When Heather and Malcolm Faulds bought their 2,100-square-foot 1870s Italianate house in Arlington, Massachusetts, they were captivated by its decorative roof brackets, quartersawn oak floors, and original interior trim. But as a family with two young children, they quickly realized the charming historic home needed significant reworking to accommodate their daily lives. The couple’s to-do list was lengthy: open up the first floor, create a kitchen where the family could actually gather, and preserve the period details that drew them to the house in the first place. This balancing act between preserving history and creating functional family space is one that many homeowners face when taking on an older property. As families grow, the need for thoughtful reconfiguration becomes essential, much like the principles explored in multifamily renovation strategies that prioritize flexible layouts and improved energy performance.
Planning a Family Oriented Renovation
Architect David Whitney met the challenge by rethinking the entire first floor within the existing footprint. The plan moved the home office upstairs, carved out a mudroom, powder room, and coat closet near the front entry, and created a spacious open kitchen at the rear of the house. The key insight was that the family needed a central gathering space rather than a series of small, disconnected rooms. This approach resonates with the philosophy behind designing homes that evolve alongside growing families, where each space serves multiple functions as needs shift over time.
The planning phase required several critical decisions that any homeowner facing a similar renovation should consider:
- Whether to expand the home’s footprint or work strictly within existing boundaries
- How to create an open floor plan while preserving load bearing walls and structural integrity
- Where to locate new plumbing runs for the additional bathroom and kitchen fixtures
- How to maintain the architectural integrity of the Italianate style throughout the changes
- What order of construction would minimize disruption to family life during the project
The decision to add only 200 square feet, reserved entirely for a master suite above the kitchen, was a strategic choice. By keeping the addition minimal, the homeowners avoided the complexity and cost of a major footprint expansion while still gaining a dedicated primary bedroom retreat with an attached bath and walk-in closet. This lean approach to additions is often the smartest path for historic properties, where preserving the original roofline and massing is essential to maintaining curb appeal and neighborhood character.
Addressing Foundation and Structural Issues
For general contractor Tom Silva, the most significant challenges were hidden below grade. The house’s original rubble stone foundation was leaky and crumbling, requiring extensive repair before any interior work could begin. This is a common issue with 19th century homes, where early foundation techniques often fail to meet modern standards for moisture control and long term structural stability.
Key foundation repair considerations for historic properties include:
- Assessing the full extent of damage through a professional structural inspection
- Determining whether targeted repair or full replacement is the most cost effective option
- Installing proper drainage systems around the foundation perimeter to divert water
- Waterproofing the interior walls after structural stabilization is complete
- Adding insulation where historically there was none, without trapping moisture
Once the foundation was stabilized, Tom could proceed with confidence, knowing the structural core of the house was sound. The repair work also opened the door for comprehensive mechanical upgrades, including new ductwork for a high efficiency gas boiler and full insulation in the walls and attic. These improvements mirror the approach taken in reconfiguring awkward layouts in historic homes, where structural interventions enable modern functionality within an old shell.
Restoring Period Details While Modernizing
One of the most rewarding aspects of the renovation was the discovery and restoration of original architectural features. In the living and dining rooms, Tom uncovered original plaster crown molding that had been hidden behind a dropped ceiling installed decades earlier. By carefully removing the drop ceiling, repairing the plaster, and refinishing the molding, the rooms regained the historic grandeur that had drawn the Faulds family to the house in the first place.
The approach to historic preservation followed a clear philosophy: restore what can be saved, replicate what cannot, and blend modern interventions so they complement rather than compete with the original fabric. Tom used the original 8 inch baseboard as a template for new base molding throughout the house, ensuring visual consistency from room to room. In the dining room, he filled in missing floorboards with matching quartersawn oak planks, making the patches virtually indistinguishable from the originals. This family run approach to craftsmanship reflects the values seen in family run home building operations, where attention to detail and long term quality take precedence over schedule pressure.
| Original Element | Restoration Approach | Modern Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster crown molding | Exposed and repaired from behind drop ceiling | Matched new moldings to original profiles |
| 8 inch baseboard | Used as template for all new trim | Consistent base molding throughout house |
| Quartersawn oak floors | Missing planks filled with matching wood | Prefinished laminate in basement only |
| Rubble stone foundation | Stabilized and waterproofed | New drainage and insulation added |
| Exterior corbels | Original replicated for new addition | Beadboard sheathing on lower level |
The exterior received equally thoughtful treatment. The bold red paint, Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Truffle, is historically authentic to the Italianate period. Tom added a new front porch railing designed to be architecturally appropriate, and he replicated the original corbels under the eaves of the upstairs addition. The entire home received an energy efficiency makeover with insulation in the walls and attic, plus new ductwork for a high efficiency gas boiler installed in the basement.
