--- title: "Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. — General Contractors | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~687929427.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc." category: ["General Contractors"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/60b349650f96e065_8288-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "91 River St, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States" latitude: 42.3647 longitude: -71.1042 phone: "(617) 661-7411" website: http://www.charlie-allen.com rating: 5 review_count: 9 best_of_houzz_awards: 2 followers: 486 last_updated: 2026-09-08 --- # Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. Original Houzz profile: [Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** General Contractors - **Location:** Cambridge, MA - **Serves:** Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, Brookline, Arlington, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Watertown, Needham, South Boston, Wellesley, Belmont, Dedham, Winchester, Charlestown, Dover, Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Center, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Wellesley Hills - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (9 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2013–2014), for Service, Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100,000 Ideabook Saves For more than four decades, Charlie Allen Renovations has been remodeling and restoring homes in the Greater Boston area. In that time, we’ve accumulated numerous awards and recognition, including 15 Cambridge and Somerville Preservation Awards, 5 Contractor of the Year awards, Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston, Remodeling Magazine’s Remodeler of the Month, Boston Globe Magazine’s Bathroom of the Year, and more. But more importantly, we’ve achieved the wishes and dreams of scores of area homeowners. Every year, a large percentage of our business comes from referrals, and it’s the recommendation of these former clients that is the greatest validation for both our work and for our process, which many find unusual at the beginning. At Charlie Allen Renovations, we put a lot of emphasis on the planning stage of every project. We don’t rush onto a job site and start demolition. Instead, we spend a good amount of time working closely with our clients to ensure that our plans perfectly address their needs, that we’ve considered and addressed potential issues, that we’ve explored innovative solutions and unexpected products and materials, and that we’ve developed a fixed-price contract that is realistic and eliminates surprises. This can be challenging for homeowners who want to get moving right away, but ultimately, it’s the most efficient method for achieving a successful renovation, completed on-time and on-budget. ### Services Provided - Home Remodeling - Bathroom Remodeling - Kitchen Remodeling - General Contracting - Home Additions - Basement Remodeling - Home Restoration - Project Management - Attic Conversion - Attic Restoration - Design/Build - Exterior Remodeling ### Areas Served - Boston - Cambridge - Newton - Somerville - Brookline - Arlington - Jamaica Plain - Lexington - Watertown - Needham - South Boston - Wellesley - Belmont - Dedham - Winchester - Charlestown - Dover - Auburndale - Chestnut Hill - Newton Center - Newton Highlands - Newton Lower Falls - Newton Upper Falls - Newtonville - Wellesley Hills ### Typical Job Cost $75,000 - 1 million Charlie Allen Renovations is an award-winning Residential General Contractor with a unique two-step process. We begin with a comprehensive and collaborative development and pre-construction program designed to ensure a successful project, billed at an hourly rate. Once we've accomplished a mutually satisfactory plan, we draft a fixed price scope of work with fixed pricing for construction. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. | | Address | 91 River St, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States | | Phone | (617) 661-7411 | | Website | http://www.charlie-allen.com | | License Number | \#108605 | | Followers on Houzz | 486 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Charlie-Allen-Renovations-Inc-89247963933/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) - **Website:** http://www.charlie-allen.com - **Phone:** (617) 661-7411 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - NARI Certified Remodeler, Lead Carpenter, Green Remodeler. NAHB Certified Aging in Place, Lead Remodeler. - Best Restoration Contractor, Boston Home, 15 Cambridge & Somerville Preservation Awards, 5 Contractor of Year Awards, Remodeling Big 50 & Remodeler of Month, Boston Globe Bath of Year. - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2013–2014), for Service, Design. **Affiliations** - [PRO New England](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/pro-new-england-pfvwus-pf~185095662) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 9 reviews** ### All 9 reviews **★★★★★ — Harry's Carpet One, Jan. 2016** > It's always a Pleasure Working with a First Class company, it makes my job as a flooring contractor so much smoother. Our experience has been that the staff at CHR pay attention to every detail no matter how small, to ensure the projects run smoothly and on time, which unfortunately is not always the case in the remodeling industry. **★★★★★ — splash, Oct. 2014** > I have been working with this firm for the past seven years! > They are a great, caring team that is very detail oriented. They are dedicated to renovating and re-newing, which is a different challenge than new construction, and they are more than up to the challenge! **★★★★★ — fhouman, Sept. 2014** > CAR is a highly effective organization of talented and