CityView Magazine

20 | November/December • 2014 e Cullitons eventually ended up building a new roof, adding in a new HVAC system, drastically upgrading the plumbing and putting in new windows. ey discovered five separate hot water heaters in the cellar, which appeared to have been disconnected and discarded on the spot as each stopped functioning. Some of the windows had been replaced by plexiglass and some were boarded over. "ese old homes are built with hard pine and rough-cut lumber," said Daniel, who explained that when planning the renovation, he and Ashley tried to keep as close to the origi- nal floor plan as possible and retain the historical charm. If the renovation required the Cullitons to replace or re- design any part of the house, they tried to choose materials and a design that would fit with the spirit of the home. "We salvaged as much wood as we could," said Ashley. e wraparound front porch displayed the careful mix of restoration and renovation that the couple favored. When the Cullitons began their project, they found that the porch had pulled away from its foundation and the floor was rotting away. Daniel replaced the floor with a tongue and groove style that matched the original look, and made by hand the fence that lined the porch area. Sturdy brickwork put the finished touches on the stairs and entranceway. Looking up, Daniel pointed out that the porch ceiling was the original wood, carefully restored and painted. Viewed as a whole, each of the restored and renovated areas mesh seam- lessly to create a welcoming picture of Southern hospitality. In the kitchen, a guest's eye is immediately drawn to the handsome copper backsplash and wood hood topped by a copper chase above the stovetop range. is element is echoed in the hand-hammered copper sink in the open kitchen. With the pots and pans neatly hanging from the ceiling pot rack and the built-in glass cabinet, the space appears to be a large, welcoming turn-of-the-century kitchen. "It looked like a 1970's trailer," confessed Ashley, describ- ing the state of the room when they began their project. e kitchen was divided into two rooms, one of the major support beams had been removed without being replaced by a suitable substitute and the handsome cabinet was all but obscured by sets of institutional shelving. Frank Carter of C&F Custom Cabinets in Hope Mills, de- signed the kitchen, including the cabinetry that flanks the cooking area. "ey're all custom cabinets and real quality work," said Daniel. A Family Affair "My wife and I laid this every night aer work," said Dan- iel, gesturing at the hardwood floor, burnished to a gleaming, glossy sheen. e floor work was particularly challenging, given that previous owners had installed carpet over the original hard- wood floor by simply tarring the wood and stapling the car- pet pieces. Ashley, who was pregnant with their daughter Margaret during the last half of the renovation, noted that they spent long hours removing the carpet and staples, and bits of tar, before restoring the wood, sometimes remaining

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