Historic Somerville Victorian Reimagined for a Growing Family

The design team repurposed some original Victorian details, including the striking archway that now frames the living room’s entrance. “I loved the idea of highlighting the archway,” says designer Sarah Cole, who chose a soft blue-based black paint (Railings No. 31) from Farrow & Ball.

This gem of a tiny room (called the vestibule) sits off the entryway. The space is saturated in Lewis & Wood’s Oxus pattern in Turkish Brown.

Symmetry, warmth, and perfect pattern-mixing define the living room. Cole had the furniture upholstered in Wesley Hall fabrics—that’s wool mohair on the sofa and plaid on the accent chairs.

The dining room set the tone for the rest of the home, largely because of the Morris & Co. Pure Fruit wallpaper. A rug from Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting complements a 1930s painting by Louise Austin Kelly.

The black-and-white kitchen nods to modernity in the vintage home. Essex Bay Cabinetry & Design fabricated the cabinets, which are painted Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart.

This bathroom’s original tub was refinished on-site; the faucet is from Vintage Bath & Home.

New England Design + Construction refreshed the exterior of the home in period colors: the shingles are Charcoal Slate, and the trim is Whale Gray, both from Benjamin Moore.

The combination of the Oushak rug and Alice Sergeant drapery fabric was the foundation for the primary bedroom design.

“I like to think of a house as a silent client,” says interior designer Sarah Cole, “in that we always try to intuitively honor a structure and its architecture.” A case in point is this 1898 Victorian in Somerville, Massachusetts: an old home that didn’t suit the needs of a young family.

As part of a long-overdue makeover, Cole designed the interiors with an eye on the client’s request for a forever home. They knew the dated layout and tired rooms would require updates and improvements, but Cole appreciated her client’s desire to preserve the home’s character and old-house charm while making it feel modern and more livable.

The first order of business, the interior architecture, including substantial structural work, was undertaken by New England Design + Construction. With a living area of approximately 3,700 square feet, there was a lot to do, says NEDC senior designer Drew Tessier, but they wanted to tackle it with a light touch.

“We wanted to make the most difference without moving too many things,” he explains. They removed rear staircases and relocated a bathroom to double the kitchen footprint and create a new side entrance with an adjacent powder room. The front entryway was scaled down to allow for the basement stairs to be placed underneath the existing main staircase. And the team added a dose of drama by moving an intricate wood archway from the entryway to the living room. 

“We went with a neutral palette to start,” says Cole. The homeowner fell in love with a light Morris & Co. wallpaper for the dining room, so they designed around it. Cole added some brown and terra-cotta hues throughout, layering them with pattern and texture for warmth. The furnishings lean toward traditional with clean lines and durable fabrics.

A small space off the front entryway that the homeowners call the vestibule features an original curved window seat. The room is covered in a Lewis & Wood wallpaper that echoes the Morris vibe in the dining room. To add some contrast within the home, says Cole, “NEDC went in a simpler direction in the kitchen and baths.”

All told, the Victorian feels dimensional but cohesive, says Cole. “It has a rhythm that reflects the family: grounded, personal, and built to last.”

Project Team
Architecture and builder: New England Design + Construction
Interior design: Sarah Cole Interiors
Landscape design: Landscape Collaborative

Styling by Sean William Donovan