When you pull into 7231 Valley Ave, you notice the quaint street, the rustle of trees and the classic exterior. Step inside and you immediately notice this isn’t your average twin. Beautifully renovated with a modern airiness that vibes with the mid-century bones. Meet Caitlin and George, two DIY’ers that took on the renovation of this gorgeous home. The work is complete and memories have been made. They are now lovingly passing it on to the next owners who will call it home.
Take us back to 2016, when you said “this is it” ! What made you fall in love with the place?
Well, honestly it wasn’t “love” at first site per se. We were looking for a fixer-upper and could tell the house had good bones and was built well. It had clean lines and was in desperate need of a modern reno so it was perfect. We also loved the yard and is within walking distance to our beloved Wissahickon park.
Tell us the good, The bad, and the THorns regarding your renovations.
We LOVE a good reno project! Every surface, I mean every one was covered in wallpaper! We would remove the wood paneling and find two layers of century old wallpaper designs, it was quite the undertaking. We thought we hit the jackpot when we noticed wood floors under the carpets but it was in bad shape downstairs so we updated with beautiful European white oak that George and his brother installed. The other big makeover was the kitchen, it had been stuck in the 50’s for a while. We completely gutted it, updated the appliances, and installed custom wood cabinetry made by George. It completely changed the downstairs and made it perfect for entertaining.
WHat’s Was the Reno Process like?
We thought we’d flip our house in a year but it took us much longer with our busy lives. We call it a slow roll instead of a flip. We lived there during all of the remodeling, demoing, etc. We walked on subfloors for a year and lived off of grilled cheese sandwiches lovingly made in our toaster oven in the living room. We learned so much about each other, got married while we lived here, lost loved ones, met new loved ones, went through a pandemic, all while creating a beautiful place to call home. It was perfect and I’m grateful for every moment. We’re excited to see who gets to make memories here next.
Aside from the kitchen, which LOOKS amazing, do you have another favorite spot, corner, or feature in your home?
We JUST finished the bathroom and it’s breathtaking. We updated the dated space with marble and basalt tiles inspired by our trip to Iceland, a custom vanity(again built by George), and modern matte black fixtures. It’s hard to pick a favorite space. I love our patio it’s perfect for gatherings or coffee in the morning. Even though it’s in a busy neighborhood the backyard feels secluded and serene. The living room is great too! Lots of beautiful light for plants and plenty of space to lounge.
Best memory in your home?
We’d have to say the first time we hosted our family’s Christmas Eve dinner. It brought us so much joy to have a home we were proud to have everyone celebrate in. It was the first Christmas we had celebrated together since the matriarch of our family passed away, it meant so much to have that torch passed onto us and to have a beautiful home to share.
What do you love about Roxborough?
Hands down the Wissahickon. It’s right there! We took Otter, our blue heeler, there almost every day rain or shine. The best part are the winter hikes in the snow, it’s gorgeous and quiet. Roxborough is great because it’s close enough to the city but far enough away to feel like a break from the busyness. The regional rail line is right there and there are a lot of great places to dine. We love the White Yak and our all time favorite hoagie spot T&F Farmer’s Pride, and evening walks to Rita’s on a summer night.
