Big news: major progress is happening at the duplex. After a year of planning, several exciting updates have finally come together and the transformation is moving fast. The last time you saw this place it had been drywalled; now the painted walls, trim, doors, railings, and other finishing touches are bringing the two mirrored units to life.
The living room shown above is on the right-hand unit. We chose Sherwin Williams Spare White for all the walls throughout the duplex. It’s a subtle, barely-there gray that gives just enough contrast against Sherwin Williams Extra White trim. This neutral backdrop allows the bolder elements we’ve planned—colorful tile, painted doors and stair risers, and unique cabinetry—to stand out without competing with the walls.
One of my favorite surprises was discovering that the chippendale railings we removed from our old Richmond porch fit perfectly in the duplex staircases. We opened the originally closed-in stairs to bring light and sightlines into the living spaces, and the salvaged railings add architectural interest and a hint of geometry that feels just right for these interiors.
Originally, the stairs were framed in and boxed off—drywall covered both sides—so you could only peer through a tiny doorway into the living room. Opening the bottom five treads has made the space feel lighter and more connected. It’s almost uncanny that the porch railings we saved were just the right size for both the lower and upper stair sections; a few trim adjustments and they’ll be fully integrated.
At the back of the house we widened the doorway into the kitchen and are adding an interior transom to bring more light and character between rooms. Sean mocked up the transom with 1x boards to test proportions and we decided the bottom trim should be a hair narrower to balance the glass-to-trim ratio. These small adjustments will make the transom look intentional and well-proportioned against the surrounding trim.
Most of the solid wood, five-panel doors were hung and primed. Some have already received their first coats of paint, though they won’t all remain white. Seeing the paneled doors, the new transom, and the exposed brick chimney together is a satisfying moment—the kinds of details that give a house a sense of history and cohesion.
Because the building spent years as a rental, many original features had been replaced or covered up. That made the decision to reintroduce solid wood doors, a transom window, and the exposed brick chimney even more meaningful. These elements help restore character and give each unit a feeling that it always belonged here.
The kitchen is currently full of boxes—bathroom vanities are temporarily stored there—but the layout feels well balanced. A wide opening to the dining room and double pocket doors that lead to the laundry room/mudroom create good flow. One wall will be tiled all the way to the ceiling for a bold, finished look.
The pocket door glass is covered in protective paper for now, but the doors already elevate the space. We’re debating whether to leave the pocket doors stained or to paint them—matching wood tones across different species can be difficult. One unit will feature lighter, blonde wood cabinets while the other will have blue cabinets with stained doors, so ultimately each kitchen will combine wood and painted accents for a layered, intentional feeling.
Paint color choices upstairs are already bringing personality to each unit. On the right unit, doors are being painted Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay, a muted gray-blue with a touch of seafoam that contrasts beautifully with Spare White walls and Extra White trim. The result is elegant and calm—exactly the tone we wanted.
On the left unit the interior doors are getting Sherwin Williams White Truffle, a soft muted pink that reads subtle and modern against the light walls and white trim. These doors have only one coat right now, so the full effect will be even better once finished.
We’re heading back this weekend and—fingers crossed—tiling will begin. Once tile is installed, the remaining tasks include floor refinishing, cabinet assembly, light installation, and bathroom vanity installation. The finish line is in sight, and it’s thrilling to watch everything come together as the duplex units evolve into fully realized homes. Stay tuned for more updates as these twins continue to take shape.