When the 2013-2014 season of This Old House brought its crew to the historic Boston suburb of Arlington, the project centered on a stately 1872 Italianate house owned by Heather and Malcolm Faulds and their two children. The 2,100-square-foot home, though structurally sound and rich with period craftsmanship, suffered from the same challenges that face many older houses: an outdated floor plan, ceilings lowered by previous owners, and multiple layers of renovations that had compromised the original flow. The family had lived in the house for five years and wanted to preserve its historic character while making it work for modern family life. For anyone considering a similar project, Before Building Your Dream Custom Home offers a useful starting point for thinking through the many decisions involved in a major historic renovation.
The Italianate Style and Its Enduring Appeal
The Arlington house stands as a particularly fine example of the Italianate architectural style, which flourished in the United States between 1840 and 1885. Inspired by the informal villas of Renaissance Italy, Italianate homes are characterized by their low-pitched hipped roofs, wide overhanging eaves with decorative brackets (called corbeled cornices), and tall, narrow windows. The Arlington house features nearly all of its exterior details intact, including a central tower-like element that gives the facade a distinctive vertical emphasis. These design features were not merely ornamental. The wide eaves provided practical shade during summer months, while the tall windows maximized natural light in an era before electric lighting was the norm. Before undertaking interior work, assessing the condition of these external elements is essential. Before You Build Read This Design Your Walk In Closet Before Pouring The Foundation highlights how early planning of interior spaces can prevent costly structural compromises later on.
The Italianate style adapts well to modern renovation because its floor plans were typically more open than those of earlier Victorian styles. Rooms were arranged with generous proportions and high ceilings, qualities that today’s homeowners actively seek. However, the Arlington house had lost some of those spatial qualities due to a previous owner who lowered the first-floor ceilings, causing them to nearly touch the tops of the window casings. Restoring these ceilings to their original height became a priority during demolition, along with the hopeful discovery of original crown molding hidden behind the dropped ceiling.
| Italianate Feature | Characteristic | Renovation Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Hipped roof | Low pitch with wide overhang | Check for water damage before adding insulation |
| Corbeled cornices | Decorative brackets under eaves | Preserve and repair; replacements are costly to fabricate |
| Tall narrow windows | Often paired with hooded lintels | Retain for historic accuracy; add storm windows for efficiency |
| Central tower element | Vertical accent, often with belvedere | Structural inspection needed before roof work |
| High ceilings | 10 to 14 feet on first floor | Restoring dropped ceilings reveals original proportions |
| Double-L staircase | Grand, often in central foyer | Preserve as the centerpiece of the entry hall |
For homeowners considering an Italianate restoration, understanding the structural integrity of the building is paramount. How To Inspect Stability Of The Foundation Before Buying House provides a systematic approach to evaluating whether a historic property can support the kind of additions and alterations that a modern renovation demands.
Rethinking the Floor Plan Without Erasing the Past
Like many older homes, the Arlington Italianate had accumulated the structural decisions of several previous owners. Each renovation had left its mark, and over time the original circulation patterns had been obscured. The Faulds family needed a floor plan that worked for daily life, with better flow between rooms and additional functional spaces that a 19th-century house was never designed to include.
The renovation addressed several circulation issues at once:
- The cased opening between the living and dining rooms was enlarged to create a more open sightline while keeping each room distinct
- A new opening was cut into the foyer wall to provide direct access to a coat closet and mudroom
- The existing first-floor playroom was converted into a dedicated coat closet, mudroom, and half bath, accessible directly from the front entry
- Plumbing and air-handling ducts were rerouted in the basement to accommodate the new layout
The approach was deliberate: improve circulation and add modern amenities, but retain the essential character of the original plan. Each space would remain separate enough to preserve the feel of a 19th-century home, even as the connections between them became more practical for a family with children. This balancing act, between openness and defined rooms, is one of the central challenges of any period home renovation. How To Deal With Collapsible Soil Before Construction Pdf offers technical guidance for evaluating ground conditions before undertaking structural changes that involve new foundations or bump-out additions.
Kitchen and Living Spaces: Where Modern Needs Meet Historic Fabric
The kitchen renovation was the centerpiece of the project. The existing kitchen was small and outdated, and the full bathroom located just off it was an odd arrangement that wasted valuable square footage. The plan called for a three-pronged transformation:
- Convert the bathroom into a pantry. The existing full bath adjacent to the kitchen would be gutted and repurposed as a walk-in pantry, adding much-needed storage for a growing family.
- Extend the kitchen into the home office. A single-story bump-out at the rear of the house, which had been used as a home office, would be absorbed into the new kitchen footprint, significantly increasing its size.
- Add a master suite above the bump-out. A second story would be built on top of the rear addition, creating a master bedroom suite on the upper floor. This gave the family the additional bedroom space they needed without altering the front facade of the house.
The living room received equal attention. With the dropped ceiling removed and the original height restored, the room would regain its intended proportions. The team hoped to find historic crown molding concealed behind the lowered ceiling. If it was there, it would be preserved and reinstalled. If not, new molding matching the period style would be added. The living room floor was also addressed, with the understanding that refinishing original wide-plank floors would add warmth and authenticity to the restored space.
Basements and Below-Grade Spaces: Unlocking Untapped Potential
The basement of the Arlington house was a largely unfinished space used for storage, but the renovation plan recognized it as an opportunity to add living area without changing the home’s footprint. Below-grade renovations in historic homes present a distinct set of challenges compared to above-ground work, and the Arlington project tackled them methodically.
Key elements of the basement plan included:
- Insulation. Adding proper insulation to the basement walls and rim joists to improve energy efficiency and comfort
- Playroom and media room. Creating dedicated recreation spaces for the children and family
- Duct and plumbing rerouting. Reorganizing the mechanical systems that ran through the basement to accommodate both the new floor plan above and the finished spaces below
- Boiler replacement. Replacing the old heating system with a modern, more efficient boiler
For any historic home renovation, the basement and foundation must be evaluated carefully before work begins. Water infiltration, settlement cracks, and outdated drainage systems are common in 19th-century houses and can undermine even the best-planned interior renovation if they are not addressed first.
Preserving Period Details While Adding Modern Comfort
One of the most striking features of the Arlington Italianate is its soaring entry foyer with a handsome double-L staircase. This central circulation point connects all the main living spaces and provides a sense of arrival that is difficult to replicate in newer construction. The renovation plan called for preserving every detail of the foyer and staircase in their original condition.
Other period details that the Faulds family prioritized for preservation include:
- The original window casings and trim work throughout the first floor
- The exterior cornice brackets and decorative millwork
- The original floor plan layout, which would be maintained even as openings were enlarged
- The central tower-like element that defines the house silhouette
Modern additions were designed to complement rather than compete with the historic fabric. The rear bump-out addition, for instance, was placed at the back of the house where it would not alter the street-facing appearance. The new master suite above it gained natural light without requiring changes to the front elevation. The enlarged cased opening between the living and dining rooms respected the original proportions while improving sightlines.
The project demonstrates that a successful historic renovation does not have to choose between preservation and modernization. With careful planning, respect for original materials, and a clear understanding of what makes a period home worth saving, even a 140-year-old house can be adapted for 21st-century family life. Everything You Need To Know About What You Should Know Before Installing Mud Flooring provides additional guidance on choosing floor finishes that respect historic character while meeting modern performance standards.