This complete interior remodel in Mount Vernon wasn’t just another project—it was personal. The homeowner is a dear friend and mentor, someone who sponsored me as a teenager when I was chasing national championship dreams in motorcycle trials. To return years later and use my craft to transform his home was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.

We began by saying goodbye to the past—scraping away the popcorn ceilings and removing the outdated radiant heating system that was in the ceiling, outdated, inefficient and unsafe. In its place, we installed a modern, high-efficiency HVAC system to bring comfort, air quality, and energy savings to every room.

At the heart of the home is a magnificent custom kitchen featuring beautifully crafted cabinetry and a standout design detail: a new window that allows the countertop to extend directly into it, creating a functional and striking focal point. The backsplash reaches all the way to the ceiling and wraps into the tiled window liner, accented with under-cabinet lighting that elevates the space day and night.

In the family room, we installed a sleek, modern gas fireplace with a TV mount that lowers down for more comfortable viewing when the fireplace isn’t in use, blending technology and design with ease. We also replaced every interior door and piece of millwork, laid durable and stylish luxury vinyl flooring, and upgraded the entire electrical system—including a new panel and 26 strategically placed can lights (a major leap from the original four). The finishing touch? Smart switches that let you shut off the entire home’s lighting with a single press as you head out the door.

From shag carpet and dated finishes of 1974 to a home built for modern living, this remodel was about more than design—it was about giving back to someone who gave to me when it mattered most.

Meaningful work. Modern transformation. Built with heart.

A Masterpiece by Maestro Don Petrick

I, Gary Lawver, bought my house in 1998 because of it’s proximity to the hospital, shopping and my work. I planned for my elderly mother to live out her years here and the shop/garage to be my “Man Cave”. Originally it was a modest house built in 1976 – a typical 1500 square foot in the city, 3 bedroom, 1 3/4 bath rambler, with a 24 x 24 shop/garage addition and a standard 80 sf shed. Through the years the house morphed with a few additions into a 1850 sf main house with a 650 sf ADU (mother-in-law apartment) and an extra bath and a half.

Flash ahead to 2025…My significant other, Dee Dee and I were glad to now be living in our modest house. After a few years living together we began noticing some obvious flaws in the old homestead. The most obvious was when she was cooking a sizzling meal, which Dee Dee loves to do, we realized we were at war with the smoke alarm because the kitchen had NO EXHAUST FAN !! That was the catalyst and I guess then the remodeling ideas started to multiply with the multi pet, 40+ year old carpet and worn linoleum floors and counter tops showing their wear and tear. Well, by now, the popcorn ceiling and flimsy hollow retro doors were really flashing back to the last century as well as the antiquated electric radiant ceiling heating?, baseboard heating and a natural gas stand-up fireplace which could heat the whole house but only from the center outwards. That meant that the bedrooms and utility room were freezing in winter and roasting in summer.

Enter Don Petrick Construction 2024

In the past Don always seemed too busy with what I imagined as exotic projects to find time to help me with my “small” project, as his incredible craftsmanship was in high demand. I talked with him about it a few times during the Covid lock down and he said he could pencil me in for 2025.

We started discussing options and budget; Don’s suggestions were:

1. Heating and air conditioning with new complete house (HVAC) system.
2. Rewiring the house with new panel, outlets and dimmable SMART recessed lighting.
3. Luxury vinyl flooring and new solid door options.
4. Removing the popcorn ceilings.
5. A new recessed remote controlled wall flush automatic gas fireplace in the living room.
6. Kitchen with:
   A. Exhaust fan…YAY!
   B. Custom Cabinets with a vogue coffee/tea area.
   C. Quartz counter tops and backlit backsplash with rough edge tiling.
   D. New Range, oven, dishwasher and refrigerator. 7. As an afterthought, we updated the main bathroom’s cabinets and fixtures.
7. All was completed with an interior paint job with a stylish accent wall.
8. Of course, precision trim/millwork throughout the project.
9. Oh yeah, we can’t forget our cat, Sunny… the chip sensing Smart Cat door!

Don was able to orchestrate what seemed like hundreds of craftsmen as he guided us through the innumerable number of choices we had to make and to help us keep up with modern styles. At the same time he always worked with us with our vision of what we liked.

As we sit here staring at this masterpiece a week after the project was completed we are in awe and question if we are worthy.

Thank you Don for our 21st century home with the great experience, in budget and on time.