1118 Lee St.

A rotting and abandoned victorian shotgun home within Covington’s Westside Neighborhood. This home was on the verge of demolition, but since has seen a complete overhaul to structurally stabilized and straighten it out. This property offers an enormous 4 car garage/workspace with a modern design approach. The single bedroom home was taken back to its origins with the design of the exterior, but on the inside the space is open, bright, minimal and modern while respecting the character of the past. The exterior historic components and detailing were replicated and extrapolated upon using clues that demolition revealed, and also of the surrounding vernacular architecture of the neighborhood. The custom kitchen cabinetry (built on site) comprised of reclaimed bead-board from the original kitchen connects the kitchen to the living room providing both functionality and continuity throughout the rather tight floor plan. Natural lights fills the space thru skylights, designed to be in cadence with the exterior windows and land in the center of an otherwise dark bathroom. Lastly, a monolithic approach to a sculptural kitchen island symbolizes the new stability of the structure as well as an anchoring point where people can gather and entertain. This property was bought from the City of Covington in 2020 with stipulations to abide by the regulations set by The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. The project was finished and sold in the sp of 2021.

Photos: Phil Armstrong

Staging: Kathleen Schill