my diamond-paned windows, reflecting gracefully onto the floor of the front bedroom. It’s these delicate details that truly elevate the entire aesthetic.
On the left-side unit of the duplex, the doors are receiving a different, equally captivating treatment: Sherwin Williams White Truffle. Despite its name, this color is far from white; it’s a soft, muted pink that creates a delightful contrast against the light walls and crisp white trim without being overly bold or vibrant. Please note: these photos show only the first coat of paint, and the walls may appear greenish due to reflections from leafy trees outside the window. Rest assured, the final look promises to be truly spectacular and impactful.
Looking Ahead: The Tiling Phase and Beyond
This upcoming weekend marks another significant milestone as we hope to begin the tiling phase – cross your fingers! The initiation of tiling signifies that we are truly in the homestretch. Following this, the primary remaining tasks include floor refinishing, kitchen assembly, light fixture installation, and bathroom vanity setup. The finish line is within sight, and the palpable excitement is truly justified given the extensive journey thus far. This is an incredible moment in our renovation adventure!
Stay tuned for more updates and continued progress as our two distinct units increasingly feel like true homes. To catch up on every step that has brought the duplex to this exciting point, you can explore all the previous posts here. Additionally, if you’re interested in the financial aspects of investing in vacation rentals or real estate in general, you can learn how we managed to undertake this ambitious project, even amidst finishing the tile work at our beach house, by listening to this insightful podcast episode.