Art and history set the backdrop for this transformation of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s former summer home into a newly designed dwelling with modern amenities. With the original home dating back to 1806, the challenge of preserving key elements of antique beauty created an opportunity to build a uniquely spectacular contemporary space for family and living.

The house needed significant repairs, both cosmetic and structural, and our team was up to the task. Our engineers lifted this over 200-year-old home off the ground and expertly rebuilt a new, strong foundation. Inside, old and new balusters and bronze angels became indistinguishable, refinished and hand-carved to perfection.

This one-of-a-kind property, made for outdoor, museum-like appreciation of flora, was then adorned with elements such as a stand of time-tested beech trees, protected to maintain even more of the home’s historic beauty. The result? A celebrated Federal style home, with the original exterior features conserved and restored, now resting upon a modern foundation with an entirely rebuilt interior. The expert and careful refurbishing of this home reflects the artistic splendor of its origins, yet provides the contemporary owners peace of mind and their own, fully-realized, personalized vision of home.