Monday, September 15, 2008

News-Gazette reporter

David Smedley and Richard Stewart have finished remodeling the upstairs of their Step Back in Time antique shop on the corner of State Line and Oak Street in Union City. The word "remodeling" doesn't quite do justice to the work that transformed a dreary, unused apartment into a glowing, open graceful space that is visually stunning.

Smedley says, "Making something beautiful is 95 percent desire. The cost of a plain and simple job would have been just as much as what we did. You should make a project as nice as you can."

The project was a love/hate relationship. Stewart thought Smedley was crazy for starting another major project. They have already renovated the brick home on Columbia where their beauty shops are, and they also renovated a farm they have since sold.

"I'm done!" Stewart proclaims. "The farm almost killed us, and this about finished us off."

The ceiling is turquoise, and the walls are peach. White pillars and elaborate woodwork outline the details of the space that runs the entire length of the building.

The creative duo found the colors when they stripped the stairway. At first Stewart about gagged when Smedley applied the turquoise paint, and then Smedley about gagged on the peach color. Now they both find the unusual color combination exciting and happy.

"We set aside our fears to make it happen," Smedley says.

Two sets of white columns separate the long space into three sections.

Smedley jokes, "Whenever I get my Gentleman's Club going, the poles will be ready!"

The upstairs had dropped ceilings and ugly, old paneling. When Smedley ripped out those coverings, he discovered a major crack in the wall. That meant hiring professionals to fix a structural flaw.

Smedley ripped out an old chimney. Instead of closing it up, he used fancy wood trim to create a bookcase. The upstairs is filled with light from the many windows, some of which provide a bird's eye view of downtown.

The floor is a floating, wood laminate floor, more graceful than the original old plank floor that is still intact under the new covering. The remodelers wanted to go for a wood look without having to worry about splinters and refinishing in the years ahead.

Smedley explains, "It's important to look at multiple potential uses for a building. The more uses the building can have in the future, the better the chance of extending its life."

While the space will now be filled with the overflow from the antique business, it could be converted to a workshop or an apartment.

Smedley and Stewart purchased their materials from local businesses, and they are thrilled with the results. Didier Hardware supplied the floor, which Smedley installed. Mark Didier paid a personal visit to make sure the installation was started correctly, and then he asked to take photos for his company's website.

Exactly who did what on the project isn't' totally clear. Stewart carried the flooring upstairs. Smedley did the demolition and the painting. He proudly points to a hand smudge on the new paint and credits Stewart for that.

Stewart replies, "Hey, no way was I going to be able to get up off the floor without giving myself a hand up."

Surveying what they have created, the two men are pleased with their efforts. Smedley says, "It gives you a sense of accomplishment even in a time of a depressed economy."

At age 60, Stewart vows, "This is the last one!"

But Smedley, gesturing at the view of two states, is already talking about replacing the balcony that once graced the building's front.

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