A Historic Estate is Reimagined for Modern Family Living

Wide steps of lawn and stone lead to the terrace outside the l’orangerie at the far end of the “life room” designed by Hutker Architects. “It’s not too precious or manicured,” says the homeowner. “It’s a place where kids like to sit and chat and play games.”

A paved driveway directly in front of the main entry, a design holdover from the days when guests arrived by horse and buggy, was replaced with a refined elevated landscape. Puddingstone for the walls and steps is native to the site.

The restored entry foyer includes an inglenook with an array of stained and leaded glass and a fireplace; the original carved oak millwork and beams established the materials palette for the rest of the house.

The “life room,” which encompasses the kitchen and dining area as well as casual family seating, is distinguished by a modified version of a l’orangerie that opens to a terrace and the mature landscape beyond. The oak beams are an updated reflection of the original carved beams found in the restored front entry.

Off the front entry, new oak millwork crafted by Youngblood Builders defines a doorway between the living room and the library.

The kitchen overlooks the backyard patio where a carriage house was demolished. “Its stone foundation was integrated into the cliff to create a kind of grotto,” says landscape architect Matthew Cunningham.

A third-floor space with an arched ceiling makes organization both pretty and playful as the kids’ games and toys are stashed in built-in cubbies.

The new staircase was conceived as a ribbon that connects the whole house. It was crafted by architectural woodworkers King & Company with such attention to detail that the handrail is designed specifically for the grip of client’s hand.

“We wanted the primary suite to face the yard and celebrate it,” says the homeowner. “Every season looks different. It feels like a vacation spot.”

The bathroom has a bird’s-eye view of the patio and the stone fireplace carved into the foundation of a demolished carriage house

A door in the corner of the bedroom opens to the roof garden atop the garage; the stepping-stone path leads to a puddingstone outcropping and onto the landscape.

A garden shed described as “a ramshackle building in bad repair” by builder Jim Youngblood was reimagined as a spa retreat.

Perched on a puddingstone ridge, the building blends gently into the sylvan setting.

The vibe is serene and restful, and the view lends a tree house sensibility.

Rediscovering a Forgotten Victorian-Era Estate

The stately Victorian-era house was surrounded by once luminous gardens and pathways now barely discernable beneath the overgrowth. Think Sleeping Beauty’s castle before the prince arrives.

“There was a poetic sense of abandonment,” says landscape architect Matthew Cunningham of the 1898 house and its surroundings. “An end of an era was visible.”

Set on three acres that include numerous breaching puddingstone formations, this onetime country estate in the Boston suburbs was designed for the age of the horse and carriage when grand driveways greeted guests and carriage houses were de rigueur.

“Lifestyles have evolved over the century,” says Cunningham, and the couple who purchased the historic property wanted to make it a comfortable home for themselves and their four young children. “We wanted space where kids could be kids,” says the homeowner. “We didn’t want precious—we wanted calm and comfort.”

A Thoughtful Blend of Historic and Modern Architecture

Mark Hutker, founder and partner of Hutker Architects, and his team were mindful of the aura of history emanating from the property as they designed the modern open interiors the family envisioned while also restoring and improving the exterior. “If we were going to express a new design narrative, it had to be as mature and thoughtful and well-crafted as that which we were replacing,” he says. “We emphasized the juxtaposition between old and new in almost every space,” adds Hutker project designer Eder Romero.

The compartmentalized Victorian-era floor plan did not suit the lifestyle of a modern young family. Hutker’s solution is the “life room,” a combination kitchen, dining, and large casual seating area. “I don’t like the term ‘great room,’ ” he says. “This space is not about size and grandeur. Rather it is about family togetherness.”
It occupies roughly half the first floor with the visual focus on the mature landscape framed by mullioned sliding doors and windows that form a modified version of a l’orangerie.

Reviving John Charles Olmsted Gardens

The gardens, originally designed by John Charles Olmsted, son of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and a renowned designer in his own right, have their own storied provenance. Armed with historic photos of the property, Cunningham and fellow principal Devin Hefferon viewed its preservation through the lens of the present. “The owners bought this with kids in mind,” says Hefferon. “The focus is on outdoor adventuring.”

“We worked with the natural landscape,” says the homeowner. “The cliffs and ledges are just so beautiful. Devin and Matthew paid tribute to Olmsted and reimagined spaces thoughtfully and respectfully. It’s a magical place where children love to be.”

Adults, too, are charmed by the garden’s glories and secrets. The primary bedroom opens to a garden on the rooftop of a new garage that is both a lush retreat and a secret entrée to the hillside setting. Away from the house, an old garden shed was transformed into a spa retreat with a Japanese-inspired soaking pool. Perched atop a puddingstone outcropping, “it is quietly beautiful,” says Hefferon. “You have a sense of being in a tree house.”

Much as the original house and gardens worked together to meet the needs and aesthetics of its day, the renovation has delivered a family oasis for its current owners. “It’s a treat to experience the gorgeous landscape with the historic tradition of the architecture,” says Hutker.

“When we bought the house, it was a mishmash,” says the homeowner. “I wanted to simplify. Now, there is nowhere we would rather be.”

Project Team
Architecture and interior design: Hutker Architects
Builder: Youngblood Builders
Landscape design: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design

Exterior photography by Neil Landino, interior photography by Michael J. Lee
Styling by Sean William Donovan