Kirby Perkins Construction and homeowners awarded Doris Duke Preservation Award for the restoration of interior decorative woodwork

Hiilltop, a late 19th century residence originally designed by Richard Morris Hunt, possesses extraordinary examples of hand carved decorative interior woodwork. Kirby Perkins Construction has been recognized for their restoration of Hilltop’s original oak interior hand carved into basket weave, cattails, barrel and pea, and egg and dart profiles. These details were refinished completely by hand by our restoration paint team, including the use of earth pigments in oil and shellac to match the patina of adjacent areas. The main staircase of tiger maple and Cuban mahogany was stripped of failed varnish and modern urethanes and beautifully restored. The curved wall ballroom, trimmed in tiger maple, was cleaned with alcohol and refinished with shellac and oil. Ornate brass and iron hinges were stripped of varnish and polished with jewelers rouge. Much of the ornate millwork, including the rafters, was coated in black from the use of fireplaces over the years. This film was carefully removed prior to the restoration of finishes.