Smyth & Field

09/01/2026

Historic work is in the details

We’re moving along on this project in Wyoming, Ohio, and we’re getting into one of my favorite parts of historic renovation: the interior finish carpentry.

Whenever possible, we reuse the original doors, trim, and ornamental moldings that have been part of the house for over a century. But when you’re tying an addition into a historic home, you can’t exactly grab standard trim off the shelf and expect it to look right.👀

So we have new trim custom milled to match the original profiles.🤷🏼‍♂️

Then come all the extra details that make these old houses what they are — rosettes at the corners, plinth blocks at the base of the door casing, custom baseboards, shoe molding, crown molding, and plenty of other little details that most people probably never think twice about.

That’s really the goal with this project: the new work shouldn’t look new.

When we’re finished, you shouldn’t be able to easily tell where the original house stops and the new work begins.

It takes more time. It takes more planning. And it definitely takes more craftsmanship.

But that’s the fun part!

Preserve what we can. Recreate what we can’t. And make the new work belong.

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08/27/2026

Moving right along on the 3rd-floor framing. 🔨

There isn’t one part of this project that’s straightforward or “standard.” With three-story new construction making up only a small percentage of residential builds, that pretty much sums this one up.

Historic masonry, new framing, complicated tie-ins, and plenty of problem-solving along the way—but that’s exactly the kind of work we enjoy.

No cookie-cutter construction here. Just craftsmanship, patience, and figuring it out one detail at a time.

More progress soon. 🏚️➡️🏠

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08/18/2026

The second-floor walls are up, and the third-floor structure and subfloor are down. 🔨

Mother Nature has apparently decided she’s part of the construction schedule—and she’s not great with deadlines. 🌧️

Despite the rain and more than a few speed bumps, we’re moving up and making progress.

More updates soon!

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08/05/2026

Framing update!
The 2nd-floor walls are up, and we're moving on to the 3rd floor.

Before we leave the first floor behind, check out this incredible radius framing wrapping around an outside octagon that is almost complete. Every piece was individually laid out and cut—a true showcase of our crew's craftsmanship.

It's details like these that set custom construction apart. 🚧💥🔨🪚💪🏽💥🚧 More photos coming soon!

07/31/2026

‼️Demo Day‼️ Tearing up the old concrete floor, we found a Few layers of brick underneath.🫣 🙄
Always surprises in these old buildings...
As Forest Gump would say, "Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what your going to get".
So far so good, no dead bodies to report.....yet!😉
💥🚧💪🏾🔨🚧💥 More updates soon!

07/15/2026

Cincinnati Observatory begins $3M project >> See the full article below ⬇️

07/08/2026

We are honored to be the general contractor for the renovation of the historic Cincinnati Observatory. It's a privilege to help preserve a place that has inspired curiosity, education, and discovery for generations.

Our goal isn't just to restore a building—it's to protect its history while preparing it for the future. Every decision we make is focused on respecting the craftsmanship of the past while ensuring the Observatory can continue serving the community for many years to come.

Historic preservation is truly a team effort, and we're proud to play a part in preserving one of Cincinnati's greatest landmarks.
We look forward to bringing this vision to life.

06/30/2026

Another addition in the works..more updates soon.

06/09/2026

05/29/2026

Quick video of "The Reds Clubhouse". Check out more under Photos. ^ to see how we did it.

Cincinnati PreservationNeighborhood Preservation in ActionEric ...