Houzz Tour: The Remaking of a Queen Anne in Boston
A thorough overhaul with soothing hues and modern-day touches celebrates this home’s Victorian roots
Karen Egly-Thompson
August 4, 2016
Houzz Contributor
These longtime condo owners were looking for a single-family home in which to raise their two young children, and stumbled upon this Queen Anne in a suburb of Boston. While the home offered ample space for their growing family, including a tree large enough to hold a treehouse, much of its architectural charm had been stripped away during previous remodels.
An extensive and sensitive renovation, which was also chronicled in the 36th season of the This Old House TV show, now shows off the home’s Victorian roots, and has infused it with some contemporary design elements for a fresh and elegant look.
An extensive and sensitive renovation, which was also chronicled in the 36th season of the This Old House TV show, now shows off the home’s Victorian roots, and has infused it with some contemporary design elements for a fresh and elegant look.
“After” photos by Eric Roth Photography
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Belmont, Massachusetts
Size: About 3,200 square feet (297.2 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
BEFORE: The original exterior of the home, called the Amos-Taylor House, looked more bland than grand. Its once-wide front porch had been downgraded to a small front entry porch, and while it still had its shingle and clapboard siding, it was painted a lackluster gray.
Aside from its exterior, the home needed work inside.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Belmont, Massachusetts
Size: About 3,200 square feet (297.2 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
BEFORE: The original exterior of the home, called the Amos-Taylor House, looked more bland than grand. Its once-wide front porch had been downgraded to a small front entry porch, and while it still had its shingle and clapboard siding, it was painted a lackluster gray.
Aside from its exterior, the home needed work inside.
AFTER: Like icing on a cake, a brighter color palette of gold, gray and white exudes cheer without being cloyingly sweet. In addition to adding back the full-width front porch, the team installed new roofing, air conditioning and rear windows. The front windows of the home were refurbished.
All paint by Benjamin Moore. Yellow: Stuart Gold HC-10 (clapboard) and Bryant Gold HC-7 (shingles); gray: Crownsville Gray HC-106; white: White Sand OC-10
All paint by Benjamin Moore. Yellow: Stuart Gold HC-10 (clapboard) and Bryant Gold HC-7 (shingles); gray: Crownsville Gray HC-106; white: White Sand OC-10
The entryway used to house a small enclosed vestibule opposite the front door, so the stairway was narrow and closed off. Removing the wall opened the entire staircase to the foyer and let loads of natural light stream in.
The stained glass windows at the landing are original to the home and are now visible from the foyer. Also original are the parquet floors, front door and wood trim around the doors and windows. New paneled wainscoting, and two new posts made to match the existing post on the landing, add warmth and character.
The project’s interior designer, Amanda Reid, says the foyer’s elegant soft gray-lilac wall color was chosen for continuity, picking up hues from the adjacent living and dining rooms. The color continues up the stairway to the second-floor hallway and third-floor office.
Paint by Benjamin Moore: Misty Memories 2118-60 (walls) and Chantilly Lace 2121-70 (trim); artwork near front door: Quiet Evening by Margaret Gerding; artwork at staircase: Lone Lemon by Jan McElhinney
The stained glass windows at the landing are original to the home and are now visible from the foyer. Also original are the parquet floors, front door and wood trim around the doors and windows. New paneled wainscoting, and two new posts made to match the existing post on the landing, add warmth and character.
The project’s interior designer, Amanda Reid, says the foyer’s elegant soft gray-lilac wall color was chosen for continuity, picking up hues from the adjacent living and dining rooms. The color continues up the stairway to the second-floor hallway and third-floor office.
Paint by Benjamin Moore: Misty Memories 2118-60 (walls) and Chantilly Lace 2121-70 (trim); artwork near front door: Quiet Evening by Margaret Gerding; artwork at staircase: Lone Lemon by Jan McElhinney
Reid says her interior design concept was to recapture the essence of the home’s original charm by introducing antique elements that gently nod to the Victorian era.
Opposite the entry door, Reid selected a bold lacquer console table to pick up the deeper blues in the artwork. An antique chandelier was sourced by the homeowners.
Console table: Chelsea Textiles; rug: Landry & Arcari; artwork: Along the Shore by Laurence Young
Opposite the entry door, Reid selected a bold lacquer console table to pick up the deeper blues in the artwork. An antique chandelier was sourced by the homeowners.
