Life & Work with Sherry Pellegrino of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Pellegrino.

Hi Sherry, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
What began as a passion for old houses and structures has turned into saving time and history one home/structure at a time. We found our passion from old homes back in 2016 when we purchased a property with structures on it from the late 1700’s and later. Some had been restored and some needed restoration. That led to Joel & I discovering just how much we were in awe of the way these structures were built. From the handcrafted king boards in the flooring to the character that each one of these buildings and homes had, they were speaking to our hearts. We have since started our business, Saving Time Design, Inc. We work diligently to save as many houses and structures from demo. You know the ones that everyone says is “past the point of repair,” and “one day from demolition.” Over the years we have moved houses set for demolition, moved them to our clients family land, totally restored them and made them back into a home. One that can be lived in for another 100 years and many generations to come. As well as restoring family homes that have been in the family for years for clients that have chosen to save “grandmas house” and bring it back to life along the way adding our special touches with adding character throughout. The difference that we make is that 80-90% of what we take out of a home we put into the home be it a new wall made of the lath hiding in the walls behind the plaster for 100+ years or using never painted bead board tucked up behind the dropped ceiling that most of these historic homes have. Every houses history is researched and then researched some more to try to add elements of its history back into it. From that history we take the time to add a special gift back to the home by adding a book of history including photos of the process of restoration into the last wall before we close it up, so the history of the home stays with the home. It’s all about Saving Time and History!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s hard for some people to see the value in saving an old house/structure. It is ALOT easier to tear it down and build a new house, trust us we know, we also build new custom homes, BUT when the project is over and they walk into their finished home the happy tears flow, the awe’s and OMG’s have made the unsmooth roads easier. You will always have clients who doubt you along the way, who question everything that you do (with well intention) BUT, when you get to the end and you hear “how did you read my mind?” “how did you know that’s what I would of picked” or “you brought so much love into my home,” it makes the rough roads and days worth it. We LOVE what we do, we love the end result-the stress in between just makes the end results so much sweeter.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Saving Time Design, Inc. is most known for our historic one-of-a-kind restorations. We are known for adding character back into a space that time has forgotten, that vandals have destroyed or thieves have stolen. If a home is from 1895, it is supposed to have hardwood floors (some under 5 layers of everything else), rosettes and plinth boards, elaborate trim in higher end homes, wavy glass windows and bead board!! If that has been removed from the home, we go out of our way to either hit our stash of supplies and materials, search antique stores, flea markets, thrift stores, whatever we have to to find what these homes need. A custom hood vent made from a old Everett piano saved from the dumpster, a vanity made from Grandma’s old sewing cabinet or herringbone-hand cut and laid of old bead board walls that the pieces were long enough to use in solid runs any more, so why not! Why not just save the house or structure, save all the history that you can!! Once it is gone, you can never get it back.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
We LOVE seeing and following what other companies that “do what we do.” To see what they have found hidden behind walls, We learn from following others. Especially ones in different parts of the country and world, it helps us learn how things are built and used. Social media is great for sharing love with all who do what you do, but also for seeing the smiles when they discover what’s hidden behind the walls!! We also learn from talking to generations that have lived and grew up in these spaces. My favorite go to is my Great Aunt Marian, a sweet lady of age who can identify a bottle we have found in a wall that google has no idea what it is. Believe it or not, google can’t tell you everything. But the older generation, the ones that when they’re gone history goes with them-they are the best to ask. So much knowledge of items that are not made anymore, ones that built things to last forever. Treasure those folks.

Pricing:

• Pricing is per project
• Location is Greater Atlanta Area

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.savingtimedesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savingtimedesign
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savingtimedesign
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/savingtimedesign