More Gutting of the Interior

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So as we move into the rest of the first floor and the front study and what would have been the living room were covered by a thick pine plank paneling.  The kind of plank you might find in an Adirondack or beach house.  Very cool looking.  All of the large opening door jams were covered with additional 70’s style paneling and small doors were installed to produce private offices.

The dining room’s large opening was covered with a thin paneling on one side and the pine paneling in the Living room.  We were hoping we would find pocket doors when we removed the covering but we did not.

As the pine paneling came down we found that the plaster walls were mostly crumbling as well.  The crown jewel was the woodwork on the walls and coffered ceilings in the dining room.  My goal was to preserve the original look and feel of the home while modernizing the technology and its function.

Brian Kenny and his team did a tremendous job of preserving the bones of the house.  Take a look at the demolition.

 

The Front Study Room Covered in a circa 1950’s Pine Panelling.
from foyer into living room
from foyer into study
Door Jam being opened
Door covered
Study into Foyer that was covered
Fire Place
Fireplace
After Barrier comes down
Paneling down
door out to front porch that was orginally window
Cobbs At work
New wall in living room

 

Interior Photos – The Gutting Phase

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So during the next phase our goal was to begin bringing each room down to the original status or as close to original.

Beginning in the rear entrance we removed the walls that were in the the middle of the room.   We also removed the two small bathrooms that were in the back. One was all blue and the other all yellow.

Taking this down we discovered that the walls were covered in a small thin plywood.   A drop ceiling with acoustic tiles was covering another ceiling.

So we decided to remove the covering and to our surprise we found that the walls and ceilings were covered in tin!  The ceiling was drooping and their were large holes in the tin.

While the tin was wonderful it was put up to keep the walls and ceiling from crumbling.

Drop Ceiling Coming Down, Old florescent lighting the tin starting to show

Drop Ceiling Coming Down, Old florescent lighting the tin starting to show

The Yellow Bathroom

The Yellow Bathroom

From the Butlers Pantry looking at the Yellow Bathroom

From the Butlers Pantry looking at the Yellow Bathroom

Acoustic Tiles coming down

Acoustic Tiles coming down

Yellow Bathroom

Yellow Bathroom

The rear room enclosure

The rear room enclosure

The Wall down showing the size of the yellow bathroom

The Wall down showing the size of the yellow bathroom

Lighting and the tin

Lighting and the tin

The Rear stripped

The Rear stripped

Tim torn open to allow the lighting etc

Tim torn open to allow the lighting etc

Rear room

Rear room

When the dividing walls came down the tin was on the wall was revealed

When the dividing walls came down the tin was on the wall was revealed

More Ceiling

More Ceiling

Walls completely stripped and the waste lines revealed. Leaking?!?!?!

Walls completely stripped and the waste lines revealed. Leaking?!?!?!

First Floor Interior – Before Photos

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It was truly apparent as Brian’s team began to remove rugs and paneling that the house was truly built to be a showpiece by the Sutton family.  The modelings, trim and ceilings contained wonderful accents and amazing detail.  The photo below is looking at the foyer and the front door.  Look at the floors, an almost perfect hardwood floors covered by very old rugs.  The door jam was modified to hold a smaller door.

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This photo is from the front door looking back into the house.

This photo is from the front door looking back into the house.  The floors are covered by old rugs

The Perfect Harry Potter Closet Under the stairs

The Perfect Harry Potter Closet Under the stairs

The Front Study Room Covered in a circa 1950's Pine Panelling.

The Front Study Room Covered in a circa 1950’s Pine Paneling.

The rear of building had two small bathrooms and lots of carpet. In addition to some great 1970's panelling.

The rear of the building had two small bathrooms and lots of carpet. In addition to some great 1970’s panelling.

Looking from the foyer into what would be a family room with fire place. All the walls covered with Pine Panelling.

Looking from the foyer into what would be a family room with fire place. All the walls covered with Pine Panelling.

Rear Bathroom and reception area.

Rear Bathroom and reception area.