Console table: Chelsea Textiles; rug: Landry & Arcari; artwork: Along the Shore by Laurence Young
Right off the foyer at the front of the house sits the family room (shown in the floor plan below as the “octagon room”). While the room currently has six sides, two corner built-in cabinets — one of which is for a TV — are planned for future installation on the other side of the room to make it eight-sided.
The homeowners wanted this space to have a degree of elegance since it’s so visible from the entry. (Plus, the kids have a sizable playroom upstairs.) All the fabrics have been treated with a stain-resistant finish.
The homeowners found the stained glass window years ago and had architect Mathew Cummings work it into the plan. Yellow in the window inspired the sunny-hued furnishing accents.
The homeowners wanted this space to have a degree of elegance since it’s so visible from the entry. (Plus, the kids have a sizable playroom upstairs.) All the fabrics have been treated with a stain-resistant finish.
The homeowners found the stained glass window years ago and had architect Mathew Cummings work it into the plan. Yellow in the window inspired the sunny-hued furnishing accents.
The formal living room, shown here, was the springboard for the gray, mauve and blue palette for the entire house, and the large-scale floral drapery fabric pulls all the colors together. “These colors are repeated throughout, with a change or an addition of an accent hue. This creates continuity and a harmonious design throughout the home,” Reid says.
Reid warmed up the cool hues with clean-lined pieces in gold and brass, and highlighted gilded details in the plaster ceiling medallions. She says it’s how the medallions originally looked.
The homeowners sourced a period fireplace mantel to replace the original that was missing. They also added a new stone slab surround. They chose a wool and silk Persian-style carpet with distressing to mimic gentle wear.
Wall paint: Alaskan Husky 1479, Benjamin Moore; drapery: Fabrika, using Indian Arbre fabric in Hyacinth by Schumacher; gray sofa: by Lee Industries, from Grand Rapids Furniture; rug: Landry & Arcari; coffee table: Gold Leaf collection, Wisteria; armchairs: Lee Industries, in Kravet fabric; demilune table: Arteriors Home; Kapila table lamp: Aerin collection for Visual Comfort
Reid warmed up the cool hues with clean-lined pieces in gold and brass, and highlighted gilded details in the plaster ceiling medallions. She says it’s how the medallions originally looked.
The homeowners sourced a period fireplace mantel to replace the original that was missing. They also added a new stone slab surround. They chose a wool and silk Persian-style carpet with distressing to mimic gentle wear.
Wall paint: Alaskan Husky 1479, Benjamin Moore; drapery: Fabrika, using Indian Arbre fabric in Hyacinth by Schumacher; gray sofa: by Lee Industries, from Grand Rapids Furniture; rug: Landry & Arcari; coffee table: Gold Leaf collection, Wisteria; armchairs: Lee Industries, in Kravet fabric; demilune table: Arteriors Home; Kapila table lamp: Aerin collection for Visual Comfort
Adjacent to the living room, the dining room has the same drapery fabric. The homeowners requested the bold blue walls, and found the fireplace mantel at a salvage store.
Wall paint: Newburyport Blue HC-155, Benjamin Moore; dining chairs: Vintage French Square collection, Restoration Hardware; rug: Landry & Arcari; chandelier: Currey & Co.; sideboard: Grand Siècle, Grange
Read more about this dining room
Wall paint: Newburyport Blue HC-155, Benjamin Moore; dining chairs: Vintage French Square collection, Restoration Hardware; rug: Landry & Arcari; chandelier: Currey & Co.; sideboard: Grand Siècle, Grange
Read more about this dining room
The kitchen occupies what was the former dining room, powder room and outdated kitchen. Its enlarged footprint offers more circulation space, storage and a casual eating space for the family. Cabinets in classic Victorian style are paired with vintage pulls on the drawers, sourced by the homeowners.
Granite countertops and a matching farmhouse sink contrast the 8-foot-long marble island top.
Going old-school underfoot, the designer brought in a traditional canvas floor cloth custom-made in Vermont; it provides color and is durable and low-maintenance. (It can be mopped!) Reid says she went with a simple design of white and yellow stripes because she had planned to use a patterned fabric on the chair, and because both homeowners had grown up with yellow kitchens, “so it was a sentimental selection,” she says.
A built-in walnut-topped cabinet behind the table, shown here on the left, divides the kitchen eating area from the mudroom extension, which serves as an organization center. It provides one storage cubby for each family member for hats and gloves, as well as tech items like phones and iPads.
Wall paint: Beacon Gray 2128-60, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Wood-Mode; island countertop: Calacatta marble; backsplash: 2-by-4-inch subway tile in Danube with crackle finish, The Winchester Tile Co.; floor cloth: Lisa Curry Mair of Canvasworks; pendant lights: Cisco Brothers
Granite countertops and a matching farmhouse sink contrast the 8-foot-long marble island top.
