Rethink Renovations
Your choice for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
Before
After Giving this cast iron table set some style was a simple project. The table and four chairs rest on the patio of a late 1800s farmhouse. The blue striped fabric gave the chairs no justice… We reupholstered the chair seats in a fabric that completed the curved lines and playful design. By updating the fabric, the table and chairs are now appropriate to the period of the home. Click here for more project Before and After photos… Progress is making perfect over at the Olden Avenue house! We are turning the turn of the century layout into an open concept modern space.
Before, this wall had only a doorway in it connecting the dining room and kitchen. We opened up the wall between the two rooms and installed a header over the new larger opening. The finished space will be open, bright, and perfect for the way families live now. We are putting in a breakfast bar top on the half wall which will triple as a spot to hang out in the kitchen with the cooks, space for kids’ homework in the evening, and a buffet serving space for that family holiday party. This is such a simple change to a segmented floor plan that is going to totally change the feel of the space and bring this house into the 21st century.
When we first saw the house at Olden, one of the pros about the darling, old little home is that it had updated windows. 
the situation Having newer double pane windows in a charming old home is wonderful. Often times, we see homes with old windows painted shut over the years with lead and who knows what else, cracked single panes of glass, or with some not so great, albeit somewhat functional, storm windows on the exterior.
Although these windows at the Olden house were in perfect functioning condition and would suit the new owners just fine, they certainly did not appear “updated” at all. Years of smoke residue and probably a less than stellar cleaning habit left them looking… well, terrible. 
the solution On the hunt for what would take these stains off of vinyl, I did a little hunting online. I found one of the recommended cleaners at Dollar Tree for about $3 for a large spray bottle of it. True to it’s name, this “Totally Awesome” cleaner did the trick. The bottle says to dilute before use, however, according to my online homework, I was to use this stuff full strength. And full strength I did!
Totally Awesome at work
Spraying it right on the vinyl window frame, I could literally see the stains drip off of the windows. Totally Disgusting actually but quite the infomercial for Totally Awesome. A wet rag and a lot of wiping later and we have some pretty amazing looking salvaged vinyl windows! They look great, work great, and cost only a little time, elbow grease, and $3 to bring back to life. 
the result after a quick wipe with a damp cloth
Overland Remodel
Rethink Renovations has enjoyed the low budget remodel in Overland, MO. We are wrapping up the rough ins and moving on to drywall and the fun stuff next week! Check back weekly to see the final product coming alive. We have not sacrificed quality, sustainability, or non0toxic elements on this renovation project. It may be a low budget, but by paying attention to the details and doing our research, we have found ways to keep much of the house in tact and also bring in local sourced, non toxic new materials into the home. We believe that all homeowners deserve to have a healthy home they can be more than proud of. You can see the before video footage of this home on the All About Business St. Louis show. Owner, Barrett Elwyn, will discuss ways Rethink Renovations brings green into the home. Click on the video link: http://rethinkrenovations.com/video.html We hope to inspire all those that are curious about eco conscious changes that can be made in the home or workplace….
-The Rethink Renovations Team 
Before 
Before
After The Kirkwood home is complete and we are excited to share the before and after pictures! This home is is USGBC LEED-H and ANSI green homes registered. Not only is it a green home, it is a rehabbed home with great design. This living room is a classic example of taking a space that is completely outdated and giving it a fresh new makeover. The living room was once the garage of the home and has been through a few remodels. We hope this is the last one, because it is truly amazing! The floors are a polished concrete with exposed aggregate and are heated by radiant heat that is tied into the geothermal system. The beam is covered with snow fence from Centennial Woods out of Wyoming, which is also used in the tub surrounds of this home. This reclaimed element compliments the owners modern farmhouse design that was inspired by the clean and rustic homes of the California wine country. This is just one room in the house… -The Rethink Renovations Team |
