Abacus builders

Most renovations don't fail because the design was wrong. They fail because the design and the budget never had an honest conversation.

A current Boston new construction project came to us with strong architectural plans and a homeowner who knew what she wanted. The early estimate came in over budget. The temptation in that moment is to either cut the scope or push the homeowner to spend more.

We did neither. We sat with the architect, walked the plans line by line, and identified specific changes that preserved every signature design element while bringing the cost into the homeowner's actual budget. Different finish materials in non-visible areas. Smarter structural sequencing. A few mechanical decisions that saved real money without affecting what the homeowner will see and feel for the next 30 years.
The project locked in. This is the result.

If your renovation budget and your design feel like they're at war, the answer usually isn't to abandon either one. It's to find someone willing to do the hard conversation.

Window install day at 28 Clifton Street.

The windows go in once the framing and weather barrier are right. There's no rushing this step. Get it wrong and the building leaks for fifty years.

We love this new project in Roxbury. Follow along for the full reveal!

PROJECT COMPLETE

157 O Street, South Boston. Done.

A 1900s single-family row house, fully reimagined into a modern family home. Down to the studs and back up, with a rear addition, rear decks, a roof deck, and a private backyard.

Inside: radiant heated floors throughout, an open kitchen and dining built for how families actually live, custom designer closets in every bedroom, and a finish package that lands every detail.

Architect: Derek Rubinoff. Interior design: Stanton Schwartz Design Group. A short walk to M Street Beach.

A year of work. The result speaks for itself.

Five things every Boston homebuyer should check on a 100+ year old home.

Most buyers focus on the kitchen and the bath. Both are replaceable. What's not replaceable, or what's expensive enough that it should change your offer: knob-and-tube wiring, asbestos in the plaster, water in the basement, chimney pointing, and the original mechanicals.

A typical Boston row house with two or three of these issues unaddressed can carry $50,000 to $150,000 in deferred work the seller didn't disclose. This is worth knowing before the offer goes in, not after.

Save this. Send it to anyone shopping a Boston brownstone, row house, or triple-decker.

If you want a contractor walk-through before you make an offer, link in bio.

Harvard Street, Charlestown. A custom roof deck with views of the Zakim Bridge and downtown.

The architect wanted a sleek access solution that didn't eat into the interior square footage. The answer: a spiral staircase from the floor below, topped by a double dome bubble hatch. Compact, modern, and one of the more distinctive roof deck accesses we've built.

A note for anyone planning a Boston roof deck. Before you spend a dollar on the deck itself, look at the rubber roof underneath. EPDM lasts 20 to 25 years. If yours is past the halfway point, replace it before the deck goes on. We did exactly that on this
project, and on the neighboring building's roof too. Our roof and deck warranties pair, so the whole envelope is covered.

We love exploring how different regions tackle historical preservation, and this coastal city is an absolute architectural masterpiece. Can you guess where we are?

Here are your hints:

This city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021 as the "winter resort town of the Riviera".

The historic center, also known as the "Old" town, is a labyrinth of narrow streets featuring pastel and ochre facades that reflect a strong Italian Baroque influence .

It experienced a massive construction boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in incredible Belle Époque palaces and villas.

It is home to the iconic Hotel Le Negresco, famous for its magnificent pink dome.

Drop your best guess in the comments below! 👇

The siding is the building. Everything else is style. The siding is what keeps the building dry, fireproof, and looking right 30 years from now.

James Hardie is the #1 brand of siding in North America, on more than 10 million homes. 30-year non-prorated product warranty. ColorPlus Technology finishes carry a 15-year warranty against peeling, cracking, and chipping.

Non-combustible. Won't rot. Won't host pests. Holds its color through Boston's freeze-thaw cycles in a way wood and vinyl can't match.

Why we keep speccing it: it outlasts every other siding option, the install hardware is consistent, and homeowners get insurance discounts for choosing it on some policies.

Most Boston homeowners ask the wrong question about roof decks.

They ask "how much per square foot." The answer is meaningless without knowing what's underneath, how you get up there, what material you're using, and whether the city is going to make you go to ZBA.

The honest range for a Boston roof deck is $40,000 on the low end to $250,000+ on the high end. Most projects land between $60K and $150K. Where you fall depends on five specific things, broken down in the carousel.

Season just started. If you're planning a deck for this summer, you're already late on permits. If you're planning for next summer, now is the right time.

Save this. Send it to anyone you know who's been thinking about it. And contact us with any questions or to get your estimate.

We are so excited to share the incredible before and after of 157 O Street!

Same lot. Same address. Same neighborhood.

157 O Street started life in the 1900s as a single-family row house. After a ZBA-approved expansion and a 12-month build, it's the modern home you see in the photo.

Designed by Derek Rubinoff. Interior selections by Stanton Schwartz Design Group. Radiant heated floors throughout, custom designer closets, rear addition, roof deck, backyard.

Be sure to follow along for the full reveal!