Going old-school underfoot, the designer brought in a traditional canvas floor cloth custom-made in Vermont; it provides color and is durable and low-maintenance. (It can be mopped!) Reid says she went with a simple design of white and yellow stripes because she had planned to use a patterned fabric on the chair, and because both homeowners had grown up with yellow kitchens, “so it was a sentimental selection,” she says.
A built-in walnut-topped cabinet behind the table, shown here on the left, divides the kitchen eating area from the mudroom extension, which serves as an organization center. It provides one storage cubby for each family member for hats and gloves, as well as tech items like phones and iPads.
Wall paint: Beacon Gray 2128-60, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Wood-Mode; island countertop: Calacatta marble; backsplash: 2-by-4-inch subway tile in Danube with crackle finish, The Winchester Tile Co.; floor cloth: Lisa Curry Mair of Canvasworks; pendant lights: Cisco Brothers
While it’s not typical to start a large design project with such a small space, Reid says the powder room wallpaper was one of the first selections made for the house. “It has a Victorian flavor with a pattern that echoes the stained glass window [not pictured], but feels contemporary at the same time,” she says.
The marble vanity top was originally in the kids’ bathroom. The team had it cleaned and edged, and had the disk-shaped backsplash cut from a rectangular backsplash to echo the organic wallpaper pattern.
Wallpaper: Lotus pattern 2062, Farrow & Ball; console: Palmer Industries; faucet: Artifacts, Kohler
The marble vanity top was originally in the kids’ bathroom. The team had it cleaned and edged, and had the disk-shaped backsplash cut from a rectangular backsplash to echo the organic wallpaper pattern.
Wallpaper: Lotus pattern 2062, Farrow & Ball; console: Palmer Industries; faucet: Artifacts, Kohler
Upstairs, the master bedroom finishes received a refresh, and a door was relocated to accommodate the new walk-in closet and master bathroom.
The homeowners wanted to include their existing king-size bed, and because it ate up a lot of the floor space, opportunities for additional furnishings were limited. To make the bedroom feel more special, Reid hired artist Pauline Curtiss of Patina Designs to paint a custom-stenciled pattern on the headboard wall.
The design nods to the Victorian era, inspired by damask, which was popular during the period. However, Reid says, “we scaled it up and used toned-down muted colors for an updated look.”
Wall paint: Silver Bells 1458, Benjamin Moore; rug: Landry & Arcari; coverlet: Matouk; throw pillow fabric: Kandira in Ash and Bellini silk in Wisteria, Schumacher; linen armchair: Mitchell Gold + Bob WIlliams; Roman shades: The Shade Store
The homeowners wanted to include their existing king-size bed, and because it ate up a lot of the floor space, opportunities for additional furnishings were limited. To make the bedroom feel more special, Reid hired artist Pauline Curtiss of Patina Designs to paint a custom-stenciled pattern on the headboard wall.
The design nods to the Victorian era, inspired by damask, which was popular during the period. However, Reid says, “we scaled it up and used toned-down muted colors for an updated look.”
Wall paint: Silver Bells 1458, Benjamin Moore; rug: Landry & Arcari; coverlet: Matouk; throw pillow fabric: Kandira in Ash and Bellini silk in Wisteria, Schumacher; linen armchair: Mitchell Gold + Bob WIlliams; Roman shades: The Shade Store
The homeowners sacrificed a bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom to create the new closet and master bathroom.
The claw-foot tub is original to the house, but was moved from the kids’ bathroom and refurbished. Reid painted the exterior deep purple and had the feet replated in nickel to match the plumbing and lighting fixtures. There’s also a roomy shower — a portion of its sunken curb is visible on the lower left side of this photo.
Classic Carrara marble in a honed finish was used for the floor, shower and vanity countertop. The marble was installed in a herringbone pattern on the shower floor and vanity backsplash for added visual interest.
Tub paint: Shadow 2117-30, Benamin Moore; tub refinishing: The Tub Doctors; vanity: Kohler; beveled mirrors: Pottery Barn; sconce: Visual Comfort, via Wolfers Lighting
The claw-foot tub is original to the house, but was moved from the kids’ bathroom and refurbished. Reid painted the exterior deep purple and had the feet replated in nickel to match the plumbing and lighting fixtures. There’s also a roomy shower — a portion of its sunken curb is visible on the lower left side of this photo.
