Mid-Century Modern Addition in Cayuga Heights

Two-story addition added to an architecturally-significant, mid-century home in Ithaca, NY, with an unusual tapered footprint to follow the natural water features of the property. The addition contained a master suite, with custom woodwork details throughout, such as floating cabinets, a custom vanity, and stepped closet storage to match the original home. The bedroom opens on to a walk-out balcony. The lower level is a garage with a bicycle alcove in front.

Whole House Victorian Renovation

Three-story 1880 Victorian home in Ithaca, renovated top to bottom, including three bathrooms, a kitchen, restored interior walls and oak floors, new plumbing and electric, master suite with walk-in closet, and mudroom addition on rear of house. Historical details were preserved, plaster was restored, and rooms were updated with a modern touch.

Cozy Guest Room

Cozy third floor guest room with custom cedar closet in the knee wall, with refinished original oak floors.

Entryway Half Bath

Entryway half bath, tucked under main staircase, with banana leaf wallpaper and pedestal sink and toilet with polished brass fixtures.

Living Room Hearth

Our crew gutted most interior walls to replace degraded plaster, plumbing and electric, refinished the original oak floors, and then templated and added this custom marble fireplace surround.

Master Bath Shower

Master bathroom walk-in shower with Carrara marble subway tile walls and Carrara marble hexagonal mosaic tile floor and niche, and polished brass fixtures.

Master Bath Soaking Tub

Master bathroom with new clawfoot soaking tub over Carrara marble hexagonal mosaic tile with a honed finish.

Master Shower Niche

Master shower niche, Carrara marble subway tile walls and bullnose surround with Carrara hexagonal tile backgrounds.

Renovated Kitchen

Quartersawn oak cabinets matched to existing kitchen with a farmhouse sink in a island with seating, marble countertops and backsplash, refinished original oak and maple floors, and globe lights with antique brass hardware.

Renovated Kitchen

The Improbable Bathroom

Bathroom in a third floor mother-in-law suite expanded just enough to squeeze a custom tiled shower with a frameless swing-open glass door into the space. Walls in hand-glazed subway tile with Carrara marble hexagonal floor tile and polished brass fixtures.

Restore Plaster Interior

Our crew gutted most interior walls to replace degraded plaster, plumbing and electric, refinished the original oak floors, and preserved the original trim.

Restored Three-Story Staircase

Restored the original three-story wood staircase as well as surrounding plaster walls.

Restored Three-Story Staircase

Second story of restored wood staircase and surrounding plaster walls with original stained glass accent window.

Spacious Master Closet

Spacious master closet in a long and narrow footprint, with his and hers custom bar and shelf arrangements for clothing and shoes.

Children's Bath

Children’s bath with subway tile walls with black pencil line and tile chair rail border. Floor is basketweave Carrara marble tile. Tub/shower with custom frameless glass door and oil-rubbed bronze hardware.

Colorful Kitchen Remodel

A kitchen remodel that transformed the original, basic fixtures and layout into a creative, colorful mixture of modern, classic and rustic details. Designed by Karen Zeiders, built by Joel Frank Builders in 2017.

At the center of the kitchen is a red birch island with engineered quartz countertop. New, distressed walnut floors. Unique pendant light fixtures.

Slate-colored soapstone countertops resonate with eggplant cabinets. Farm sink with brushed nickel fixtures. Outlets are hidden on the underside of the cabinets to create a clean beadboard backsplash.

Eight burner, Bluestar professional grade range and 1400 CFM hood.

Writing nook with a custom, live edge, cherry slab desktop and energy-efficient, low profile LED lighting above.

Schoolhouse to Cottage Remodel

Custom designed and executed the remodel of a unique, energy-efficient Montessori schoolhouse into a one-bedroom cottage, working to retain as much of the charm and detail of the original build as possible. A full kitchen and bath were added, and a bedroom and laundry room were walled off from the original open space. The vaulted ceilings above were turned into a play loft for children.

Historically-matched Early American Kitchen and Trim Remodel

A highly unique kitchen remodel reflecting the homeowner’s affinity for early American furniture and art. Cabinets were built by acclaimed early-American designer David T. Smith, from Ohio. Joel Frank Builders worked closely with Smith to safely transport and install the custom cabinets to his specifications. The crew designed and remodeled wide-plank wainscoting and window trim throughout the house to complement the historical details in the new kitchen.

Historically-matched Kitchen and Trim Remodel

Basement Remodel with Custom Bar

Our client needed a whole basement remodel, complete with new floors, walls, closets and laundry area. In addition, they asked us to design a custom bar corner, which we built using locally sourced wood slabs and salvaged barn wood. 2016.

The homeowner had created stools with pipes for legs, so the JFB crew created a pipe fitting toekick on the bar to match.

The finished hardwood bar with a built-in beer tap.

The highlight of this complete basement remodel was the addition of a custom designed bar built from hand-selected barnwood and hardwood slabs.

The basement remodel included custom closets, cabinetry, laundry area, a new floor as well as the bar corner.

Closets, cabinetry and the laundry area.

The landing at the entrance to the basement.

Once selected, the team shaped and glued up the slabs into the bar countertop.

The back wall of the bar corner was sided in reclaimed barnwood. The crew carefully selected boards with nail holes to the give the wall more character. Some boards were turned on their side to create floating shelves.

Buttermilk Falls Bathroom

The JFB crew turned a dark, outdated bathroom into a bright, space-efficient retreat. Our custom design included a bespoke vanity with copper counter top and a pedestal bath. In the process of remodeling, we also repaired substantial water damage to the exterior wall and siding. 2015.

JFB designed and built this custom vanity with copper counter. The clients chose a bold mustard milk paint finish to match the character of their home.

Once a dark corner, JFB installed a luxe pedastal tub and raised the paint to a clean white, lightening the whole room and taking great advantage of the natural light from this tall window.

JFB installed a new, historically appropriate door in a sunken jamb and surrounded with an updated trim scheme.

JFB designed and built this custom vanity with copper countertop. The homeowners chose a bold mustard milk paint to give an original touch to the room.

The custom vanity being built in the JFB workshop.

Churchill Library

Realization of rough sketches of a Winston Churchill-inspired library by Joel Frank as part of the Cutcombe House project with Chizek Custom Builders. Details included coffered ceilings, fluted columns, shelving, glass- and wood-fronted cabinets, transition between rooms, arched window trim and fireplace.

Brooktondale Valley Studio and Garage

We assisted the homeowner, also a builder, in erecting the first stage of his new home overlooking a bucolic valley. We topped the lower level garage with a space slated to become a woodshop. This project involved uniquely angled lines and levered roofs. 2015.

We Olive Commercial Space

With FR James Construction in San Francisco, Joel oversaw the remodel of the We Olive commercial space, including the creation of built-in shelving and a tasting bar, as well as custom distressed trim. 2010.

Corona Heights Home Addition

With FR James Construction in San Francisco, Joel oversaw the construction of a new wing to this San Francisco row house, including a new bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. 2010.

Case Studies