extremely nice people. They are very capable of dealing with City departments because of their professional reputation. We had multiple overlapping deadlines and they were able to finish a major 3-story house renovation ahead of schedule. They are an extremely responsible, responsive, creative, and capable bunch. > Their approach is team-based and each team has a specific function. We had the pleasure of having Steve Weber, Marc Philben, in addition to Julie Palmer, and Charlie himself work with us. Steve is very talented and efficient. He loves the creative part of his work, and you can see the enjoyment in the final product. He is also capable of keeping large crews coordinated because everyone has an easy time communicating to him. Julie really cares about the project and often suggested ideas that made the outcome so much nicer. Julie is extremely responsive, was always on top of what was happening, and is impressively organized and detailed in her communications. We will certainly work with them again and highly recommend them. **★★★★★ — Melissa McGaughey, Feb. 2014** > CAR did a wonderful job, start to finish, renovating our old house in Cambridge, MA. The job included a new kitchen, new wood-burning fireplace w/ exterior chimney and revamped third floor/attic space. They skillfully guided us through "surprises" like support beam and foundation issues and rot, coming up with the most cost effective but correct way of fixing problems. From the design phase to the daily interactions with foreman to the punch list ,the whole team at CAR was extremely professional, punctual, helpful and thorough. I feel that we most definitely got what we paid for in terms of quality of work and guidance. They managed subcontractors very well and their long term relationships with the subs worked to our advantage. I would highly recommend CAR, whether you have an old house or not, big job or small. **★★★★★ — Downer / Associates, Jan. 2014** > Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. and my architectural firm, Downer / Associates, have completed close to a dozen projects together, many as a design / build team. Charlie and his exceptional staff bring to each project years of experience providing high quality construction, attention to all the details, thorough project management, and outstanding client service. His firm is particularly adept at renovating and restoring older and historic homes. I love working with Charlie and his team because I know my designs will be executed at the highest standard. **★★★★★ — garydwyer, July 2013** > They did a great job on my gut bathroom renovation - very thorough planning, quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, wanted to make sure it was done right and took the time to understand what I was looking for (i.e. tile layout, sink height, etc.) in the final product. Only had to do one small Change Work Order and that was because we didn't know what the condition of the subfloor was going to be after demo. **★★★★★ — lesliebethbowen, July 2013** > Charlie Allen Renovations can be counted on to meet deadlines and stay on budget as well as come up with creative solutions to the kinds of problems typically presented during renovation of an old home. They opened up two small, dark rooms to create an open, light-filled space with minor expansion of the house's original footprint. Very attentive to the charms of old homes while making them functional and beautiful for today's life styles. **★★★★★ — mrellwood, July 2013** > CAR transformed the kitchen and master bath in our 1920 English Arts & Crafts home. Several out of the ordinary changes made all the difference. A poorly placed support beam (from an earlier renovation) was relocated, completely opening up the views out a bay window in the kitchen eating area. A new entry/mudroom was created, using part of an existing porch. One section of a bedroom wall was moved, substantially expanding the footprint of the master bath. CAR worked hard to help us find every inch of space, and they used first-rate suppliers for cabinets, appliances, countertops, floors, lighting and bath fixtures. The CAR on-site carpenters and all the subcontractors were exceptional. CAR’s focus on management, quality and communication separate them from other contractors. The beauty and utility of the finished rooms have far exceeded our expectations. **★★★★★ — emscji, May 2013** > We hired CAR to remodel a carriage house studio, and the experience could not have been better. CAR worked with us thoughtfully and carefully on our design, listened and responded to our needs, gave great guidance, offered numerous options along the way, and paid close attention to cost as we worked through the design phase. The contract was clear, and they were able to stick to the agreed-upon budget and the time frame. They kept us informed about the progress of the project, communicating as much detail as we were interested in hearing. They were prompt, respectful, and friendly, and their attention to detail was amazing--they noticed things I would never have noticed, and fixed them without being asked. No shortcuts or shoddy sub work allowed! And the final result? We love it. Embarrassing to say, it's a little too quiet around here now that the project is done. I'd hire them again in a minute. Five stars! ## Selected projects - [Newton Whole House Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/newton-whole-house-remodel-pj-vj~7824199) - Location: Newton, MA - Photos: 15 - [Home for Entertaining](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/home-for-entertaining-pj-vj~800178) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 15 - Description: We recently enjoyed the opportunity to remodel three floors of a nineteenth-century Cambridge home