A rambling Fox Chapel farmhouse becomes a “white hot reno” with high-end details, a devotion to craft, and a lot of TLC from Black Boot Builders.

A Fox Chapel Farmhouse Gets a White Hot Update from Black Boot Builders

Architects Paul Shea and Lisa Simone, who are married, have known Dave Short and Zia Marinzel of Black Boot Builders, also married, for a while, but the couples hadn’t worked together until a kitchen renovation of a venerable Fox Chapel farmhouse. Shea & Simone, Carnegie Mellon grads who love to travel and take their inspiration from art, set out to retain the authenticity of the home, which had grown “organically” over generations. But they also wanted to invite light in, connect the interior with the picturesque landscape, and add a contemporary vibe.

They opened up a large space, using oak beams to configure squares and rectangles instead of walls to organize and define the kitchen, while providing a clear sight line to the family room and dining area. Color choices, along with an unusual blend of textures and materials—brushed brass, copper and polished nickel hardware from Rejuvenation, sit side-by-side in the kitchen, for example, along with both natural white oak and painted cabinets from The Kitchen Gallery— “reference the house, which is more traditional, but also bring them forward to today,” Paul says.

Crafting a Specific Style

Dave and Zia, who both have backgrounds in construction and design, started out as house flippers before launching Black Boot in 2018. They name each project. This one they dubbed “White Hot Reno,” Zia says, because of the white in the hand-distressed beams, wide-plank oak floors, work areas, and radius range hood, along with the white-hot heat needed for the finishes the architects selected. “We just knew the materials on their project would be stunning,” she says.

The kitchen is beautiful but practical. A long, narrow, oval island is the centerpiece. Its white oak surface sits atop a deep blue stainless-steel base and engages with an offset pub table. The island’s Caesarstone counter and the nearby bar’s quartzite top, both white, have striking dark veining that mirrors the bluish gray of the painted cabinetry. A BlueStar 60-inch range extends the color. A rippled white wall of Walker Zanger glossy vertical triangle chevron tile from Tile and Designs reflects the light.

Black Boot Builders Focus on Functionality and Beauty

Another striking feature is the floor-to-ceiling glass corner created with Kolbe VistaLuxe windows. Large plants thrive in natural light, doubling as a window treatment, and a sturdy tile floor allows for carefree potting and watering. Handcrafted Phillip Jeffries wall-covering, used sparingly, softens the transition from the kitchen to the rest of the house. From a practical standpoint, the best new addition may be the pantry, which Lisa says holds as much as 20 feet of cabinetry.

Typically, the architect recommends the builder to the client, and the builder defers to the architect. For Black Boot, that meant following architectural drawings filled with “super high-end finicky details that involved a lot of time and craft to bring to life,” Zia says, adding: “That speaks to the quality of the design work.” Shea and Simone in turn applaud the contractor’s attention to detail. “Their building really rose to the occasion,” says Paul. “Really exceptional craftsmanship.”

Of course, the opinion that counts is that of the homeowners who lived through the year-long project. “The client was thrilled with the outcome,” says Dave. No one’s arguing.

The Materials

• Cabinetry – The Kitchen Gallery
• Cabinet hardware – Rejuvenation
• Appliances – BlueStar range provided by Don’s Appliances
• Kitchen Faucet – Axor provided by Don’s Appliances
• Countertops – Vivid White by Caesarstone (perimeter), Arctic Ocean Quartzite (island and bar) installed by Ultimate Granite
• Flooring – Divine Flooring
• Furniture – Douds supplied the dining chairs and bar stools, Keith Reid fabricated the dining table
• Backsplash Tile – Walker Zanger (kitchen backsplash), Original Style (bar backsplash) provided by Tile & Designs
• Windows – Kolbe VistaLuxe supplied by Allegheny Millwork
• Steel Fabricator – London Pattern Metalworks
• Wallpaper – Phillip Jeffries

Story by Susan Fleming Morgans
Photography by Dave Bryce

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