829 19th St: See This Beautiful Fireplace Before + After

You could say that 829 19th. St had seen better days. Prior to the JRI team and Laneways teaming up for this historic restoration, the house had been remodeled a number of times and chopped up into apartments. All the trim, doors, and windows were salvaged from other homes built around the same time. The team worked relentlessly to find the original house footprints which served as a guide to making the house more historically accurate and brought back to its original form.

The team brought the fireplace back to the living room as a showstopping focal point. A 100-year-old salvaged Tiger-stripe oak fireplace mantel and gas fireplace was installed and finished off by laying a colorful, graphic tile.

Incorporating something unique adds character.

The mantle provided the perfect opportunity to bring in rich-toned, beautiful ornate wood—a design feature used throughout the home. The mantle is full of beautiful natural imperfections and characteristics you won’t find in something new.

The result: a beautiful, one of a king fireplace that feels right at home.

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Behind The Scenes: Sherman Hill Renovation Sneak Peek

The wait is almost over! The Sherman Hill triplets have reached install stages and we are sharing a sneak peek of 829 19th St. to celebrate! Everything old is new again after we fully restored this Queen Anne Victorian house into a gracious home with classic details. We were so in love with the Sherman Hill triplets when we first saw them. From their original architectural details to their beautiful demeanor. Our goal was to create an elegant residence with good bones and revive it with simple, modern touches. Our challenge was maintaining the historic charm of the house but we also make it youthful and fresh.

Here’s a little blurb from the developer.

“Built in 1891 by contractor, Charles Doudna and O.F. Smith, this fully restored Queen Anne Victorian home has the character and original architectural details of a 130-year structure, alongside modern amenities, a new poured concrete foundation, and updated infrastructure to accommodate families of today.

The Doudna family lived in the home for its first two years. After changing hands several times, it was occupied by the See family, who’s daughter Cora attended nearby Drake University. According to a Des Moines Register article, Cora was married in the home in September 1896: “At the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. See, on Brattleboro avenue, their daughter, Miss Cora May, was married to Mr. Bert Dodge Van Meter Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. o’clock. . . The guests were received at the foot of the stairs by Misses See and Katherine Van Meter, who announced them to the receiving party. . . the bride and groom, attended by the father and mother. . . took their places in front of the fireplace, which was a bower of greenery. Suspended from above were red roses, which were showered at the close of the ceremony. . . The parlor decorations were red and white roses. The refreshment room was decorated in green and white and was presided over in turn by the Misses. . . “ (Des Moines Register, September 12, 1896)

In 2019, the Charles and Edith Doudna House was transported from a neighborhood near Drake University to its current location in Sherman Hill, Des Moines’ oldest neighborhood. It is within walking distance of coffee houses, restaurants, shops, downtown offices, and more.”

— Laneways Development

This home features:

• 2700 sq. ft.

• 4 bedrooms

• 2 1/2 baths (plus plumbing stubbed for an extra full bath in basement)

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Inching closer and closer to the full reveal.

We are so thankful that the stressful parts of the renovation are all behind us. As you can see, we are all very busy putting the final touches together! We can’t wait to share the final shots will all of you!

Our Fall Favorites: Bring On The Color!

Happy week everyone!

Depending on where you live, you may or may not feel the cold-front getting closer and closer. In our little corner of the world, we have already noticed the crisp smell of autumn in the air. In light of the leaves changing, we decided to put together a mood board to feed our fall fever and inspire those of you who are wanting to introduce some fall concepts into your homes!

Keep scrolling for a good dose of inspiration!

Timeless & Moody

Warm & Modern

If you can’t get enough of our mood boards, don’t forget to follow us on our social so

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