Classic Carrara marble in a honed finish was used for the floor, shower and vanity countertop. The marble was installed in a herringbone pattern on the shower floor and vanity backsplash for added visual interest.
Tub paint: Shadow 2117-30, Benamin Moore; tub refinishing: The Tub Doctors; vanity: Kohler; beveled mirrors: Pottery Barn; sconce: Visual Comfort, via Wolfers Lighting
Adjacent to the master bathroom, the young daughter’s bedroom received primarily a finishes update.
Most of the pieces were existing. Exceptions are the Roman shade, the vintage bergère and microsuede-covered ottoman. “The shade fabric is a focal point and was selected early on,” Reid says. “It’s cheerful, colorful and whimsical, so nice for a child but can easily grow with her.”
Wall paint: Bali 702, Benjamin Moore; shade fabric: Citrus Garden, Schumacher; ottoman: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Most of the pieces were existing. Exceptions are the Roman shade, the vintage bergère and microsuede-covered ottoman. “The shade fabric is a focal point and was selected early on,” Reid says. “It’s cheerful, colorful and whimsical, so nice for a child but can easily grow with her.”
Wall paint: Bali 702, Benjamin Moore; shade fabric: Citrus Garden, Schumacher; ottoman: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
On the rear of the home is the kids’ bathroom, featuring classic black-and-white hex tile paired with new beadboard.
“At first I thought black and white was a bit boring for a kids’ bath, but as I began developing the design, I worked in colors in other ways — green shower curtain rod, green glass vanity pulls, towels, step stool and fresh green wall paint above the beadboard,” Reid says. “So it’s refreshing and fun for kids, but the core elements are still white and black. The green could easily and inexpensively be changed to another color in the future, so it’s a very versatile design.”
Vanity top: honed black granite; shower curtain: Serena & Lily
“At first I thought black and white was a bit boring for a kids’ bath, but as I began developing the design, I worked in colors in other ways — green shower curtain rod, green glass vanity pulls, towels, step stool and fresh green wall paint above the beadboard,” Reid says. “So it’s refreshing and fun for kids, but the core elements are still white and black. The green could easily and inexpensively be changed to another color in the future, so it’s a very versatile design.”
Vanity top: honed black granite; shower curtain: Serena & Lily
Next to the kids’ bath, the son’s bedroom continues the youthful-but-easy-to-grow-into design concept. Features include muted yellow walls, Hudson Bay blanket-style pillows, a cute graphic bird-print Roman shade fabric and an antique blue table.
Wall paint: Hawthorne Yellow HC-4, Benjamin Moore; shade fabric: Aviary, Schumacher
Wall paint: Hawthorne Yellow HC-4, Benjamin Moore; shade fabric: Aviary, Schumacher
AFTER: You can see how the removal of the foyer vestibule opened up the entryway. The dining room in the rear of the house was eliminated and the space was combined with the existing kitchen and powder room in the rear of the home to create a large kitchen, eating area and mudroom extension.
The living room on the left side was long and too big, so it was divided into a smaller, more intimate formal living room and adjacent dining room.
A new mudroom entrance and powder room were added to the rear right side of the home.
The living room on the left side was long and too big, so it was divided into a smaller, more intimate formal living room and adjacent dining room.
A new mudroom entrance and powder room were added to the rear right side of the home.
AFTER: The configuration stayed mostly the same, with the exception of the front-left bedroom, which was made into a spacious master bathroom and walk-in-closet.
The third floor, not shown, once housed a bedroom, bathroom and living space with kitchenette. Now it includes a guest bedroom and bathroom, an office and a playroom.
Interior design: Mandarina Studio
Architecture: Cummings Architects
Kitchen design: Linda Cloutier
General contracting: Tom Silva, Silva Brothers Construction
Decorative painting: Pauline Curtiss, Patina Designs
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The third floor, not shown, once housed a bedroom, bathroom and living space with kitchenette. Now it includes a guest bedroom and bathroom, an office and a playroom.
Interior design: Mandarina Studio
Architecture: Cummings Architects
Kitchen design: Linda Cloutier
General contracting: Tom Silva, Silva Brothers Construction
Decorative painting: Pauline Curtiss, Patina Designs
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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I agree with dbwolinski65 about the " nasty yellow "exterior color. Even though I think that the house is now an eyesore in the neighborhood, on the upside, the color certainly makes their house easily findable.
The interior colors are very nice & soothing. I like the kitchen a lot :)
awww i dont find the exterior color nasty at all, very new england + victorian.