Crafting a major renovation: At the home of Peter Rinck and Laura Davis

The wife-and-husband team of Laura Davis and Peter Rinck are in the business of crafting marketing plans for varied regional and national brands. They use creativity, experience and knowledge to increase business and gain visibility and brand recognition for clients. On any day, you will find them helping clients to create and implement marketing and business plans.

When it came to implementing a major home renovation project for their home, they turned to local experts to help them master the renovation plan.

“Our home improvement project includes a total kitchen, sitting room, office, laundry room and hallway renovation. Essentially we are renovating our first floor common living space,” said Davis. “Our home is a nearly 250-year-old post and beam farmhouse in Buckfield. The most important thing to us is to optimize the beauty and integrity of the original structure while bringing in contemporary functionality and design elements that integrate well with the existing antique elements.”

The couple started their project, which is still under way, by creating a wish list.

“Peter and I both wanted a new kitchen design. We love to cook and entertain in our home and we have a huge family so we really wanted to create a space that would be welcoming and perfect for gatherings,” said Davis. “Last spring, as the very first step, we met with a contractor, Rich Lajoie of Lajoie Construction and his partner and brother, Dan Lajoie of Lajoie Precision Building Concepts. At the time, they were in the middle of building a brand new home so, after discussing our project, they agreed to line us up to be their next project.”

Davis was impressed with the skill and expertise offered by the Lajoie brothers. She found that in addition to being skilled in new construction, the team appreciated the process of restoring an antique home.

“Their bag of tools includes everything from construction to finish work, electricity and even sheet-rocking and painting. When they met with us, they were very excited about the project and the process of discovery that comes in an older house,” said Davis. “They let us know that in projects like ours, both wonderful things and scary things could potentially be uncovered. To be honest, it felt like we would be embarking on quite the adventure together.”

Davis jumped into the project feeling confident that no matter what was uncovered, the team would be able to tackle it.

The contractors advised the couple to work with local resources including Hammond Lumber and Paradigm Windows. Davis admitted that this was very helpful because their renovation project was so large and it could get overwhelming to know which subcontractors to choose. Early on, she also met with experts at Agren Appliance and F.X. Marcotte to assist in purchasing new appliances and to help with interior design.

As the project began, Davis said that an unexpected discovery led to a wonderful change of plans.

“We uncovered massive, gorgeous wooden beams in our sitting room. In the ceiling, there are hemlock beams that measure up to 16 inches across and the supporting posts are Gunstock Cherry. Once [we] uncovered these gems, it was an easy decision to leave them exposed.”

Davis said that the beams were repurposed for the house and had originally been used for a barn structure. The beams are all hand-hewn with Roman numerals carved in for supporting beams.

“It was an easy decision to keep the beams exposed and to restore them to their original condition,” said Davis.

Davis is eager to offer advice for others considering a renovation project.

“Leave plenty of time for the planning process,” she said. “Because we lined up our contractor last spring, it allowed us months to work [with our designer] and to really think through what we wanted in terms of design as well as to shop and research key elements such as appliances and flooring.”

She went on to suggest hiring a contractor you can trust and who brings varied skills and talents to the project.

“Our contractors have been a pleasure to work with, have met every time line milestone, and have offered valuable advice every step of the way.”

And her last suggestion might well be her strongest. “Buy local,” said Davis citing a list of contractors, building supply stores, window makers, appliance stores, furniture stores and banks that helped make her project come true.

“There are tremendous vendors and businesses to tap into right here in the Lewiston-Auburn area.”

: Submitted photo Even the siding had to come off as part of the renovation project at the Davis-Rinck home.

: Jessica Rice, kitchen designer at Hammond Lumber, came up with this artistic rendering of what the Davis-Rinck kitchen might look like when finished.

: Giving themselves almost a year to get everything in place before the actual renovation work began, was of great benefit to being able to line up deliveries and locate local services. Homeowner Laura Davis said she was happy with the work of Rich Lajoie of Lajoie Construction and his partner and brother, Dan Lajoie of Lajoie Precision Building Concepts.