This home is a Second Empire Victorian built in 1870 and restored in 2005. Among all of the challenges of this project was the effort to integrate the front porch (which had been an addition to the home) to make it look like it was part of the original design.

Over the years the house had fallen into disrepair. In the 1950's, it was changed into a home for the aging. Windows were turned into doors, fire escapes were added to the second level of the home, and ceilings were dropped to accomadate sprinkler systems. Those systems evenutally burst, causing extensive water damage to the structure. All of this made returning the home to its original design a great challenge.

The entire front of the home was restored, with a full conversion of the porch to incorporate the details of the home. Eight pillars and mahogany handrails, Hemlock ballisters, and 40 custom-made corbels were added to home to match existing details. Five colors were chosen from a historic color palette to complete the look of the exterior.

The extensive water damage from the burst sprinkler system had caused huge pieces of the horsehair plaster to fall in. Restoring this to its original condition required securing the original medallions, correcting damage to the crown molding, and repairing the plaster, especially in the ball room.

We started with the removal of layers of wallpaper. This allowed all surfaces on walls and ceilings to thoroughly dry out. We tightened surfaces with hundreds of ceiling buttons, then primed and sealed all ceilings and walls. Meticulous cycles of mesh tape, skim coats, joint compound, plaster of paris, sanding, primer and sealer readied the interior surfaces for a final three coats of finish paint.

Given that so much of the home had been painted over the years, all natural wood surfaces had to be stripped. We applied natural stain to enhance original color, followed by sealer and two coats of satin polyurethane for protection.

This home was featured in the Boston Globe Magazine as "A Refined Restortaion" on September 9th, 2007.