When architects René Davids and Christine Killory found a dilapidated 1920s three-story house in the Oakland Hills to remodel, they developed unique solutions to keep material costs down. On the exterior, the aluminum bar grating conjoins red-colored plaster. They removed crooked interior walls, opening up the space. Davids and Killory wrapped used blackboard slate around the fireplaces and stained mismatched floors blackish. Alward Construction enjoyed the innovative project.