Behind the Build: Reimagining a Century-Old English Manor for Modern Living

Perched high on a hill in Newton, Massachusetts, this much-loved 8,000-square-foot English manor-style home had been the heart of one family for more than forty years. As the owners transitioned into a new chapter as empty-nesters, they faced a choice familiar to many: downsize, or transform the home they cherished into a place that could support their evolving needs. They chose transformation – without compromising the architecture that made the house so special.

Their goal was clear: update and enlarge the home to function beautifully for the present while preparing thoughtfully for the future. The project required a complete interior renovation and a sensitive addition, all while honoring the home’s historical character.

Inside, the team began by gutting the interior and reconfiguring the main floor to support modern living. The centerpiece of this work is a large, contemporary kitchen designed for entertaining, a major improvement over the home’s original, compartmentalized layout. On the second floor, an expansive multi-room owner’s suite took shape by repurposing a guest bedroom and sunroom and enclosing a terrace. The resulting retreat includes his-and-her bathrooms, dedicated closets, a sitting room, and all new furnishings – an elevated and highly functional private oasis.

Much of the home’s period charm was seen in its intricate millwork, but extensive renovations made many of the original moldings impossible to save. In the Entry Foyer, the existing wall paneling had to be removed, but the team meticulously replicated it and extended it to the ceiling, enhancing rather than diminishing the home’s character. Throughout the house, new trim, baseboards, and crown molding were added to create seamless transitions between restored, reimagined, and newly built spaces.

A major component of the project was a substantial addition that included a new attached garage. The steep slope of the site limited placement options, but Slocum Hall Design Group turned the challenge into an opportunity, situating the garage upslope and connecting it to the home with a breezeway mudroom. This connection provides weather-protected access, while the new radiant-heated cobblestone driveway offers safe, ice-free passage in winter. By matching the existing brick, slate, and copper on the exterior, the addition blends effortlessly into the original architecture.

Aging in place was a central priority for the homeowners, and mobility was a key concern. To give the homeowners the freedom to move comfortably throughout their home for decades to come, the team incorporated a fully accessible elevator. The reconfigured floor plan also enhances circulation, ensuring every space – from the kitchen to the owner’s suite – feels open, connected, and easy to navigate.

The result is a home that balances history with modernity, elegance with practicality, and architectural preservation with forward-looking design. What began as a beloved but aging structure is now a refined, resilient, beautifully updated English manor that will continue to support its owners – gracefully and comfortably – for years to come.