Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1325707
72 it and have it function like a modern home," O'Hare says. "However, it was important to make sure we kept the historic character." It would be a delicate balance: keeping the identity of the original while creating a more expansive feel, adding modern amenities, and playing up the exquisite views, a swathe of blue-green coastline from Salem to Manchester. Working with Windhill Builders in Ipswich and a slate of subcontractors, O'Hare transformed the interior through many deft, restrained moves, including reworking interior walls, replacing dark, flat paneling, and expanding windows. "To create a more modern, cleaner layout, we removed one of three stairways and one of six fireplaces," O'Hare says. "The owners now had a real heating system and did not have to rely on fireplaces for warmth." O'Hare's design details turn each room into an artful presentation: hallway sconces reminiscent of candle lights but with a hint of sophistication; a flower-shaped sconce of crystal and brass in the dining room; a grand, refurbished three-story mahogany staircase outfitted with an elegant brass globe that fills the area with light. At the base is the home's original southern yellow pine flooring, stained and refinished for a rich, polished shine. The front entrance reveals a warm entry room with an original fireplace and seating area. A set of original double doors to one side leads to the living room, where an original fireplace stands, with new, blue-green slate tiles on the hearth for a subtly modern look. On the other side is another set of original double doors leading to the dining room. In the entryway, though, the eye trains on the view straight ahead: the foyer with a Dutch door, and beyond, the original waterside porch rimmed by views of the Atlantic. Despite the large windows, the original interior felt dark, O'Hare recalls. "Not only were the floors dark, but all the trim and paneling were stained dark as well. It was all too much and felt uninviting. We all agreed that the wood floors were beautiful, but the woodwork had to be painted." The team also added windows on the waterside, bringing in more light and offering more views and connection to the waterfront. On the second floor, triple-size windows in the four bedrooms and family room create a light, homey atmosphere and open rooms to views. A coterie of small rooms—the former servants' quarters and guestrooms— were rearranged to form spacious bedrooms. The third floor, formerly "a jumble of teeny rooms," as O'Hare says, was opened to accommodate an office and bedroom suite. She kept the existing clawfoot tub in the suite's bathroom, but had the exterior painted dark, another canny blend of old and new. Outside,