Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Updated Federal Style in Massachusetts
This spacious 18th-century home artfully combines traditional and modern design
This brick-front Federal-style home built in 1789 combines the quintessential beauty of an antique home with modern updates in a charming country setting. An addition and renovations throughout make Jillian and Tom's house an example of successful compromise, merging modern and antique styles while following the town’s strict historic architectural guidelines.
The home is in the heart of the historic district of Lincoln, Mass., about 20 minutes from Boston. The family of three started the one-year renovation process with a desire to make a real indoor-outdoor connection with surrounding pastoral and conservation land. Their architect, Carol Marsh of Helios Design Group, says, "It was a great puzzle to marry the historic aesthetics of the exterior with the client's desire for a contemporary interior."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tom, Jillian, their tween daughter and two black Labrador retrievers Pudgie and Louie
Location: Lincoln, Massachusetts
Size: 5,200 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 offices, 5 baths and 4 fireplaces
Architects: Carol Marsh and Chris Hosford of Helios Design Group
Contractor: Kevin Cradock of Kevin Cradock Woodworking
The home is in the heart of the historic district of Lincoln, Mass., about 20 minutes from Boston. The family of three started the one-year renovation process with a desire to make a real indoor-outdoor connection with surrounding pastoral and conservation land. Their architect, Carol Marsh of Helios Design Group, says, "It was a great puzzle to marry the historic aesthetics of the exterior with the client's desire for a contemporary interior."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tom, Jillian, their tween daughter and two black Labrador retrievers Pudgie and Louie
Location: Lincoln, Massachusetts
Size: 5,200 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 offices, 5 baths and 4 fireplaces
Architects: Carol Marsh and Chris Hosford of Helios Design Group
Contractor: Kevin Cradock of Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Architect Marsh stands in the remodeled kitchen with Pudgie. The kitchen opens to the family room on the right, and two patios and a deck are just outside this area. The new space added about 650 square feet to the home.
The main entrance is on the side of the house and opens into a large foyer. The entryway flooring is Southern yellow pine and stained to match the antique pine elsewhere.
This is the view from the kitchen/family room to the main entrance. The first door on the left leads to a patio, the second to a full bath and the third to a mudroom.
This bath off the foyer sits where there was once a family room on top of a brick patio. The countertop is cut from Bubinga African Rosewood tree, and the mirror frame is made from the excess wood. Both were designed to connect the house to the outside.
Countertop: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Countertop: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
This staircase and window, painted in high gloss white, replaced a dark, narrow-walled staircase accessible from the original kitchen.
The Bocci pendant chandelier, like many of the light fixtures in the home, is a reflection of Jillian’s taste for modern design elements.
The Bocci pendant chandelier, like many of the light fixtures in the home, is a reflection of Jillian’s taste for modern design elements.
The kitchen opens into a Queen Anne-style dining room added in 1900 complete with a fireplace, window seat and built-in china cabinets.
The dining room sconces are Agatha by Hèmèra. The built-in china cabinets on either side of the doors to the kitchen were reduced in depth to make extra space for deep kitchen drawers.
Jillian’s grandmother’s black walnut dining room table is paired with chairs by Thos. Moser. The breakfront was purchased on Craigslist. Original sliding wood and glass pocket doors to the left lead to the living room.
Paint: Benjamin Moore, Sweet Pink C2
Lighting: Chimera
Chairs: Thos. Moser
Jillian’s grandmother’s black walnut dining room table is paired with chairs by Thos. Moser. The breakfront was purchased on Craigslist. Original sliding wood and glass pocket doors to the left lead to the living room.
Paint: Benjamin Moore, Sweet Pink C2
Lighting: Chimera
Chairs: Thos. Moser
This hallway from the kitchen to the front door comes alive with an oil painting by Sandy Belock-Phippen. Tom’s office is on the right through original double wood doors. The living room entrance is on the left.
A butler’s pantry with a half bath is at the end of the hallway.
Cabinets: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Cabinets: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Tom's office is to the left and the living room is on the right of this front entrance staircase.
The original front door faces the front yard and street.
Paint: Benjamin Moore Constellation Aura Paint in Pearl
The original living room is directly across from Tom’s office and is where the family watches television.
Pudgie rests in Tom’s office. In front of the fireplace is driftwood from Martha’s Vineyard. The modern leaf motif on the curtains pay tribute to nature.
