When Heather and Malcolm Faulds first set foot inside the 1870s Italianate house in Arlington, Massachusetts, they saw past the cramped layout and outdated systems. What they saw was character: decorative roof brackets, a double-height entry foyer, quartersawn oak floors, and original interior trim that whispered stories of craftsmanship from a bygone era. But as any homeowner knows, character alone does not raise children, host dinner parties, or provide a functional workspace. The couple needed more breathing room, and they needed it without sacrificing the architectural soul of the home. That is precisely what the This Old House TV project team delivered, and the lessons from this renovation offer a masterclass in how to approach a period home restoration with both reverence and pragmatism.
For homeowners considering their own historic preservation and remodeling project in New England, the Arlington Italianate renovation provides a compelling blueprint. It proves that you can retain the elements that make an old house magical while introducing the openness, efficiency, and comfort that modern families demand.
Opening Up the First Floor While Preserving Period Details
The Faulds family had a clear vision from the start: open up the first floor, create a kitchen where the family could actually gather, and retain every period detail worth saving. Architect David Whitney took on the challenge and delivered a plan that reimagined the existing footprint without adding unnecessary square footage.
The Kitchen Transformation
The original kitchen was cramped and central, cut off from the rest of the living space by a dividing wall and a defunct chimney. The solution was to carve out a new eat-in kitchen from what had been a home office at the back of the house, combining it with the old kitchen space and removing the obstructive chimney. The result is a window-lined room bathed in natural light, anchored by a teak island top that adds warmth to the white cabinetry.
Key features of the new kitchen include:
- Prefinished chestnut floors that provide a rich, warm foundation for the space
- In-floor radiant heating that keeps the room comfortable even on the coldest New England mornings
- A central island equipped with a microwave, sink, dishwasher, and seating for casual meals and homework sessions
- Windows by Jeld-Wen that frame views of the backyard while flooding the room with daylight
- Kohler fixtures that balance modern performance with classic styling
The kitchen demonstrates that a period home does not need a period kitchen. By keeping the cabinetry clean and the materials warm, the design feels both contemporary and entirely at home within the 1870s shell.
Preserving Original Crown Molding and Trim
One of the most rewarding discoveries during the renovation was the original plaster crown molding hidden in the living and dining rooms. General contractor Tom Silva carefully exposed and restored these elements, using them as the foundation for the home’s renewed interior character.
In the dining room, a drop ceiling was removed to reveal the crown molding in its full glory. Tom also filled in missing floorboards with matching quartersawn oak planks, ensuring that repairs blended seamlessly with the original fabric. He widened and raised the passageway between the dining room and kitchen to enhance the open layout, a move that improved flow without erasing the home’s historic bones.
Throughout the house, Tom used the original 8-inch baseboard as a template for all new base molding, creating a consistent architectural language that reads as original. This approach is a lesson in itself: when you cannot save every original piece, create new work that honors the old.
Foundation Repairs and Structural Renewal
Before any aesthetic work could begin, the team had to address the home’s most critical weakness: the foundation. The original rubble-stone foundation was leaky and crumbling, threatening the structural integrity of the entire house.
Fixing the Rubble-Stone Foundation
The biggest challenges of the entire project were below grade. Rubble-stone foundations were common in 19th-century construction, but they do not age gracefully. Water infiltration, shifting stones, and general deterioration can compromise the entire structure if left unaddressed. The team repaired and stabilized the foundation, ensuring that the house would stand for another 150 years.
Adding Insulation and Energy-Efficient Systems
With the foundation secure, the team turned to making the home energy efficient. A 19th-century Italianate was never designed for modern insulation standards, but the renovation brought the building firmly into the 21st century.
| System | Original Condition | Upgraded Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Old boiler, inefficient, no zoning | High-efficiency gas boiler with new ductwork |
| Insulation | Minimal or none in walls and attic | Full insulation added throughout walls and attic |
| Floor heating | None | In-floor radiant heat in kitchen |
| Windows | Original single-pane, drafty | New energy-efficient windows |
This comprehensive energy upgrade not only reduced utility costs but also improved comfort throughout the seasons. The lesson here is that period house renovation does not mean living with drafty windows and astronomical heating bills. Modern technology can be integrated invisibly, preserving the experience of living in an old house without the discomfort.
