Bolton Residence
In August 2005, Brashear Bolton received a Cincinnati Magazine Interior Design Award for the renovation of the Bolton residence at 125 West Ninth Street. April Bolton and the late Ralph Bolton created a modern living space within a circa 1840 townhouse in downtown Cincinnati. They preserved the exterior and retained important interior elements such as the high ceilings, ornate plaster moldings, and the original woodwork, while opening the interior space and adding contemporary elements. Adjacent to the corridor leading from the entry space to the living spaces is a new study. The wall between the study and the corridor is obscure glass with glass shelves on the corridor side for the display of the Boltons' pottery collection. The shape of this area suggests a chute, widening as it approaches the dining area. The entire space offers a feeling of openness with gradations of privacy from the front entry area to the family area in the rear. The project is featured in Cincinnati Magazine's November 2005 issue.
Newport Residence
A contemporary, first-floor addition was built to accommodate a new kitchen/family room, and a second-floor room was transformed into a family bathroom in the 1805 Colonial Revival home in the Mansion Hill historic neighborhood of Newport, Kentucky. A variety of materials were used for the addition's exterior, including brick, cement board, aluminum, and stained wood. The interior of the first-floor kitchen incorporates Italian cherry cabinets, granite countertops, wood floors, glass wall tile, and stainless steel appliances. The second-floor family bathroom is a typical bathroom for the children, surrounded by, and connected to, a master bathroom suite with a large open shower area and a double vanity. Translucent wall panels between the two spaces allow both to share natural light. The cabinets, countertops, slate floor, and glass tile walls provide a bold mixture of colors and textures. The project is featured in Cincinnati Magazine's Bold by Design section of the September 2005 issue.
Middle Earth Properties
Characterized by sensitive facade restoration and clean, contemporary interiors, these residential units reflect the resurgence of urban living in Cincinnati. The interior tone is set by the juxtaposition of contemporary materials and details on the backdrop of the masonry building envelope and exposed structural elements. Loft spaces, metal railings, wood floors, and elegant lighting provide a stylish, contemporary urban feel. Machine Flats has been called Cincinnati's first true industrial apartment project. Gibson Lofts won a Cincinnati Preservation Association Award in 2003. Collectively, these five projects affirm the resurgence of urban living and the value of adaptive reuse of the existing building stock in greater Cincinnati. Individually, each has made a significant contribution to the restoration and revitalization of its immediate urban community.
Fort Washington Hotel
The Fort Washington Hotel, a prominent Main Street landmark since 1888, was converted, in 2005, to ten luxury condominiums, featuring large, arched, bay windows, bamboo floors, exterior balconies, spacious floor plans, and interior private parking. Working with the Historic Preservation Commission, Brashear Bolton negotiated a Conservation Easement for the Main Street (east) facade to be held by the Cincinnati Preservation Association, ensuring permanent protection for this historical landmark.
Hannaford Condominiums And Townhomes
Designed by prominent Cincinnati architect, Samuel Hannaford, built as Our Lady of Providence High School in the late 1800s, and converted to an extended-stay hotel in 1986, Newport's Hannaford Suites Hotel is being converted to urban condominiums. Brashear Bolton is working with Chicago developer, Levy Family Partners, on the conversion of these condos and the addition of ten new townhouses at the north end of the Hannaford Property. The historic character of the exterior of the main building will be maintained. The contemporary townhouses, Newport's first new construction infill in a historic district, will honor the historic character of the surrounding urban fabric by visually relating to existing building shapes, scale, materials, and color.