Rear entrance area looking into an old pantry that was crumbling.

Rear entrance area looking into an old pantry that was crumbling.

The Pantry with a cool old tin ceiling falling down.

The Pantry with a cool old tin ceiling falling down.

Front Stairs with wonderful stained glass.

Front Stairs with wonderful stained glass.

Wonder wall coverings with rounded glass windows.

Wonderful detailed paneling  with rounded glass windows.

Same room with the entrance covered.

Same room with the entrance covered.

The adjoining room. Behind the book shelves and pine panelling is room in the above photo

The adjoining room. Behind the book shelves and pine paneling is the room in the above photo

Back to the dining room

Back to the dining room

Family Room with more pannelling and shelves

Family Room with more paneling and shelves

Foyer

Foyer

Dining Room

Dining Room

Exterior Renovation of 199 Broad

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When I  acquired the building in November of 2013 the building was covered in aluminum siding from the early 1980’s.  We had no idea what was underneath but it was clear that many areas had been open to the elements over the years.  With many signs of rot and mold we had two options: ignore it or open it.

Pandora’s box would either show a hidden beauty or an absolute mess!  It was sort of a mixed bag!  Apparently, before Mr. O’Hern purchased the house it was covered in ivy.  We found wonderful cedar shakes, but it was apparent that they were at one point infested by rodents. All over the north and rear side of the upper shingles were holes where the rodents made their home.

We were hoping to keep the shingles but that was not an option.  So we decided to remove the old shingles and replace them with James Hardie Shingle and Clapboard.

We were able to preserve much of the lower clapboard on the front of the building, which after painting looks great!

The front porch when we purchased the building was partially enclosed and used as an office.  We originally thought we would maintain the enclosure and fix it.  But as we removed layers of rugs and plywood that goal was quickly jettisoned.  Instead the entire porch was removed from the house.  The kickboards were all restored as well as the about 80% of the original columns.

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The History of 199 Broad Street

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Welcome to restoring 199 Broad Street.  The project began with a goal of taking an historic building in the heart of Red Bank, NJ and upgrading it to a modern office for my firm.

My goal was to keep it’s historic charm.  As we began this process so many people said you should just level it and build a new building.  But I had a vision for its potential that I just couldn’t dismiss.   So I set out to assemble a team of professionals that shared my same interest.  It was not easy.  I think you will enjoy the transformation.  We hope to occupy the building in late 2014.

For the last 40 years the building was owned by Bernard Hoffman, Esq and occupied by his law firm Hoffman and Shreiber, PC.  They were considered one of the best firms in Monmouth County specializing in Divorce.  Follow this link to find out more about Bernard at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mycentraljersey/obituary.aspx?pid=167421183

As I began to remove some of the interior cover ups, I became very interested in the history of the building.  According to our records it was built in 1904 by George Sutton.   I went to the Monmouth County Hall of Records in Freehold, NJ to explore the tax records.

I was able to spend a few hours in the basement reviewing the historic tax record books dating back to 1910.  It was an amazing experience to see how these books were organized and maintained.  The early books were handwritten and then as technology advanced they transformed into preprinted books with handwritten entries and then online entries.   The method of organization changed numerous times up to about 1960.

I have not been able to find any meaningful information on George Sutton, but this was truly a special home that he built.  The woodwork, stained glass windows and many other features suggest that George was a prominent figure in the Red Bank community.  If you know the history or anything about the family I would love to know about it.

Over the next 30 years it appeared that the home stayed in the family shifting to various people with the last name Sutton until the 1950’s.  At this point the Monmouth County records are not clear.  My understanding is that building became a boarding house of sorts in the 1960’s.

In the late 1960’s Daniel O’Hern and Chester Apy owned the building for a few years before selling to it Bernard Hoffman in 1972.  He later served as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, where he served from August 6, 1981 until his retirement upon his 70th birthday.[2]  I found a great post on Mr. O’Hern at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Joseph_O’Hern

If you know something unique about the building or its former owners or residents I want to know about it.

Enjoy the journey

John L. Smallwood