with our project partners, architect Tom Downer and designer Jayme Kennerknecht. . • The owners – a family of four that includes both a teenager and a toddler - wanted a house better suited to entertaining but also appropriate for family together time. Specific improvements on their wish list included a playroom that could handle differing family needs, a custom bar for entertaining, a new fireplac… - [Condo for a Couple](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/condo-for-a-couple-pj-vj~1276789) - Location: Arlington, MA - Photos: 6 - Description: Renovation is stressful. Wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else oversee product selections, manage day-to-day issues, and bring your project to a successful completion? The owners of a two-family in Arlington recently did just that, flying off to Florida just as we began renovating their first floor unit. Of course, before they left we thoroughly discussed all aspects of the work order, which included renovating the kitchen and bathroom, painting the bedroom, and adding a laundry closet. We rev… - [Bright and Sunny Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bright-and-sunny-kitchen-pj-vj~7323624) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - [Brattle Street Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brattle-street-condo-pj-vj~5504046) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 10 - Description: Our clients, a busy husband and wife, live in a top floor condo in an historic brick townhouse. With hectic professional lives, they had not had much time for home improvement but finally felt ready to make some changes. At the top of their to-do list were the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen, a small, enclosed utility space, featured dated tile flooring and backsplash and a floor plan that made the small space feel even more cramped. Meanwhile, the bathroom was also in need of a refresh, and t… - [Contemporary Home for Entertaining](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-home-for-entertaining-pj-vj~6805085) - Location: Winchester, MA - Photos: 12 - [Spa Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/spa-bath-pj-vj~49469) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 5 - Description: When two university professors moved into a 1915 Colonial in Cambridge, they loved its many period charms with one exception: the master bath and dressing suite’s jarring 1970s design aesthetic. Seeking a clean and bright spa-like design, they asked us for help. The process began by gutting the bathroom — which revealed an alarming situation: a previous renovation had eliminated all of the floor joists! With a deep and heavy soaking tub moving into the room, reframing of the entire floor became… - [City Open Floorplan](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/city-open-floorplan-pj-vj~2842082) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 8 - Description: A homeowner who we’d worked with previously (a bathroom we’d remodeled for him was named ‘Bathroom of the Year’ by Boston Globe Magazine in 2007.) contacted us with a new project in mind. Following a divorce and second marriage, he and his family had moved into mid-sized home that felt too cramped for two adults and four children. Working within its existing frame, we set to work creating a more functional and pleasant living experience. The family’s main gathering area is the kitchen. We began… - [Three Bath Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/three-bath-home-pj-vj~1828902) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 9 - Description: Recently, Charlie Allen Renovations remodeled three bathrooms in one Cambridge home. Their clients, a family with young children, wanted distinct designs for each bath, with one shared requirement: get rid of the bath tub and replace it with a walk-in shower stall. Each bathroom — a master, a children’s Jack & Jill bath, and a family/guest bath — was gutted and fully remodeled. The children’s bath is one of two that needed to be expanded. An adjacent closet was annexed to provide extra square fo… - [1870s Mansard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/1870s-mansard-pj-vj~54197) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 7 - [Boston Suburban Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/boston-suburban-home-pj-vj~518658) - Location: Newton, MA - Photos: 9 - Description: For a small family in Newton, their modest sized home was just the right size. But with some smart changes, they wondered if it could be more enjoyable. Working with architect Joseph S. Artley, we came up with a number of solutions: • To make the kitchen a more comfortable work and gathering space, a bay window was removed and the kitchen itself bumped out slightly to allow for the introduction of an expansive island, as well as additional countertop and cabinetry. • The first floor half-bathroo… - [Open and Inviting Kitchen & Mudroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/open-and-inviting-kitchen-and-mudroom-pj-vj~299723) - Location: Dedham, MA - Photos: 6 - Description: The existing kitchen just didn’t work for the owners of this 19th century home in suburban Boston. Family and guests entered the house directly into the kitchen, which often resulted in a cluttered and messy workspace. The kitchen was also quite small and tucked between the dining room and den with no direct access to either area. Seeking a more open and accommodating space for cooking and gathering, the homeowners asked for help. We began by introducing a new bump-out entry with bench seating,… - [Greek Revival Bath with Transom Windows](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/greek-revival-bath-with-transom-windows-pj-vj~50646) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 