Remodeling the Lettered Streets.
The Lettered Streets, the grid north of downtown where the avenues run A, B, C and on, are some of the oldest blocks in Bellingham. A lot of these homes went up in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and many still have their original kitchens and baths. That history is the draw, but it also means plaster-and-lath walls, undersized electrical, and plumbing that was never meant to feed a modern household.
The remodels that work here are period-respectful but honest about how people actually cook and live now. We keep the original feel of the house, the trim, the proportions, the character that makes these homes special, while we rework a cramped kitchen, update a tired bath, and bring the systems up to where they need to be. The goal is a remodel that looks like it belongs in a home this old and still works on a busy weeknight.
What we see on Lettered Streets homes.
Common home styles
Victorian-era and early-1900s homes on a tight grid, most with plaster-and-lath walls, original trim worth saving, and small, closed-off original kitchens and baths.
Popular projects
Period-respectful kitchen remodels, updating an original bath, and reconfiguring tight layouts to work today. New cabinets, countertops, and tiled showers come up on most jobs, with details matched to the home's age.
What's behind the walls
Behind Lettered Streets plaster we routinely find knob-and-tube wiring, undersized electrical, and original galvanized plumbing. We replace those runs, bring circuits to code, and waterproof every wet area before tile.