1850 Historic Restoration: Magnolia Cottage On Historic Rope Walk Hill

Situated on a hill looking at the harbor up to the west, this renovation draws inspiration from the workers cottages and the grander homes of the district. Normally deemed a teardown, this 200-year-old New England cottage was reimagined to create an inviting and environmentally conscious home. The renovation solved stairway code issues, introduced an open floor plan, allowed a true primary, resolved asbestos, and restored charm all lost after two mid-century renovations.

The team worked with the historical society to restore the original exterior and reimagined the interior to include modern conveniences with the home’s original grandeur. The result is a 19th-century meets sophisticated, modern style with new framing, plumbing, electrical and luxury finishes intermixed with elements saved from the home including exposed beams and the original front door.

Located on a 3,000-square-foot lot, a high-density site plan was constructed to its pre-existing nonconforming status. A large back deck 3 feet off the town’s right of way and tucked-in parking contributed to the project’s success. The home remained harmonious in form, material and scale with the challenge of situating a renovation project next to a new construction in a historic neighborhood of single-family cottages.