The challenge
A client needed a historic house rebuilt, not decorated. Original fabric, failing structure, and a program that required real reconstruction — not a cosmetic pass.
The vision
Keep the character that made the house worth saving, and rebuild what could no longer carry the load. The house had to live as a home, not a museum diorama.
The strategy
Read the building before proposing finishes. Separate what must be restored from what must be reconstructed. Coordinate the work the way a field builder does: structure first, envelope second, millwork last.
The construction
This was the principal's first historic restoration as a contractor — a project that required carpentry, structural judgment, and patience with old buildings. It is the origin of how Gulf & Key still approaches historic work on the Gulf Coast.
The result
A rebuilt historic home, not a gutted shell wearing old trim. The method — structure, envelope, then finish — is the same method we bring to Florida houses that have survived storms, salt, and decades of additions.