Timeless Elegance on the North Shore

The side entry shows the Georgian-style pediments, brackets, and columns architect Michael T. Gray introduced to the design.

The informal porch provides entrée to the foyer, where an intricate marble-tile floor and Venetian-plaster-lined dome are juxtaposed with the disarming charm of a painted Dutch door.

Symmetrical stairs on each side of a Georgian portico, stately brass railings, and an oval leaded-glass window above a pediment grace the front facade.

The office off the side entry has a hidden space behind the paneled wall; the inside of the secret door is lined with leather.

In the dining room, built-in arched cupboards with leaded-glass doors flank the fireplace; the Fortuny Icaro pendant light is “a statement piece,” says designer Anne T. Alberts.

In the living room, casual, comfortable furnishings complement the classic simplicity of the fireplace surround and bookcases.

The existing garage was demolished and a new structure built on the footprint.

The powder room off the side entry, adjacent to the office, has a custom sink and backsplash of Rainforest quartz.

The kitchen cabinetry is traditional, but the room itself is unabashedly modern with a custom brass hood as a focal point. The island sink faces the light-filled living room. To the left, a wood-lined coffee bar can be concealed by pocket doors, much like the spice racks flanking the Lacanche range.

An archway defines the sitting area in the primary bedroom; the doorway to the left leads to the en suite bathroom.

A soaking tub and walk-in shower give the primary bathroom its spa-like feeling.

The dressing room and closet space is a room unto itself.

he window above the counter on the right folds open to become a pass-through when serving meals at the outdoor table.

A kitchenette at the rear of the house acts as a service area for the back porch. The window above the counter on the right folds open to become a pass-through when serving meals at the outdoor table.

Historic Home Renovation with Coastal Charm

In design, as in life, we strive to find balance. And so it was for the owners of a circa-1860s house on the North Shore of Massachusetts in need of a major overhaul. “What appealed to us was the home’s well-established bones,” says the owner. “We loved the stone foundation, the detached garage, and the size of the lot, and we really wanted to put our own spin on it.”

The homeowners, a married couple with three young-adult children, reached out to Carpenter & MacNeille to help realize their vision. Architect Michael T. Gray, the firm’s managing director, speaks frankly: “The house was in disrepair.” After consulting with Gray and Steven Harrington, C&M’s head of architectural design, the owner says, “We quickly learned the house had so much potential as a more modern home.”
“We agreed the aesthetic would be more formal and classical,” says Gray. “Our intent was to make it look more than 100 years old. We rebuilt the entire house—only the central core remains.”

His design leans into the Georgian style and its architectural details as exemplified in the front portico with its symmetrical curved stairs on either side of a columned porch. An elegant brass railing completes the street-facing facade.

Sophisticated Interiors Meet Everyday Comfort

Off the driveway, a less formal and more used side entrance has an inviting porch that opens to a foyer, a room that reflects Anne T. Alberts’s program for the living spaces. “We made an effort to find a balance between formal and living casually,” says Alberts, Carpenter & MacNeille’s head of interior design. “We wanted the design to be approachable while respecting the history of the property.” Here, the elegance of the marble-tile floor in an intricate geometric pattern and the domed ceiling finished in blue Venetian plaster is offset by the disarming old-world charm of a painted Dutch door.

In the center of the 7,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house is the kitchen, another example of a modern space grounded with traditional details in cabinetry, light fixtures, and a coffered ceiling. The lack of windows originally concerned the owner. “But the room opens to the living room, which has many large windows and lots of indirect light, so that’s fantastic,” she says. “I never feel closed in.”

The one windowless wall in the living room features a fireplace with a limestone surround flanked by arched built-in bookcases, giving the room a look both formal and serene.

Personalized Living Spaces

The primary suite is an oasis that encompasses more than half of the second floor. A terrace off the bedroom has distant ocean views. A spa-like bathroom connects the bedroom to a walk-in closet that can also be accessed from the laundry room and hallway.

The home’s most intimate space is the third-floor library. Lined with stained-oak paneling, it was conceived as a place for books and games, reading and hanging out. With the best ocean views in the house, “It’s a great place to work,” says the owner. “It is definitely getting used.”

A covered porch at the back of the house overlooks the pool. The outside spaces are comfortable and private, says the owner, adding, “We are homebodies, and we love being here.”

Project Team
Architecture, Interior Design, Builder: Carpenter & MacNeille
Landscape Design: Frank Todd Landscape Architect