Cincinnati February/March 2024

Starting from scratch
The construction crew replaced every bit
of drywall, woodwork, trim, and flooring.
Everything you see in the entry, living
rooms, bedroom and primary bathroom
is new. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC
systems were upgraded. Steel beams were
installed which allowed them to eliminate
walls and open up the floor plan.
It was important to Brian that the new
floors were “absolutely level.” So, the old
floors were ripped up. During construction,
he says, you could walk in the front
door and see through to the basement
floor.
But, before you go inside, one of the
first changes you see when approaching
the home is the newly covered front porch.
“My wife loves sitting out on our porch, but
it faces west. In August it became unbearable,”
Brian says. “We wanted to cover
the porch while maintaining the existing
stonework and yet almost create an additional
living space.”
Now, with the help of ceiling fans and
comfy furniture, the shaded area is a freshair
favorite. “Carrie and our English bulldog
Rudy got their money’s worth out of that
front porch in the first year,” Brian says.
Inside the home, when it comes to
watching TV, Brian says, he and Carrie have
very different tastes. So, each has their own
living area on opposite ends of the home,
separated by the kitchen. Carrie’s is in the
original part of the home and features
comfy blue chairs and an original stone
fireplace; Brian’s is in the new addition and
includes a well-stocked bar and dining area.
Brittany Miller, interior designer with
J.S. Brown, worked with Brian on several of
the selections for his space. “Brian is very
decisive,” she says. The designer would
show him samples for finishes, cabinets,
hardware, and provide resources, for example
for the bar’s concrete countertop, to, as
she says, “help the bar come to life.” ➻
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