Portfolio › Shadowlawn Residence
Historical Renovation
River Oaks · Houston, TX
Shadowlawn
Residence
$1.2M
Project Investment
18 mo
Construction
1930
Original Build
100%
Fixed-Price Delivery
The Project
A 1930s Georgian Brick
Estate, Fully Restored
The Shadowlawn estate had stood for nearly a century when the Whitfields took possession. The bones were extraordinary — original brick laid by a Galveston mason, longleaf pine floors milled from East Texas timber, plaster walls still bearing the original 1930s lime work. But ninety years of Houston summers, two prior renovations, and decades of deferred mechanical work had left the home in a condition no other contractor would commit to a fixed price for.
Our pre-construction assessment took six weeks. We opened seventeen wall locations, documented every mechanical run, photographed every plaster profile, and brought in three specialty trades for their portion of the assessment before we wrote a number we could stand behind.
The result is a home that reads as if it had always been this well-kept — original character intact, modern systems invisible, every surface restored to a standard the original architect would have recognized.
Scope
Whole-Home RenovationMechanical ReplacementFloor RestorationVeranda ReconstructionCustom Wine RoomPool & Motor Court
Project Details
Neighborhood
River Oaks
Architectural Style
Georgian Revival
Square Footage
6,400
Original Built
1930
Project Investment
$1.2M
Duration
18 months
Contract Type
Fixed-Price
Architect
Stuart Lankford
Status
Completed 2024
The Approach
Four Phases of Disciplined
Restoration Work
The Shadowlawn project advanced through four overlapping disciplines — each requiring specialized subcontractors, careful sequencing, and Kirby’s personal supervision.
01
Pre-Construction Assessment
Six-week physical inspection. Seventeen wall openings. Three specialty trades engaged for their portion of the assessment. Every discovery photographed and priced before contract.
02
Mechanical Modernization
Full electrical replacement (panel, wiring, fixtures). Complete plumbing repipe (galvanized to copper). New HVAC system with concealed ductwork in original plaster wall cavities.
03
Character Preservation
Original longleaf pine floors restored in place where possible, re-milled to match where replacement was required. Plaster wall profiles documented and replicated. Hardware restored, not replaced.
04
Structural Reconfiguration
Selective wall removal for modern living patterns. Reinforced original masonry where load paths changed. Veranda rebuilt to original 1930s joinery detail with modern weatherproofing concealed beneath.
The Project Gallery
Where Original Character
Meets Modern Performance
Front Façade — Restored Brick
Veranda — Rebuilt to Original Joinery
Primary Bath — New Mechanical Concealed
Custom Wine Room — Climate Controlled
Pool & Motor Court — Reimagined to Estate Character
Project Highlights
Six Decisions That Defined
the Restoration
Six-Week Pre-Construction Phase
Seventeen wall openings, three specialty trades engaged, every system documented before a fixed-price contract was written.
100% Original Floor Restoration
Longleaf pine boards lifted, undamaged sections reused, replacement boards milled from period-matched timber to match grain and patina.
Concealed Mechanical Replacement
New electrical, plumbing, and HVAC concealed entirely within original plaster wall cavities. Zero visible chase or surface-mounted runs.
Plaster Wall Profile Recreation
Original 1930s plaster moldings cast in silicone, recreated by hand where original profiles had failed. Indistinguishable from intact original work.
Climate-Controlled Wine Room
What had been a coat closet and adjacent half-bath is now a custom 600-bottle wine room with integrated cooling and Sapele cabinetry.
Pool & Motor Court Restoration
Original 1930s pool footprint maintained, surface and surround rebuilt. Motor court paving replaced with reclaimed cobblestone matched to estate character.
“
We had interviewed four other builders before we spoke with Kirby. Within the first conversation, it was clear — this is someone who actually cares what your home becomes. He walked our property himself, asked questions no other contractor had thought to ask, and gave us a fixed number before we signed anything. Eighteen months later, we are living exactly the life we described in that first meeting.
R. & C. Whitfield
Shadowlawn Estate Owners — River Oaks
Begin Yours
Every Restoration Begins
with a Conversation
If your home has a story like this one, we would like to hear it.
Call Kirby directly