A Classically Elegant Home in the Boston Suburbs

A custom mirror from Guido Frames hangs above a console from Iatesta Studio in the dining room, which is part of the home’s more formal wing

A pair of French doors at the end of the entry hall lead to the back patio; the stair runner is from Stark.

Both homeowners have a workspace in the study, which features mahogany paneling and a floor lamp from Visual Comfort & Co.

The architects opted for a colonial-style structure with classic shingles and stone veneer to blend in nicely with the neighborhood; a front porch complete with rocking chairs was a request from the clients.

A vestibule in the front entry features a console from Iatesta Studio and floor tiles from Tile Showcase.

One of the only pieces the couple retained from their former residence is this Rose Tarlow dining table, which is paired with chairs from Aesthetic and a light fixture from Iatesta Studio; the wallpaper is from Gracie.

The bar is painted Farrow & Ball Studio Green to coordinate with the adjacent dining room’s wallpaper.

The formal living room contains a sofa from A. Rudin, a coffee table from Michael S. Smith’s Jasper Collection, and a settee from O. Henry House.

A soaking tub anchors the primary bath.

A vaulted ceiling in the primary bedroom is studded with oak beams; the bed is from Aesthetic.

An oak island lends richness to the kitchen; the clients specifically requested quartz countertops for their durability.

The breakfast nook, which overlooks the lake, incorporates additional heating to ensure a cozy spot for enjoying morning coffee.

A double-sided woodburning fireplace separates the sunroom from the family room, which contains a sofa from Hickory Chair, a custom coffee table from Scott James Furniture & Design, and a pair of chairs from Louis J. Solomon.

The architects at Mellowes & Paladino designed the home so that its axis follows the edge of the lake, allowing most rooms to enjoy a view of the water.

When two longtime Bostonians decided to leave the city and build a new forever home near their three grown children in the suburbs, they knew just who to call.

Having worked with Bob Paladino, founding partner of Mellowes & Paladino Architects, on both their townhouse and a family compound on Nantucket, the clients welcomed another opportunity to collaborate with the firm.

This time, the site was a rather challenging lakeside property with a small house that didn’t satisfy the couple’s needs.

“Between demolishing the existing structure and dealing with conservation issues, it took a year to secure permitting,” recalls architect Emily Sanders Coutu, a managing principal at the firm who worked alongside Paladino on the project. “It was important that we respect the history of the town, so the shingled colonial-style residence picks up on details found in the neighborhood. The goal was to orient the rooms toward the view by stretching the building along an axis that follows the water’s edge.”

The 13,000-square-foot home is divided into a formal wing (living, dining, bar area) and a more casual side meant for everyday living (kitchen, pantry, family room, sunroom, laundry, mudroom). In addition to a first-floor primary suite, there are three en suite bedrooms upstairs as well as a media room and bunk room for the owners’ grandkids on the lower level.

“There was lots of planning involved in order to give the clients a full-height basement,” says Coutu. “Because of the site’s high water table, we knew the lower level would be underwater at certain times. We worked with an engineer to conceive a waterproof foundation with twenty-four-inch-thick walls.” According to the builder, Brookes + Hill, constant de-watering was necessary during construction. “We essentially built a boat,” says principal Eric Hill.

Throughout the home, Mellowes & Paladino employed their signature mix of traditional elements with contemporary features and clean lines. “We know what styles have lasted for hundreds of years, and we want to continue in that tradition,” says Coutu of the interior architecture. “It doesn’t feel stuffy or trendy. It just feels timeless.”

The architects also took advantage of the sizeable floor plan to create a few single-story spaces with high ceilings. “We had the freedom to design a vaulted ceiling with trusses in the family room and install a large six-by-fifteen-foot skylight in the sunroom,” continues Coutu, who collaborated closely with interior designer Cindy Hayes on many of the finishes and paint colors.

Like the architects, Hayes had worked with the clients previously and had gotten the chance to develop a shorthand with them that allowed the design scheme to develop easily and naturally.

“The homeowners wanted the interiors to feel light and bright and for the views to shine,” says Hayes, who selected a mix of custom and new furnishings—some of which are upholstered in grandkid-friendly performance fabrics. “We used blues, greens, and sandy tones to help bring the outside in. The wife likes texture but not busy patterns.

It took me a while to cajole her into the floral wallpaper in the dining room, but she loves it now. The patterned chairs in the study were also a departure for her. There are formal spaces, but the house doesn’t feel fussy. It’s meant to be unpretentious, sophisticated, and comfortable.”

Project Team
Architecture: Mellowes & Paladino Architects
Interior design: Cynthia Hayes
Interior Design Builder: Brookes + Hill Custom Builders

Styled by Eleanor Roper