Sebastian and Alexandria join their parents out front; Scott had to convince Marissa that the massive, wooden front door was worth keeping. Photo by Jim Bastardo
Scott Friedmann usually flips the homes he buys, but when he and his wife, Marisa, a designer, got their hands on a brick colonial in Madison, they liked it so much, they decided to make it their own. Although neglected, the house was relatively new (built in 2004) and didn’t have significant issues. It did have tenants, so they had to sit on it for a few months.
Once the project got going, the couple worked at breakneck speed, overhauling the house and making the move from Maplewood with their two school-age children in just two months. The exterior got a face-lift—white paint over the old brick—but the bulk of the work was done inside.
On the first floor, they removed a wall between the kitchen and the living room, creating an open layout. Cracked terra cotta flooring was replaced with wide white oak. All walls were painted a crisp white.
The kitchen got a full makeover, with the exception of the appliances; the previous owner was a chef, so high-end appliances were already in place. Upstairs, the master bath and the kids’ shared bath were overhauled. The couple also finished the spacious basement, creating a rec room, an exercise room, a laundry room, a guest room with full bath, and Scott’s office.
A fresh coat of white paint was all the exterior needed to give the Friedmanns’ home more curb appeal. Photo by Jim Bastardo
The Friedmanns’ company name, the Home Revivalists, alludes to reviving old homes in towns like Madison, which have lots of 100-plus-year-old houses, and making them new for the modern buyer. “We’re breathing new life into old homes,” says Scott, “and that’s a beautiful thing.”