THE FIRST HOUSE

This house began as a labor of love for the Steels, and ended up kicking off a lifetime of preservation and development in his hometown of Raleigh. Despite an assignment by the City of Raleigh that the home was “unfit for human habitation” due to neglect by the former owner, Ben purchased the condemned property and presented his renovation progress regularly to Raleigh City Council for over a year before it was finally removed from the demolition list and certified for occupancy in 2009.

After one-and-a-half years and many trips to Home Depot (and City Council), the house was complete. Ben and his team installed new footings, foundation, framing, and sheathing, and repaired exterior siding. They put in all new electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems, spray foam insulation, sheetrock, and finishes. Following historic rehabilitation standards, they also carefully repaired the decorative millwork and original fireplace, original pine floors, and installed historically appropriate windows and doors. An addition designed by local architect Laurent deComarmond, was approved and constructed to accommodate a future larger family.