Paint: Sweet Butter by Benjamin Moore
Pudgie rests in Tom’s office. In front of the fireplace is driftwood from Martha’s Vineyard. The modern leaf motif on the curtains pay tribute to nature.
Paint: Sweet Butter by Benjamin Moore
Jillian’s office/studio is filled with light and breathtaking views of the Lincoln Center Historic District. The late 1970s teak Danish desk, the easel and the Italian leather swivel chairs in tomato red make this room a relaxing retreat for work, painting and study.
Leather chairs: Calia Italia
Drawers: Ikea
Leather chairs: Calia Italia
Drawers: Ikea
A late addition to the house in the 1970s, the master bedroom has amazing views of the side and backyard. This room is serenely furnished with little more than a bed, side tables, a television and a rug on the fir wood floors. The bright blue walls and the views outside the large windows create visual impact. A single original painting hangs on the wall. Just outside the door is a large walk-in closet with skylights and a window.
Paint: English Lavender by Benjamin Moore
Windows: Pella Architect Series
Paint: English Lavender by Benjamin Moore
Windows: Pella Architect Series
The homeowners enjoy lounging in the large soaking tub and enjoying the view outdoors. Helios Design group designed the oversized shower and custom cabinetry. The 12-inch-by-12-inch floor tiles are Glassos and are slip-resistant. Rosewood veneer cabinets provide plenty of storage and include large pullouts on both sides of the shower.
Cabinetry: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Tile dloor: Roma Tile in Watertown, MA
Tub surround and vanity counter: Caesar Stone
Shower tile: Sicis Zinnia 3 tile from Ideal Tile
Cabinetry: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Tile dloor: Roma Tile in Watertown, MA
Tub surround and vanity counter: Caesar Stone
Shower tile: Sicis Zinnia 3 tile from Ideal Tile
This original second floor bedroom is at the front of the house and includes a fireplace mantel with original pine molding. The dolls, a recent gift from a family member, make an eye-catching display.
Paint: Van Alen Green by Benjamin Moore Historic Collection
Paint: Van Alen Green by Benjamin Moore Historic Collection
A hallway bathroom is done entirely in travertine tile with a cherry wood vanity. It has a large glassed-in shower stall. A big window floods the room with natural light, providing scenic views of the outside.
Vanity: Exeter Cabinet Company, 12 Kingston Rd, Exeter, NH 03833, (603) 778-8113
Tile: United Tile America
Faucet: Grohe
Trim paint: Cloud white by Benjamin Moore
Vanity: Exeter Cabinet Company, 12 Kingston Rd, Exeter, NH 03833, (603) 778-8113
Tile: United Tile America
Faucet: Grohe
Trim paint: Cloud white by Benjamin Moore
The daughter's room, dubbed “The Princess Room,” combines the old with the new. The antique six-board chest was a Craigslist find; and the wallpaper mural came from muralsyourway.com.
Furniture (Desk, Bureau, Side tables): Ikea Malm
Mural: Murals Your Way
Paint: C2 in Kiwi
Furry bean bag chair: Pottery Barn Teen
Furniture (Desk, Bureau, Side tables): Ikea Malm
Mural: Murals Your Way
Paint: C2 in Kiwi
Furry bean bag chair: Pottery Barn Teen
The view from the street of this historic 1789 brick front Federal home belies the modern elements within.
You can see the exterior of the modern, 650-square foot addition on the back of the home.
The original kitchen was where the side and main entrance foyer is now. The Caesarstone quartz kitchen countertop is 10.5 feet long by 8 feet deep at the deepest point. The curved shape and graduated size is reminiscent of the 1950s; Jillian calls it "the grand piano." The custom-made cabinets are curly maple and the moldings are fir. For durability, Sant Agostino Travertino Avorio 12 inch-by-24-inch porcelain tile was selected for the family room and kitchen floors.
Appliances: Electrolux Icon oven, Thermador 5 burner cooktop
Sconce lighting: Zaneen Dau from Nina’s Lighting
Island chandelier: Harco-Loor Tiara from Chimera Lighting
Cabinetry: Kevin Cradock Woodworking
Tile floor: Roma Tile in Watertown, MA
Windows: Loewen
Paint: Benjamin Moore, Pearl; Benjamin Moore, Sweet Butter