The Ley Group

Simon Ley and his team at The Ley Group did a beautiful job of transforming the first floor of our 1880s row house on Capitol Hill. We bought the house knowing that it had good bones, but the intermittent renovations over the past 100 or so years – including a well-meaning but not fully competent re-do by previous owners more than 20 years ago – had left the house with a more cut-up floor plan than it had originally, a living room bereft of its original fireplace, and a dark and cramped kitchen at the back. We had fine design work from our architect (Ossolinski Architects, PLLC) to guide the renovation, but we had enough prior experience with earlier, more minor renovations to our house and another old building to know that a serious structural overhaul likely would trigger unanticipated challenges. We also understood the need to choose a contractor that was genuinely interested in the historic character of the house and the possibilities of weaving modern construction advancements into the Victorian fabric of the building. Our job did hit some bumps, but we were pleased with the professional manner in which The Ley Group addressed problems – and we are completely delighted with the end result of the company’s work. Our introduction to Simon and his Operations/Project Manager, Christian Best, came through a “beauty contest” arranged by our architect. We met with three different contractors, and our architect was quite neutral throughout all three presentations – but his relief was obvious when we chose The Ley Group. The architect understood that we would be relatively picky and demanding, even though we were on a budget. It wasn’t a hard choice to make based on the interviews; from the beginning the people at The Ley Group treated us as intelligent consumers with whom they were happy to collaborate. We understood that The Ley Group would be somewhat more expensive than the alternatives with whom we met, but they were worth it throughout the construction process, from the professional planning schedules to their sensitivity to our Capitol Hill neighbors during demolition and through to the end. As I write this, I am sitting in the slightly expanded and completely rebuilt kitchen at the back of the house. The Ley Group brought to reality our desire for a modern take on the Arts and Crafts look, which began with the complete gutting of what existed before. The amount and quality of natural light alone is transformative: The size and number of our windows increased by about 600 percent. Along the old "dog-leg" wall, which originally had just one window, The Ley Group inserted four new ones. The company also replaced the old back wall with a glass door and a bay window (complete with cushioned seat) overlooking the small back garden. The work space within the kitchen is much better organized, and the white cabinetry and chunky, dark quartz countertops give the room a relaxed, airy atmosphere. It has become a favorite space for occasional telecommuting "office" space during the work week. From the elegance perspective, Thy Ley Group’s signature work was the living room, beginning with the revival of a fireplace that had been covered over about 80 years ago. The greatly "enlarged" front room feels twice the size of the original mostly because of the removal of non-load-bearing walls that dated to the house’s original construction and a 1930s-era partitioning of the main room. The entire first floor is a graceful marriage of historic feeling and modern open concept: The openings from living room to dining room to kitchen are much larger and better oriented than before, but the remaining supporting walls, however small, evoke what was here originally. A 1930s renovation of the living room and hallway had introduced molding on the walls (French provincial? Art Deco? Take your pick!). The Ley Group replicated the old molding beautifully in the expanded living room and extended it delicately to the ceiling of the dining room. We genuinely enjoyed working with The Ley Group, and we were particularly pleased at the collaborative relationship we developed with Ben Damron, who served as the on-site, daily superintendent of our project. Ben answered our questions quickly and forthrightly, and as he came to understand our taste and concerns, he also served as a great bridge in translating our desires to the architect. We have no hesitation in recommending The Ley Group as a residential contractor and expert in historic renovation work.

An outstanding, professional group with the utmost attention to detail, the knowledge and skill set to find the perfect solution to any client need or desire as well as right on for budgeting and timing. We did an enormous project with them - took a 1911 house to the bone and recreated a fabulous home - every inch touched, changed and altered. Would highly recommend them for any size job. Their new office is on Wisconsin Avenue.

We have worked with The Ley Group on five separate projects over the last seven years. From the first project, we could tell they understood and supported what it takes to understand our client's vision and build a unique product. They work with us to find ways to stay on-budget, frequently without sacrificing elements or quality that we or our clients find important. Invariably, they are professional, responsive, & pleasant to work with before, during and, equally important, after construction. We work in the classic “Owner-Architect-Contractor” method so we frequently work with other great contractors too. We always like it when our clients put The Ley Group on their short-list for consideration.

I unequivocally recommend the Ley Group for a significant construction project. We have managed two large renovations and this project, by far, was a much better experience for many reasons. They Ley Group was: 1. Responsive 2. Timely 3. No surprise charges 4. Fair 5. Pleasant 6. Detail oriented Our project manager was amazing; the Ley employees were extremely professional and trustworthy and talented, the subs were all very good. At the end of the project, Ley sent over an assistant project manager, who is extremely detail oriented to manage the punch out process. This was a dream come true. We have a second phase of our project which includes kitchen and master bedroom and we hope to hire them again.

TLG built an extensive addition onto the front and side of our house, including a new kitchen, new decking and a new garage. It was a contemporary addition, and the details and finishes were quite intricate. They did a wonderful job and were a pleasure to work with.