Adding Space Without Losing Character
The most ambitious part of the project was the addition of a second-floor master suite. The team managed this within a remarkably compact footprint of just 200 square feet, proving that thoughtful design can deliver significant functional gains without overwhelming the original structure.
The Second-Floor Master Suite Addition
Working Within the Existing Footprint
The master suite was added directly over the new kitchen, a location that minimized disruption to the roofline and preserved the home’s street-facing appearance. Tom Silva replicated the original corbels under the eaves of the addition, ensuring that the new work was indistinguishable from the old.
Material Choices That Bridge Past and Present
The lower level of the addition was sheathed in white-painted pine beadboard, a deliberate choice that suggests a room that had been converted from a sunroom or porch. This technique creates a visual history that feels authentic rather than invented.
Mudroom and Powder Room Additions
One of the smartest space-planning moves was the creation of a mudroom, a powder room, and a coat closet near the front entry, all within the existing footprint. These are the kinds of practical additions that make a historic home livable for a modern family. The mudroom serves as a transition zone between the outdoors and the home’s formal interior, while the powder room eliminates the need for guests to venture into private family spaces.
Design Choices That Honor the Past While Embracing the Present
The interior design of the Arlington Italianate, led by Christine Tuttle, demonstrates how to furnish and finish a period home without turning it into a museum.
Period-Appropriate Paint Colors
The bold red exterior, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Truffle, is authentic to the Italianate period and sets the home apart in its Arlington neighborhood. Bonnie Krims, the architectural color consultant, chose hues that respect the home’s 1870s origins while feeling fresh and intentional. Inside, the walls are finished in Farrow & Ball No. 2013 Matchstick, a neutral that allows the architectural details to take center stage.
Custom Millwork and Reproduced Details
Tom Silva added a new, architecturally appropriate front-porch railing where one was lacking, a detail that restores the home’s original design intent. The landscape design by Cricket Beauregard Lewis ties the property together with plantings that complement the Italianate style.
For those working on their own historic properties, the process of selecting authentic reproduction hardware for historic home renovations is critical to maintaining consistency. Every hinge, handle, and light fixture contributes to the overall impression of a home that has been carefully stewarded rather than superficially updated.
Bringing the Family into the Process
Perhaps the most important lesson from the Arlington Italianate renovation is that a family home must work for the family who lives in it. The Faulds’ two children, ages 7 and 5, now have a home with an open kitchen where meals are shared, a mudroom where boots and backpacks find their place, and a living and dining room where restored crown molding frames everyday life. The home is not a showcase; it is a living, breathing space that happens to be beautiful.
Key Takeaways for Homeowners
Whether you are renovating a Victorian, a Colonial Revival, or turning a historic schoolhouse into a cozy family home, the principles from the Arlington Italianate apply across the board.
- Prioritize structural health first. Foundation repairs, insulation, and mechanical systems form the backbone of any successful renovation.
- Preserve what you can, replicate what you cannot. Use original elements as templates for new work to maintain consistency.
- Think about how your family actually lives. Open layouts, mudrooms, and family kitchens are not modern inventions; they are responses to how people use space.
- Work with specialists who understand old buildings. Architects, color consultants, and contractors with experience in historic properties bring knowledge that generalists lack.
- Invest in energy efficiency. A historic home can be comfortable and affordable to operate without compromising its character.
The Arlington Italianate house stands as proof that historic preservation and modern family living are not opposing forces. With careful planning, skilled craftsmanship, and a clear vision of how the home will be used, it is possible to have both the charm of the 1870s and the comfort of the 2020s under one roof.