More On Renovations & Remodels
What We Build
Designed for Modern Life Inside Historic Walls
A failing roof that cannot wait. A kitchen that stopped making sense years ago. A house full of history that deserves to be lived in, not worked around.
The question is always some version of the same thing: how do you modernize a home that has irreplaceable character without losing the parts that made you want to live there? It is the right question, and one we have answered many times.
The answer is not gutting it and starting over. It is understanding what is worth preserving, what needs to be replaced with period-appropriate materials, and where modern systems can be integrated without leaving a trace. Whether you are planning a historic home remodel or a full structural restoration, the goal is the same: a home that feels exactly like itself, just better. And worth more because of it.
Here is the part most contractors skip: the conversation about what the house actually needs versus what it looks like it needs. A structural issue hiding behind original plasterwork is a different project than a cosmetic refresh. Building to satisfy the Historic Preservation Review Board is a different process than a standard permit pull. Structural and mechanical work comes first. Everything else follows. We start there, before anything gets drawn.
How It Works
Details that Matter When Restoring Historic Homes
The details that define a historic home remodel are not always the ones that show up in the renderings. They are the ones you notice once you are living in the finished space.
Does the new kitchen feel like it belongs to the house or like it was dropped in from somewhere else? Does the restored woodwork match what was original or just approximate it? Can you hear the HVAC system that was not supposed to be noticeable? Does the addition look like it was always there?
We think about all of it:
- Matching original materials so repairs and replacements are genuinely seamless
- Integrating modern mechanical systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) without disturbing historic finishes
- Meeting Secretary of the Interior Standards and HPRB requirements from the design phase forward
- Sound, light, and livability, because preservation without function is not a renovation
- Accessibility and aging-in-place upgrades where relevant, done in a way that respects the architecture
- Site protection and neighbor communication, because DC rowhomes share walls and share streets
DC’s historic districts are not forgiving. Tight lots, shared walls, layered regulatory review, and neighbors close on both sides. We have been working in this city long enough to know where the complications live and how to design around them before they become problems on-site. We work regularly in Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Kalorama, LeDroit Park, and across the District’s historic neighborhoods.
Why Blue Star
The Right Team Makes All the Difference
Historic home renovations in DC require a level of regulatory fluency and architectural sensitivity that most firms cannot offer. The Historic Preservation Review Board, the Commission of Fine Arts, and DC’s building and zoning codes all have to be navigated before a single decision gets made. It takes a team that has done this before and knows where the complications hide.
We are an Architect-Led Design Build firm, and on a historic renovation that distinction is everything. When the architect and builder are the same team, the preservation requirements shape the design from the start and nothing gets lost between the drawing table and the job site. Our process is built around three things: Lifestyle Driven Design, Craftsmanship with Architectural Details, and a Transparent Process.
Lifestyle Driven Design
A historic home should live the way you need it to, not the way it was designed to in 1890. We start by understanding how your household actually functions today, then design around that reality while respecting the architectural character that makes the property worth preserving.
Craftsmanship & Quality Details
The details that define a historic home are exactly the ones that require the most care to preserve. We are deliberate about material selection, millwork, and every finish decision that determines whether the renovation honors the original character or quietly undermines it.
A Transparent Process
Historic renovations in DC involve HPRB review, permit coordination, and in some cases Commission of Fine Arts approval. We manage all of it and keep you informed at every step. You will know what your project requires, what the timeline looks like, and what drives the budget before any work begins.
Let’s Figure Out What’s Possible
We do not do high-pressure consultations. They are mostly us asking a lot of questions and being upfront about what is realistic for your specific home, your historic district, and your budget.
Some clients are ready to move forward. Others are still months away from a decision. Either way, you leave with a clearer picture of scope, timeline, and what the preservation process actually looks like for your property.
If you are in the early stages of thinking through a historic renovation in Washington DC, that is exactly the right time to talk.
Recognized by the Industry, Trusted by Our Clients
Thank you to our wonderful clients, exceptional employees, trusted partners, and everyone who helps us produce work we’re proud of. We’re honored to be recognized again as a multiple PRO MidAtlantic award winner in 2026, our 8th year in a row.
- Dream
- Design
- Build
- Enjoy
Most DC homes were built to last a century. Yours already has. Blue Star designs and builds historic home renovations that treat your home’s original character as the starting point, not an obstacle. We serve Washington DC and have spent years navigating the specific complexities this city puts in front of every historic project. Not just renovating. Restoring.
Happy Clients
Blue Star’s best trait is their attitude. Everyone is unfailing polite, even when things got hard. And when things went wrong, which I fully anticipated would happen, you guys did the right thing every single time.
When you buy from Eric and his team, you can rest assured that they will address problems your inspectors couldn’t see.
The craftsmen used were excellent. We were impressed with their work and attitude and ability to creatively work around issues. The addition seamlessly integrates into the rest of the house and it’s hard to believe that the new spaces haven’t always existed as part of the original home.
Blue Star loved the architectural and design challenges I handed them, and each time I came up with a new idea, they were driven to figure out the best way to deliver.
I was very pleased with my experience with Blue Star. The reason for the top 5-star rating is three fold- the quality of the work, the prices they obtained for materials and the design elements. I did a large renovation (kitchen, 3 bathrooms, HVAC, plus knocked down some walls) which took about 4 months.
Blue Star came in on budget and ahead of a very, very tight and critical schedule. We highly recommend them to anyone considering a renovation.