4 - Description: Years of renovation and additions had turned this 1853 Cambridge row house into an unwieldy two family structure. The clients, a young growing family, wanted to turn the dwelling back into a one family, kid-friendly space, while restoring its 19th-century charm. The transformation back to a one family home included the demo of the second floor kitchen, which became a bedroom, the addition of plumbing to turn a bedroom into a master bathroom suite complete with dressing area, There was also the i… - [City Townhouse, Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/city-townhouse-kitchen-pj-vj~7316987) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Victorian Restored](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/victorian-restored-pj-vj~2421289) - Location: Somerville, MA - Photos: 12 - [City Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/city-bath-pj-vj~323290) - Location: Boston, MA - Photos: 4 - Description: The homeowners used their bathtub very rarely, and agreed that a large walk-in shower would provide a better use of space. They preferred the clean lines of a stationary glass panel extending all the way to the ceiling as the only divide between the shower and the room. To provide a safe curb-less shower transition, we flush framed the area as low as possible so water naturally drains toward the center of the shower. And with an eye to future needs, we installed blocking in the wall to eventuall… - [Roof Deck](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/roof-deck-pj-vj~7327914) - Location: Winchester, MA - Photos: 7 - [Expanded Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/expanded-kitchen-pj-vj~6801918) - Location: Winchester, MA - Photos: 5 - [New England Mudroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-england-mudroom-pj-vj~6805820) - Location: Winchester, MA - Photos: 2 - [Children's Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/children-s-bath-pj-vj~53277) - Location: Cambridge, MA - Photos: 3 - Description: Years of renovation and additions had turned this 1853 Cambridge row house into an unwieldy two family structure. The clients, a young growing family, wanted to turn the dwelling back into a one family, kid-friendly space, while restoring its 19th-century charm. The transformation back to a one family home included the demo of the second floor kitchen, which became a bedroom, the addition of plumbing to turn a bedroom into a master bathroom suite complete with dressing area, There was also the i… [See all 78 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) ## Ideabooks - [CAR Remodeled Attics](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89206523/list/car-remodeled-attics) — 16 ideas - [CAR Remodeled Basements](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89206816/list/car-remodeled-basements) — 5 ideas - [Solutions](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/87390345/list/solutions) — 31 ideas - [CAR Bedrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89010520/list/car-bedrooms) — 11 ideas - [CAR Fireplaces](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88958518/list/car-fireplaces) — 13 ideas - [CAR Living Rooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88907224/list/car-living-rooms) — 7 ideas - [CAR Staircases](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88853846/list/car-staircases) — 9 ideas - [CAR Exteriors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88698176/list/car-exteriors) — 13 ideas - [CAR Bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88645849/list/car-bathrooms) — 45 ideas - [CAR KItchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88588963/list/car-kitchens) — 43 ideas [See all 10 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/charlieallenrenovations) ## Community Q&A **Q: How is the toilet situated? Is the back on the 4’ side or 7’ side?** *(in Photo Questions)* Is there a photo of the toilet side of the bathroom? A: The toilet is along the same wall - you can see part of the water basin in the photo, next to the sink. We don't have a photo of that side of the room, unfortunately. **Q: Lovely Sink** *(in Photo Questions)* What are the dimensions of the sink and what is brand / model? A: Thanks for the question! This is Waterworks' 22" Palladio Pedestal. (The project is from 2007, not sure if this product is still available.) **Q: Where did you get the bath door with the frosted panes?** *(in Photo Questions)* Looking for this exact door for a project as well as the transom window! A: Thanks for the question! The windows here were all custom built. For the door, we removed existing wood panels and replaced them with frosted glass. The clerestory windows above don't open, but they do allow natural light from exterior windows in the hall outside. (The bathroom is situated along an interior wall.) **Q: where can I purchase mirror and light?** *(in Photo Questions)* Is the side cabinet a laundry shoot or medicine cabinet? A: Hi jsshcs, the side cabinet is a small custom storage cabinet. The mirror is actually a larger medicine cabinet - the York Large Recessed Medicine Cabinet in paper white color. The light is a Round Double Sconce with Glass Shades by Waterworks. Thanks for asking! **Q: PAINT COLOR?** *(in Photo Questions)* I LOVE THE WAY THE TONE OF THE PAINT IS IN THIS ROOM,COULD YOU SHARE THE COLOR PLEASE? A: Hi- the paint color here is Benjamin Moore's Edgecomb Gray. Thanks for asking! Charlie Allen Renovations **Q: Charlie, What is the wall tile? Love this too. Thx.** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Amory, These are azure Lucien glass tiles from Ann Sacks. Thanks for asking! Charlie Allen Renovations --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-08.*