Stroll by this carefully restored Tudor revival home – which has presided over its venerable Boston-area address for well over a century – and you’d never guess that what remains of its original interior can probably be counted on the fingers of your two hands. Everything inside – such as stunning built-in china cabinets and the wood paneling throughout the first floor – might look as if it’s been lovingly restored, but it’s actually been built from scratch to recreate the graciousness of a period house. The result: an updated take on a traditional home that fits its young family’s lifestyle as perfectly as it does its centuries-old neighborhood.
“We completely gutted the interior,” says S+H Construction Project Manager, Sarah Lawson, “removing the enormous staircase at the center of the house and many of interior supporting walls, installing new heating. cooling, electrical and insulation.” The 120-year-ild house had last undergone an extensive glamorous upgrade in the 1930s that eliminated almost all of the original but very dark oak paneling. “Miraculously, we discovered an original carved oak piece in the basement as we were clearing it out to finish it. This original treasure was restored and built into the ornately carved living room mantel,” adds Sarah.
The backyard was a blank canvas that Greg Lombardi maximized, adding an elegant swimming pool with a spa, and outdoor fireplace and patio, and a built-in grilling station for entertaining al fresco. But, the front exterior of the house received subtle, significant upgrades that left the house’s footprint and its aged-patina siding virtually untouched. Beginning the project in 2010 and completing it in about 18 months, S+H was recognized by the Cambridge Historical Commission for their outstanding work and was honored in the Commission’s Fifteenth Annual Preservation Program in May 2011.
