Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1289039
81 room space. In the kitchen, new cabinetry from Ipswich Cabinetry painted "Downpour Blue" from Benjamin Moore fits around the existing fireplace and windows. Two large islands offer plenty of entertaining space and beautiful original ceiling beams were exposed. Outside, a new wraparound porch overlooks the yard as well as a new pool and cabana, which were added in 2019. What was storage and multi-purpose rooms in the backhouse section became a gym, a recreation room, a mudroom, and powder room. All these spaces feel up- dated for this modern family, but Cummings reminds that the changes fit within the historical context of the house. Plus, the rooms of the big house are kept authen- tic. "In the original rooms in the house," he says, "there are no TVs or surround systems. They can just sit there and be, relaxing by the fireplaces." Upstairs, four bedrooms each have their own original fireplace, the master bedroom and bath (which assume roughly the same space they did before) were completely redone, and the underutilized storage areas were turned into another bedroom and bathroom as well as a master closet. Mostly using the historic pallet by Benjamin Moore, Cummings's interior designer Alexandra Ford chose colors for the trim, door, and window sashes to reflect the use of each room. For example, the master bedroom is a soft soothing gray while the study is darker blue, more masculine. In keeping with historical approaches to paint selections—color on trim and walls white—this technique also provides interest, especially in spaces like the cross hall where "Sulphur Yellow" was used. "They like bold colors, so we had fun selecting colors for the trim," says Ford. "The white walls keep the rooms light and bright, while the trim colors allow each room to have a distinct style and personality. This was how homes in this era were originally painted—with white walls and colored trim. The historic paint palette pro- vides visual cohesiveness throughout the home." As time went on, everyone learned more about the house. The original owner, Reverend John Mottey, held church services here. The master bedroom was once a ballroom. There is a tunnel below the barn. "There is meaning in our house and I love to think about what it has been through," says the home- owner. "We had always thought of renovating an old farmhouse and this presented the perfect opportunity to do so while helping to preserve a significant home in Lynnfield's history." This preservation extends much further than the house, too. "It preserves a major portion of Lynnfield it- self—the streetscape, the town," says Cummings. "And we did it in a major way. There's no reason for someone to go in the future and want to tear it apart." cummingsarchitectsinteriors.com The home is spacious allowing the children to each have their own bedroom. Opposite, A restored parlor becomes the perfect home office. The master bath is luxurious with a soaking tub.