Minerva Design & Renovation (MDR) provides design, renovation, and project management services for residential clients with focus on historic urban houses primarily in Durham, NC, and Merida, Mexico.

The Hacienda Mulsay de la Magdalena shows here the glory of centuries of plantation life in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico: 
Photo by Jose Gabriel Chan Escalante/2012 

In speaking of period properties, the French use a wonderful expression "dans son jus" which denotes positive authenticity, something in its ordinal condition having marinated for a long time literally in its own environment or juices. Too often in the US in the rush to modernize, we lose the patina, the essence and beauty of antique dwellings and objects. MDR seeks to carefully preserve the authenticity and charm of the past while incorporating the modern conveniences that help us with the exigencies of daily life in the 21st century.
-- Brooks Adams, Founder & Principal, MDR