The hipped roof of the 1915 high-style Colonial Revival pays tribute to the earlier Federal style that inspired it.
The moment interior designer Marisa Morra stepped into Charlotte Hart's 1915 Colonial Revival house, she couldn't help but wonder when Charlotte had moved in. Little did she know that Charlotte had been living there for over three decades.
"The architecture was beautiful, but it didn't look lived-in," Marisa recalls. "There were boxes in the corners, and I assumed Charlotte had just purchased the house and was in the midst of moving."
In reality, Charlotte and her husband had bought the stunning red-brick property in Newton, Massachusetts, when they were newlyweds. However, with two children and demanding careers, they struggled to agree on how to maintain and improve their home.
"The stress of deciding where to start and who to call for repairs was overwhelming," Charlotte explains. "We ended up neglecting the house, with stained ceilings and peeling wallpaper."
After the marriage ended, Charlotte finally found the enthusiasm to restore her home to its former glory. "I had always liked the house, but I had never made it comfortable or beautiful," Charlotte says. "I didn't even know my own tastes, let alone how to create an interior that reflected them."
Today, Charlotte's 4,500-square-foot home is a showcase of Colonial Revival elegance. The decor, inspired by Charlotte's love for soft blue, rose, and ivory hues, antique furniture, Oriental rugs, and exquisite late-19th century lighting, transforms the interior into a jewel box.
Painting as Inspiration
Though it’s not uncommon to find a grand, sweeping staircase in a Colonial Revival home, the earliest examples are akin to Charlotte Hart’s stairs—boxed in, paneled, and supremely functional.
The journey towards turning a neglected and lackluster house into a reflection of Charlotte's unique style began with an oil painting.
"After my divorce, I visited a Boston gallery and fell in love with a small floral painting from the turn of the 20th century," Charlotte reminisces. "It was more expensive than anything I had ever bought, but I wanted beauty in my life."
While adorning the entire house with beauty seemed daunting, Charlotte initially hired an interior designer who transformed the front hall into a Tuscan-themed space. However, Charlotte quickly realized it was not to her taste.
Thankfully, a gallery-owner friend recommended Marisa Morra, whose expertise lay in designing period homes. Together, they embarked on the journey to restore Charlotte's Neoclassic gem and rectify the disastrous faux finishes.
"Old houses are exciting to design because they guide you on what works based on the existing details," Marisa explains. "You just need to understand the architecture, and everything falls into place."
History Leads the Way
Colonial Revival was a popular architectural style in early 20th-century New England, symbolizing conventional good taste and American assimilation. Charlotte's home, a high-style Colonial Revival, with its hipped roof and triple Palladian windows, also showcased elements of the earlier Federal style.
Their first priority was the dining room, where Charlotte already had furnishings suitable for the space. However, they had to work around a hideous 1960s Oriental rug that Charlotte despised.
Marisa advised, "If we design the space around a rug you hate, the room will be one you hate too. Allow yourself to incorporate something you love, and the rest will follow." This breakthrough led to the removal of the despised rug and the addition of a beautiful Persian rug, which influenced the choice of deep-blue wallpaper and transformed the room into a splendid space.
Charlotte admits that the process was initially overwhelming, but Marisa's guidance and visual explanations, including visits to other clients' homes with specific wallpapers and colors, helped her gain confidence in the decision-making process.
After three years of collaboration, Charlotte finally felt ready to tackle the kitchen. Over the years, the original kitchen had become a collection of small, inefficient rooms. Marisa designed a bright, functional kitchen with easy access from the driveway, incorporating new cabinets inspired by the adjacent butler's pantry. The addition of a window seat and an antique Federal pedestal table further enhanced the room's charm.
While the historic district commission closely monitored any changes made to homes in the area, Marisa ensured that the modifications were historically sensitive, assuring seamless approval.
Charlotte, the third owner of the house, feels fortunate to be a part of its rich history. She believes that the original owner, who was in the fuel oil business, created an early version of a passive-solar house, with the sun streaming through each room at different times of the day.
"Old-house rooms were designed with specific purposes," Marisa adds. "Morning rooms and parlors were generally lighter, while libraries and evening rooms were darker. The consistent style and color throughout were determined by enfiladed rooms. For Charlotte, embracing the things she found beautiful and resonated with her was the key to transforming this house into the stunning home it is now."
Charlotte's life has expanded since the renovation. She now sails, dives in the Caribbean, and takes immense joy in every corner of her beautiful home. "I love every room. Every part of this house makes me feel good."
The home’s original kitchen was a series of small, inefficient rooms, but great care was taken to update the space in an organized yet historically sensitive manner. The custom-crafted cabinetry’s design was patterned after originals found in the butler’s pantry.
