Summer 2025

know-how to handle the extremely complex issues which arose aplenty in the Pacific Grove project, despite its comparatively small size. The original portion of the home was also in a terrible state of disrepair and had to be taken down to the inte- rior studs, which revealed themselves to be beautiful and sturdy old-growth redwood. The home’s foundation was another major issue. Consisting of piers resting on small piles of brick rubble of varying size and construction, the only solution was to raise the house and construct a completely new foundation beneath it.The house was suspend- ed in midair for six weeks, which attracted a lot of attention from neighbors and passersby. “All through the renovation we had so much posi- tive interest from the community—people would actually stop on their walks and clap and cheer us on,” shares Amy. Despite the complexity of the proj- ect and the many unforeseen setbacks, the Fischer team was able to complete the entire renovation in only 18 months. What drew Amy to the project was the opportunity for unlimited creativi- ty. The artistry and craftsmanship of the ornamental detail inspired her and, “I jumped at the chance to honor these details of the past,” Amy enthused. With inspiration from historic photos, Amy hand-drew intricate details for the front porch which she then utilized to create a complemen- tary design for a new balcony on the 1940 158 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 Once work began, it became apparent that the 1940 addition would have to be completely rebuilt. Photo: Amy Fischer The original Victorian structure and 1940 addition are now seamlessly combined through the incorporation of period appropriate woodwork and detail. Like the interiors, the exterior color scheme reflects the blues of the bay. Photo: Brad Knipstein