Standing as a local landmark since 1899, the historic estate at 504 W. Cavour Ave is a testament to the enduring craftsmanship of a bygone era.
There is something deeply rewarding about preserving the architectural soul of an old home. Built in 1899, the grand home at 504 W. Cavour Ave in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, stands as a proud piece of our community’s history. Time and weather take their toll on these classic structures, but a recently completed exterior restoration has brought this absolute gem back to its full, historic glory.
When Don Martin of Big Boys Painting wrapped up this massive project, he reached out to me to capture the finished transformation. Walking around the estate, it became immediately clear that this wasn’t just a simple paint job—it was a masterclass in meticulous craftsmanship.
Photographing this project was going to require my best architectural lenses and really paying attention to getting balanced and clean compositions with high levels of detail. Plus, as the light and sky shifted, I wanted to capture some various and unique lighting conditions.
A Masterclass in Historical Color Selection
The main residence is an expansive, multi-story architectural marvel featuring complex geometries, asymmetrical roof lines, and towering two-story central bay windows. Don replaced the tired exterior with a sophisticated, timeless palette: a clean, uniform light gray for the main horizontal lap siding, sharply contrasted by bold, structural deep red trim work.
Every single window casing, corner board, fascia line, and gutter run across the entire property was cleanly masked and executed with surgical precision. At the very peak of the third-story attic gable, the original decorative fish-scale shingles were beautifully restored, providing a striking frame for the historic three-part arched window below.
Details that Make a House a Home
Moving around the property reveals how seamlessly the accent colors tie the property together. The grand front entryway features massive white columns resting on heavy, deep red bases, leading up to a sharp triangular pediment accented with red vertical slats and forest green dentil moulding. The wide main steps feature a sophisticated deep gray tread with dark forest green risers that gracefully invite visitors to the wrap-around front porch.
Even the rear extension and storm cellar transitions are framed perfectly, catching the warm, golden glow of the Minnesota sunset against clean gray lines and rich, warm undertones.
The Ultimate Detached Carriage House
A historic home of this caliber deserves a matching backdrop, and the two-story detached carriage house garage steals the show. Big Boys Painting extended the identical historical color scheme to the entire outbuilding, ensuring the estate looks cohesive from every angle.
The front facade features two large overhead garage doors painted white with striking, deep red cross-buck “X” patterns. To the side, a pedestrian entry door painted in deep forest green sits right next to a completely unique, circular porthole accent window beautifully wrapped in wide red molding.
On the east facade, symmetrical sash windows anchor an upper cross-gable peak clad in matching decorative fish-scale shingles. As you circle around to the west side, a modern black metal spiral staircase winds elegantly up to a second-story balcony entry, demonstrating that functional modern updates can live in perfect harmony with 19th-century architecture when framed with the right eye for color.
Preserving Our Local Heritage
A project of this scale requires more than just a brush and a ladder; it takes an appreciation for architectural history and a dedication to fine details. Don Martin and the crew at Big Boys Painting have completely revitalized 504 W. Cavour Ave, ensuring it will remain an eye-catching landmark in Fergus Falls for decades to come.
Are you looking to restore or refresh your own historic property? Reach out to Don Martin at Big Boys Painting to discuss your project and check out the full gallery below to see the beautiful results.
Project Gallery (Photography by Lance Albers):
