Big news — major progress is happening at the duplex and we couldn’t be more excited. We last shared an update about a month ago when the duplex had been drywalled, and since then the project has taken some huge, planned steps forward. I’m Sherry Petersik and I’ll admit I’m a little “messy” with excitement about these developments. Ready for a lot of enthusiasm and plenty of photos?
The photo above shows the living room on the right side of the duplex after painting and trim work. Each side of the duplex is an identical mirror of the other and functions as a separate unit with its own street address. We painted every wall throughout the duplex Sherwin-Williams Spare White, a subtle gray with just enough contrast against the Sherwin-Williams Extra White trim.
Because we’re using bold tile, colorful doors, painted stair risers, and unique cabinets, the soft Spare White provides the perfect neutral backdrop to let those features stand out. Even in this simple state you can see how far the space has come from when we first saw it:
One of the immediate standout updates when you enter is the return of our chippendale railings from Richmond — they fit perfectly on the duplex stairs. We removed these railings from our Richmond porch during demo, and discovering that they match the stair openings here felt like fate.
Originally the staircases were closed in and dark, with drywall covering both sides. Opening the bottom five steps to the living area made a dramatic improvement in flow and light, and the salvaged railings add geometry and visual interest to the interior.
This view shows what the stairwell looked like from upstairs — just a tiny doorway to peek into the living room. The opened stairs feel so much more welcoming now.
We were pleasantly surprised that the railing lengths we salvaged from Richmond also matched the top sections of the stairs. With only minor trim adjustments they’ll be a perfect fit. It’s thrilling when old materials find a new, ideal home.
We might refine the newel caps — I tend to call the round top a “hamburger” and want a squarer top — but that’s a small tweak compared to how great the railings look overall.
At the back of the house we’re adding a transom above a widened doorway into the kitchen. Sean mocked up the transom with two 1×6 boards to check proportions, and after reviewing it we decided to narrow the bottom trim to a 1×4 for better glass-to-trim balance. This small change will make the transom feel more proportionate and let more light through.
Many of the primed, solid wood five-panel doors were installed and a few already have their first coat of paint. These doors, the transom, and the exposed brick chimney in the kitchen create a cohesive look that feels like original character restored rather than an afterthought.
Because this house was a long-term rental, many original details had been replaced with inexpensive updates over the years. Our goal is to reintroduce older-feeling charm through elements like solid wood doors, the transom, and exposed brick, and seeing those details come back is very satisfying.
The kitchen is currently full of boxes (we’re storing bathroom vanities there temporarily), but it’s shaping up to be a great, well-proportioned space. The wide opening to the dining room and double pocket doors leading to the laundry/mudroom create a balanced flow. The kitchen will also feature a full tile wall to the ceiling, which we discussed when choosing tile for this project.
The pocket door glass is currently covered with protective paper, but they already add a polished, refined detail. We’ve debated whether to leave the pocket doors stained or paint them. On one side we want stained doors to coordinate with a painted diamond-panel door, and on the other side the kitchen cabinets will be a lighter blonde wood. That mix of stained and painted elements will help each unit have its own personality while maintaining cohesion.
Sean’s crew has started painting interior doors upstairs and the results are exactly what we hoped for. On the right-side unit all doors are painted Sherwin-Williams Oyster Bay, a muted gray-blue with a hint of seafoam that provides a subtle pop against the white walls and trim. It’s a calm, fresh combination that reads modern but still warm.
The diamond-paned windows cast charming shadows across the floors in the front bedroom, adding to the vintage-meets-refined feel we’re creating.
On the left-side unit we’re painting doors Sherwin-Williams White Truffle — which is actually a soft muted pink rather than a white. The first coat is down and the final result will be softer and more integrated once additional coats and lighting are in place.
We’re planning to start tiling this weekend — yes, we’re finally at the tiling phase — which means the remaining major tasks are floor refinishing, assembling the kitchens, installing lighting, and hanging bathroom vanities. The finish line is in sight and it’s incredibly motivating.
Stay tuned for more progress updates as these twin units continue to transform into fully realized homes. If you want to catch up on the full renovation timeline or hear more about the project’s financing and our approach to investing in rentals, you can find prior posts and episodes covering the duplex project in our archives.