Incline Homes

Project · 03 / Renovation

Northside Victorian.

A whole-house renovation of a vernacular Victorian on the North Side — original sage-green siding, decorative cornice, and front porch left intact, interior taken back to studs and rebuilt around the exposed-brick chimney and refinished original hardwood.

LocationNorth Side · Pittsburgh
ScopeWhole-house · Victorian preservation
HighlightsExposed brick · Refinished hardwood · New back deck
01 /Project brief

Period exterior preserved — interior taken back to studs and rebuilt.

The brief on this North Side renovation was straightforward: leave the period exterior alone. The decorative cornice, the hipped roof with its centered dormer, the front porch with its turned columns, the sage-green siding — all original, all left exactly as they were. What changed was everything behind the front door.

The interior was taken back to studs across two full floors. We preserved the exposed-brick chimney that runs from the living room through to the kitchen and into the primary bedroom on the second floor, and refinished the original wide-plank hardwood throughout the first floor. A bay window in the living room kept its original casing; we replaced the sash but matched the profile.

The kitchen got a full rebuild: white shaker cabinetry, marble counters, white subway tile with dark grout, stainless appliances, and a peninsula with seating. We pulled a partition wall to open the kitchen to the entry hall. The primary bath went contemporary — grey walls, marble vanity top, a curbless glass-enclosed walk-in shower with rain head, dark tile floor. Out back, a new wood deck with a privacy screen extended the living space into a fenced yard.

03 / 4 phases

How the project moved from site walk to keys.

01

Assessment & period inventory

Walk-through to identify what was worth preserving on the exterior (cornice, porch columns, dormer, original siding) and what needed replacement behind the walls. Confirmed the brick chimney could remain in place through demo.
02

Design & permits

Architect-led design that opened the kitchen onto the entry hall without touching the front-of-house room rhythm. Bay window and primary bedroom window sashes specified to match the original profiles.
03

Demo, systems, & rebuild

Full interior demo on two floors. Complete electrical, plumbing, and HVAC re-runs. New insulation throughout. Kitchen, bath, and back deck framed and built from scratch around the preserved brick chimney.
04

Finishes & handover

Original hardwood refinished site-side. New subway tile, marble counters, custom cabinetry, and bathroom fixtures installed. Front porch repainted, oval-window door restored. Final punch and homeowner walk-through.
05 / Let's talk

Have a period home or a whole-house renovation in mind?