The Victorian-era house had much to recommend it when Liz and Sam discovered the gem in Belmont, Massachusetts, at a time when they were ready to leave Boston apartment life behind and find a house for the family they hoped to start. Liz, who grew up living in old houses in England, knew she wanted something with character: “I like old houses because they are built to a good standard, details are prettier, and they reflect a nicer approach to design.” Adds Sam: “There are so many things about Belmont that we like, and the train station is within walking distance to the house.”
They bought the house in 2019, charmed by its Second Empire architectural style. The 1876 house features a distinctive mansard roof with slate tiles, ornamented dormers, a bracketed front entry porch, and period elements throughout the interior, including high ceilings, wood floors, plaster ceiling medallions, and marble fireplaces. At 2,800 square feet, the house offered four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a yard highlighted by mature oak and maple trees.
Wish List for the Renovation
For two years, Liz and Sam got to know the house’s ins and outs and began their wish list, updating it as their family took shape. Their first child was born in 2021, followed by three more babies. Today, with four children under the age of 5, they are ready to tackle the renovation to make the house better suited for a young family.
Turning to contractor Charlie Silva and architect Mat Cummings, they hope to preserve the architectural features they love while also adding updated spaces for a modern lifestyle. TOH TV is documenting the renovation as part of its 48th season.
The main wish list items include a totally new kitchen to replace an awkward one added in the 1990s; a screened porch for outdoor living; a mudroom to hold the gear four kids generate; an additional bedroom so that every child can have their own room; and a primary bath for Liz and Sam.
Honoring the Past
Of paramount importance is staying true to the character of the house. “They love the historic house, but they want modern amenities,” says architect Mat Cummings, whose plan calls for a rear addition, bumping out an existing dining area 12 feet into the backyard to make room for the new kitchen. The existing kitchen is a single-story addition built by previous owners in the 1990s, and the plan is to rebuild that area entirely as the dining room, with a second story. Both those new areas will feature new bedrooms on the second floor.
“It is a beautiful, sizable house, and the renovation will give them a kitchen big enough even for the mayhem hour, when all four kids arrive at once,” says Mat, whose design includes an amply sized island measuring 9.5 by 4 feet.
From the outside, the Second Empire house will retain its character. “The most important thing is to respect the original house and make sure new spaces don’t look like an addition,” says Charlie.
The house features numerous dormers, all with distinctive ornamentation, and the architect’s plan calls for additional dormers with matching details. The additions will also have a mansard roof matching the original.
“We will reuse ornamental trim from original dormers that need to be removed and we will make sure we are framing new dormers to the same size, as well as matching the mansard roof,” says Charlie.
New Side Entry with Old Look
One of the biggest changes will be on the house’s right elevation, where the frequently used side door nearest the driveway is located. Here, the plan is to enhance the side entry by building a screened porch and a mudroom—essential for a family with four children. “The first floor will get more spaces that we need, especially the mudroom,” says Sam. The new side entry is designed with such period elements as columns, double doors, and tall multipaned windows.
Upgrading Mechanical Systems for Comfort
Liz and Sam know the house’s faults well after living in it for several years and are looking forward to upgrading the HVAC system, a gas furnace with just one zone for the entire house. The thermostat is located in the formal parlor, a room at the front of the house that receives strong sunlight, thereby prompting the heat and AC to kick on and off according solely to the parlor’s comfort level. They are considering augmenting the system to add more zones and possibly upgrade the domestic hot water system to be better able to meet the demands of a six-person household.
More Bedrooms and Baths
The second floor will see changes to the number of bedrooms and baths to enhance the amenities for the family of six, going from the current four bedrooms and two baths to five bedrooms and three baths. “We’d like each child to have their own bedroom when they wish,” says Sam.
An existing hallway bath will be converted to the primary bath, giving Liz and Sam their own dedicated bath. Another existing hallway bath will be totally rebuilt and a third bath will be created as brand new towards the back of the second floor—in the space currently occupied by a back bedroom. Two new back bedrooms will be built, one above the new dining room and the other above the new kitchen. A laundry will also be built near the new back bathroom.
Outdoor Beauty
A final goal for the renovation will be preserving as many mature trees and plantings as possible. A 150-year-old oak tree in the backyard, possibly planted the same year the house was built, will require special handling to ensure it is not damaged. Mature perimeter plantings can remain in place as they are well out of the way of the equipment Charlie’s crew will be using. However, on the side of the house, the existing bluestone patio will be pulled up and saved, to be reused once the renovation is complete.
The Family Home
Liz and Sam are looking forward to seeing the Second Empire house they fell in love with when it was just the two of them, become the dream home for their family of six. “We knew we couldn’t do the renovation right after we bought the house and we are excited to finally be able to start,” says Sam. Adds Liz: “We bought the house because I love old houses. Now we can really make it our own.”