Creating the Heart of the Home with an Open Kitchen
The kitchen transformation was perhaps the most dramatic change in the entire project. What had been a cramped central kitchen and a separate home office became a bright, window lined eat-in kitchen spanning the rear of the house. The dividing wall with a defunct chimney was removed, opening the space to the dining room and creating the open flow the family craved.
The kitchen design incorporates several family friendly features that make it the true heart of the home:
- A teak topped island with microwave, sink, dishwasher, and seating for casual meals and homework supervision
- Prefinished chestnut floors with in floor radiant heat for comfort during cold New England winters
- Black soapstone countertops in the cooking zone, valued for their durability, heat resistance, and period appropriate look
- A patinated copper vent hood as a striking focal point above the professional style cooktop
- A dedicated baking center with undercounter ovens on the perpendicular wall
- Flat and glass panel cabinets climbing to the ceiling for maximum storage capacity
- Subway tile backsplash and an apron front sink that reinforce the vintage Italianate aesthetic
A butler’s pantry was created from what had been an awkward full bathroom, now featuring bracketed shelves on beadboard walls to display serving pieces and store pantry items within easy reach of the kitchen. The passageway between the dining room and kitchen was made wider and higher, enhancing the open layout while maintaining the sightlines that make the home feel spacious. In floor radiant heat was installed under the chestnut floors, adding warmth where the family gathers most.
Adding a Master Suite Within a Minimal Footprint
The only structural addition to the house was a 200 square foot second floor extension built directly over the new kitchen. This modest addition made room for a master bathroom and a larger kids bath without altering the home’s street facing facade. On the existing second floor, one bedroom was reconfigured to allow for a large walk in closet, while the new space housed a master bathroom with spa like amenities.
The master bathroom features carefully considered details:
- Steam shower fittings for a spa experience at home
- In floor radiant heat for year round comfort on tile floors
- Limestone tiles covering both walls and floors for a cohesive look
- Pebble stone surface in the shower for natural texture and slip resistance
- A double vanity with white solid surfacing for ample counter space
- Pocket doors separating the bath from the bedroom for privacy without sacrificing floor space
The existing second floor also received thoughtful upgrades. The smallest of the four bedrooms became a home office, allowing the parents to work from home without sacrificing guest space. The kids bathroom was expanded using the new square footage from the addition. Throughout the second floor, the design maintained a neutral palette with off white walls and white trim to keep rooms feeling light and bright. The original quartersawn oak floors were preserved and refinished, anchoring every room in the home’s 150 year history.
Finishing Touches and Lessons Learned
The basement received a complete transformation as well, becoming a media room and play space for the family. Tom built a sliding barn door from original floorboards salvaged from the attic, oiling the wood and leaving some nails and imperfections visible to celebrate the material’s history. A trimmed out wall niche provides easy access to AV equipment for the projection TV. The basement media room demonstrates how even utilitarian spaces can carry the same attention to detail found throughout the house.
The Arlington Italianate project demonstrates that even the most beloved historic home can be transformed into a functional family dwelling without sacrificing its essential character. By working within the existing footprint, making targeted structural repairs, and honoring original details through careful restoration, the project team delivered a home that works for every member of the family. The principles of careful measurement and precise layout apply to every phase of such a project, from framing the new master suite to spacing the new porch balusters, much like the methodology described in the tape measure method for achieving perfect layout spacing.
For homeowners considering a similar renovation of a historic property, the lesson is clear: start with a thorough assessment of what you already have, prioritize the structural and mechanical systems before cosmetic work, and let the original character of the house guide your design choices. The result, as Heather and Malcolm Faulds and their two children now experience every day, is a home that truly fits.