An historic shingle style home gets a remarkable update in New England

LDa Architecture & Interiors is responsible for the restoration and addition of this historic shingle-style home located in Chestnut Hill, a New England village just west of downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The owners of this dwelling saw the potential in this home’s quiet location, unusual lot, and period detail.

The design team’s task was to preserve and enhance the residence’s character while rethinking some of the selections made during previous additions. Windows were restored instead of replaced, the exterior masonry was redone in keeping with the original style, and the chimneys and roof were updated — all respecting this home’s past.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT LDa Architecture & Interiors INTERIOR DESIGN Su Casa Designs BUILDER Youngblood Builders

A new garage adds a guest suite and glass-enclosed breezeway with a new mudroom, laundry, and powder room. Renovations on the first level have helped to create a connected kitchen, breakfast nook, family room, and media room. On the second story, rooms were shuffled and expanded to host more appropriate bedrooms for this family of four.

The formal dining and living room inhabit the front entry area of the residence. In between, a wood-paneled gallery leads to the back patio and obscures a foyer closet and a second powder bathroom.

On the exterior, the shingle pattern was preserved and repeated in added areas, the roof deck was enclosed to extend the main bedroom suite, and work was done to better balance the various additions into a more classical composition. New landscaping helped to preserve the large street-facing lawn. The driveway was enlarged, while patio areas were expanded and improved.

What We Love: This historic shingle-style home is nestled on a spectacular piece of property with a majestic copper beech tree. With the overhaul of the outdoor landscape and living spaces, this newly revamped home now has a wonderful indoor-outdoor connection. The addition of the carriage house built in the style of the main home completes this property, rooting it in history while providing modern living at its finest.

Tell Us: What details in this renovation project do you find most appealing? Let us know in the Comments below, we enjoy reading your feedback!

Note: Take a look at a couple of other amazing home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Massachusetts: A charming update to a classic New England farmhouse in the woods and See inside the dreamiest beach house on the island of Nantucket.

The home’s main staircase was reimagined with a brass and steel handrail, an elegant winding form that connects the three levels. Additional highlights include arched doorways, a dutch front door with leaded glass, bubble-glass pocket doors, and generous use of molding and paneling.