Remarkable Remodeling

BY PATRA TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLGER OBENAUS

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In the wake of Hurricane Hugo, the reputation of repair contractors among locals seemed at an all-time low. After all, there had been many so-called home repair experts who swooped into the hurricane- ravaged Lowcountry, completed hurried and often shoddy repairs and moved on with pockets full of cash, never to be heard from again.

Two years later in 1991, Pete Loy had an inspired idea: to turn his lifelong interest in the construction business into a home remodeling and repair company with an emphasis on trust. Two decades and a long list of satisfied customers later, Loy’s brainchild, Citadel Enterprises, Inc., is still going strong.

“Many of my first jobs were repairing the repairs that were not done so well after Hurricane Hugo,” says Loy, a graduate of The Citadel and former construction superintendent for a commercial contractor. “Even during the area’s construction boom when it seemed like everybody was getting into new home construction, I stuck with this.”

From day one, Citadel Enterprises has specialized in home repairs, renovations, additions and inspections while emphasizing trust, service and neatness. His approach seems to have struck a chord with area homeowners, as evidenced by his impressive list of repeat clients. Growing his one-man operation into a team of professionals that includes two EPA Certified Renovators, as well as his wife, Liz, who serves as the company’s marketing manager, Loy has in recent years added design/build services to his repertoire to better serve his clients.

A recent total home remodel for a client highlights the company’s many skills. “We’ve done work for this couple through the years, beginning with repairs and window replacement in their home in the late 1990s,” says Loy, a licensed general contractor. “The wife has exquisite taste and good vision. She also has high expectations.”

According to Loy, what began as a kitchen remodel blossomed into an entire home makeover; there wasn’t any part of the house that went untouched. Through his award-winning company’s design/build services, Loy oversaw the project from concept to completion, with Alice Nixon Burress, AIA, serving as the project’s architect. “In the design/build process, the clients are engaged in all aspects of their project,” explains Loy. “By integrating all steps of the process, the end result not only fits the clients’ lifestyle, but also their budget.”

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Located in one of Mount Pleasant’s most desirable close-in neighborhoods, the home sits on an expansive double lot. To expand the kitchen into a central gathering area, Citadel Enterprises incorporated the home’s screened porch into the kitchen addition. The rear semicircular deck was transformed into a breakfast room surrounded by curved walls with natural wood finishes. The entry foyer now serves as a butler’s pantry; and a utility room was converted into a relaxing seating area with a fireplace.

The plans called for the addition of a powder room adjacent to the kitchen area. The powder room features a custom-designed and fabricated iron vanity and a tray ceiling that is accented with indirect lighting.“The ceiling glows in there,” says Loy. “It’s really beautiful.”

The living area, once focused on television viewing, was transformed into a formal seating area. “The client selected Margaret Donaldson Interiors to do the interior design for the entire house,” states Loy. “This is one of the rooms in which the Donaldson team really tuned into the client’s vision, perfectly incorporating art and items the client collected during her travels.”

A winding staircase leads upstairs to an added vestibule and media room, a technological wonder. The media area opens into a former finished room over the garage, which now serves as a billiards room.

In addition, the upstairs hallway was widened, and the master suite tripled in size. The former stairs were replaced with a private elevator. Smart interior design and decorating transformed the suite into a private oasis.

Outside, a new screened-in porch opens to views of the marsh and tidal creek. A custom-designed outdoor kitchen and a cabana featuring a custom-made teak daybed invite family and friends to enjoy a relaxing day poolside. “The cabana features a standing seam copper metal roof, copper guttering and tongue-in-groove wood,” points out Loy. “For the daybed, our client specified the mattress, and we built the teak frame to accommodate it.”

The backyard also features an aquatic pathway formed by granite stones that were hand selected and laid by a stone artisan. The aquatic pathway overlooks a spectacular koi pond. “The outdoor living space is truly a little piece of paradise, right in the middle of Mount Pleasant,” he says.

The house received energy efficiency upgrades and was smart-wired with high-tech control systems throughout. It also features a generator backup system that can power the entire house.

“We only use trusted subcontractors,” notes Loy, “those we have long-term relationships with who understand our goals. We strive to make sure our customers are 100 percent satisfied, and we always stand behind our work.”

In addition to all the skills that went into this project, Loy is one of only two area contractors who is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. His company offers Citadel Concierge Care, an individually designed home-monitoring service that regularly inspects homes and makes repairs on an as-needed basis.

“This home makeover was a huge project with literally thousands of details,” says Loy. “Today, I think this is one of the most desirable homes in Mount Pleasant. It just flows, inside and out. It’s not overstated by any means, but rather it has a clean design. Everything seems to fit and have a purpose. It’s a true reflection of the owners’ taste.”

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