%3Aformat(avif)&w=750&q=75){kind=logo}
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
%3Aformat(avif)&w=3840&q=75)
Brand-new windows duplicate the dimensions of the original glazing. “Marvin makes fantastic products to match the scale and details that are there,” Novack said. “They custom created 7-foot-tall double-hung windows for this house from their Ultimate line.” These windows — the same size as the originals — allow an abundance of natural light into the home, which is key when considering the overhang of the home’s large front porch.
This distribution of light not only influenced the size of the windows but the home’s overall design, as builder Paul Jackson explained, “If you notice as you go higher in the house, the windows get a little smaller. And then on the top floor, they're very small, dormers only basically. But the main living spaces, for the families that built these places, they wanted that natural light in the house.”
With the support of the historic commission, “the development team also worked to design a garage in a carriage-house style to be set back from the original house and to replicate somewhat the look of a detached barn from the 1800s,” Gjerde said. “A garage is a modern convenience, but the structure was designed with seamless integration of the original house to the addition, so it blended well with the architectural line of the home while also allowing the wrap-around porch to be prominent.” The heated garage features two Tesla charging ports, and above, there is an unfinished space that can be outfitted as a workshop, bedroom suite, or home office.
Novack said there was virtually no original detail left in the house when it was purchased. “The only remaining item is the newel post, and we’re trying to figure out what to do with it.” This allowed the architectural and development teams and builder Jackson to create new layouts for gathering, entertaining, and relaxing in the 5,054 square foot living space. The building phase was completed in 2023, and the updated home features six bedrooms and six bathrooms.
What’s different about this home is that there isn’t anything like it out there,” said Kristin Zechello with Novack Properties. “It has all the functionality of new construction with energy efficiency and luxury, yet to look at it from the street, it looks like a house from the 1800s.”
TruStile interior doors were used in the hallway’s two vestibules as well as in the dining room and sitting room. The amount of flexibility in their design options impressed Jackson. “TruStile gives you those opportunities to detail it. You can do any kind of sticking, any combination of panels, sizes. They just work with you for what you want.”
The state-of-the-art kitchen features custom cabinets from Kennebec Company. “The pine doors were hand-paned to make them look like they were always there,” Novack said. The heart of the kitchen is a 12-foot-long marble island, which seats five, flanked by 8-foot-long butcher block boards. Two pantries sit between the kitchen and dining room, and a mudroom connects the kitchen and the garage. The kitchen, with an adjacent dining nook, opens into the gathering room, which features a cathedral-beamed ceiling and a stone fireplace. Just outside this space is an outdoor patio for entertaining and a covered porch.
The second floor comprises three bedrooms with one and a half baths, a laundry room, a primary bathroom, and bedroom with a cathedral ceiling, his-and-hers dressing rooms, and a private balcony.
The third floor has two bedrooms with window seats created using Marvin Ultimate Casement windows with simulated check rails for another nod to history. It also boasts large closets, a full bathroom, and a loft space ideal for use as a sitting room. Another bonus: The new foundation created a cavernous basement, which is unfinished but already temperature controlled. Novack suggests it would be a prime space for a theater, wine room, or golf simulation area. A finished basement would increase usable living space to 7,500 square feet.
“Creating a home that provides function, style, and peace will appeal to everyone,” said Mia Davis, interior designer at SeaGlass Architects.
Living spaces were conceived with a thoughtful mix of classic and contemporary design to feel relevant now and for decades to come, Davis said. “There is nothing stock or cookie cutter about the choices made for the Hadley House. I was and have always been inspired by textures, colors, and scale.”
For Davis, this meant focusing on even the smallest details: handles and hardware, lighting fixtures and finishes, tile flooring, and a comfortable mix of textures inside the living spaces.
A version of this article was originally published in New England Living magazine.
Case Study Video
Hadley House
See the Hadley House transformation for yourself and hear from the architect, builder, and more, as tradition, age, and history are all honored in this striking renovation.
Get the Latest
From before-and-after transformations to expert tips and how-tos, we’ve got tons of inspiration waiting for you.
%3Afill(transparent)&w=3840&q=75)