Phoenix rising

You don't expect too many positives to come from a fire that has almost destroyed your home. Like the mythical bird however, this house has risen anew, thanks to the efforts of owners Edward and Lorie Valero.

The Valero family has invested four years in restoring the house, choosing to incorporate many traditional, handcrafted elements, again in keeping with the period of the original home.

"While devastating, the fire which pretty much gutted the interior gave us the opportunity to restore the house in keeping with its Spanish Colonial Revival style," says Lorie Valero.

"Externally, we have once again established a smooth stucco finish, as well as incorporating other stylistic devices, such as the custom ironwork and the canvas awnings.

"It has been a painstaking process. Countless hours have been spent researching the style and period to ensure authenticity. And once we decided on the right look, the actual physical construction was often time-consuming the hand-carved fire surround, for example, took six months to complete," says Valero.

Other elements, such as the millwork, white oak flooring and crystal doorknobs, have been re-created to the exact style and dimensions of the original examples in the home.

"In every way we have tried to remain faithful to the credo of the revivalist aesthetic, down to approaching the historical society for advice on which colors to use. We were even able to use recycled period tiles on the floors in the bathrooms and laundry room," says Valero.

This level of detail, and dedication to craftsmanship has paid off. As the remodeling process draws to a close, the Valero family has the satisfaction of knowing its efforts have captured the essence of an important architectural style.

Story by: Trendsideas