Touring An Abandoned Colonial Home From The 1700's Ready For Renovation | Architectural Digest
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Today on Architectural Digest we visit Longmeadow, Massachusetts to tour a colonial-era home with a ton of potential but needing lots of work. Contractor Nick Schiffer from NS Builders takes us through this 18th century relic room by room - laying out the possibilities for restoring the historic flourishes while bringing the property into the present day.
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A lot of people in Mass would kill to get a house like this with an original 18th century interior. Keep it the way it is. Just clean it up, fix the problems, and add modern appliances.
Most people also don’t mind/expect crooked floors and door frames, as long as the mold is fixed.
Yup it's beautiful
Totally agree with Nathan 0311.
@@nathan-sb5iw lol
THIS
Love this series! But when this dude suggested tearing out a 200 year old fireplace for a bathroom sink, I instantly thought “Dishonor! Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow..!”
Agreed. Keep the fireplaces!
I *gasped*
Exactly! How decadent would it be to have a fireplace in your bathroom? Put a beautiful pedestal tub in front of that thing and it would be incredible!
@@rebeccale6012 I very much agree. Especially with a favorite beverage of choice in a cup
Actually he DIDN'T say to TEAR out the FIREPLACE, RATHER he SAID to ENCAPSULATE it in the WALL. That GIVES the HOME owner FUTURE flexibility.
I came to the comment section to rail about all of the changes he started suggesting halfway through. I'm so happy to find it full of preservationists already. 💖
Right? I don’t think this video went over as well as he thought it would. I wish you could still see how many “dislikes” there are on a UA-cam video. I have a feeling they far outweigh the “likes” on this one.
open concept w/ ceiling fans to move kitchen smells upstairs
If one wants a "modern" home, they should build or buy one. There are too few of these precious gems left, and what's special about them should not be destroyed.
fr lol if you want a modern home don't buy one built a few years after the revolutionary war lmaoo
@@cameron7938 😅😅😅😅
Yes!
“Wow look at this totally uncommon built in kitchen for the time period! Let’s rip it out!!”
I can’t hear things like this anymore, nowadays it’s becoming trendy to buy and renovate old houses because: “they have so much character, and we love that” and then they just destroy all that because “it’s old and not even”.. Where is the character left then ??? Stop buying historic buildings and trashing them just because you want to brag about character.
I don’t understand, the USA has such a short history (compared to older countries), and so many people just don’t seem to understand that it’s very important to preserve what has been left for the future!
Exactly. "Character" to these kinds of people just translates to "Bragging rights because it's old".
YES! All of this.
Better yet, I wish contractors would stop with the “open concept” that kitchen flows from room to room, there is plenty of room for guests to gather and mill around - honestly, hearing pots clang and then seeing a messy kitchen isn’t always ideal. I love a keeping room style kitchen, best of both worlds!
The are structural problems with the house that need to be addressed (rot, mildew, uneven floors, plumbing and frankly not safe for modern living). Plus not all the fittings are original to it’s time and are faux. The kitchen is a classic example, I mean which colonial home has an electric oven? so the notion that he is destroying an old home is not true. you must have been watching a different video because I watched an expert advocating for restoration in every room (keeping the light in the bedroom and bathroom and adding some windows etc). If removing a fire case is ‘destroying’ a home…well…no. The most modernisation he proposed was at the back of the house which was already an updated addition to the home. I suspect your faux outrage got the better of you.
YOUAREABSOLUTELY CORRECT! IT is the stupid ignorantCITYyuppies that do it!
I love this house. And I would never gut that kitchen. Whoever built those slanted cabinets was familiar with 18th century flat wall cupboards and was paying homage to the antique originals of the period . The gambrel roof on the back wing makes me think this was a earlier 18th century house and that both the front part and back wing were renovated in the 1850s. This appears evident in the front door, interior 4 panel doors & their trim and the front staircase newel post and balastrade. The slanting floors are part of the house’s charm but I would check under for dry rot. I hope whoever buys this does not gut it of its historic integrity.
Thank you! Turn that historic beauty into a generic open floorplan? Sacrilege.
There's tons of old homes like this in New England and just because it's a registered as a historic home, a boatload of bureaucratic red tape accompanys even the most minor of renovations. There's a reason why it's abandoned.
Ditto! That kitchen - as is, with some cosmetic changes - is the best part of that house. I used to have a home built in 1730s and the original kitchen was gone. It would be criminal to gut that kitchen!
@@Fun_Dips There's no indication that this home is registered historic (although the neighborhood itself is registered). Those homes have plaques prominently displayed. Historic districts are quite stringent about what owners do on the outside, not the inside, however. Homes rarely get "abandoned." They do get foreclosed on. And if it's a "fixer-upper" or the real estate market at the time inflates the price, it can sit. My husband's previous colonial was bank-owned for almost 4 years, and the home we have now was also bank owned and sat empty for almost 2 years.
I almost rage quit this video when he started talking about stripping that kitchen. What an f-ing idiot!
I restore pre-1900 houses professionally, and know something about the long term harm of invasive renovations. On the strength of that experience and knowledge, I'm compelled to beg you NOT to touch that glorious kitchen. Don't move or change a thing except perhaps add a traditional marble (or quartz) countertop. Those cabinets are incredible, and positioned just right. Even the colour is beautiful. If the buyer wants more countertop, a refectory table would fit in the space. And don't under any circumstances, touch a brick of that incredible kitchen fireplace and its bread ovens. That's exactly the kind of very special feature people pay the most money for. I would also urge you in the strongest possible terms, not to rip out the upstairs fireplace for the sake of a bathroom. Once gone, it's gone forever. Build your bathroom around it - make it a feature of the room. Very pleased to see you understand the importance of retaining those original undulating floors, meantime. Ripping those out would be a big mistake.
Hi! I’m also compelled to not do that exact thing! Where do you work? I’m looking for professionals for my 1811 house restoration in NY
Agreed
Wholeheartedly. DONT MESS WITH THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY OF THIS HOUSE. PLEASE
It breaks my heart when these hipsters modernize and flip these beautiful colonial homes up here in New England. (Vermonter here)
This is AD. They don’t care about preservation.
To find an original kitchen like that is rare. To suggest ripping it out is insane!
With all the upgrades and remodeling you are suggesting, you’re totally creating a whole new living space, which, to me, totally defeats the purpose of living in an historic home. Keep the original rooms as they are, upgrade them as minimally as possible to make them livable and structurally sound and please, keep that giant hearth in the kitchen, with its bake hearth beside it. That is the whole wonderful character of that kitchen.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Right. Just a lazy flipper.
Exactly!!! When he said he would shrink that gorgeous fireplace, I wanted to reach through the screen and smack him. 😀 I would LOVE that fireplace with a beautiful, rustic farm table in front of it.
@@FolkFaninMA yes! Exactly...let's kick him to the curb on this one.
@@darant2249 I'm with you! Don't let him near a restoration/renovation.
The huge fireplace was the original 1786 cooking hearth. They located these outside t he original structure to keep the home cooler in the warmer months. PLEASE keep that historical feature.
The house should be maintained as it is right now and not completely converted to today's "everything in one open room" idea. In a couple years the fashion for open-spaced living will have moved onto something else and you'll have changed a lovely 18th century home into something even more removed from what it originally was. You could create a beautiful kitchen in the current house and just make a separate living room. Plus side is it would cost you a lot less :)
Also that fireplace in the kitchen is absolutely gorgeous!
I agree! Open floor plans are noisy and only convenient at specific times. I know a few people who regret their open floor plans
I agree with you on every aspect. I already know people who bought their "open floor plan" homes who are now struggling with them and trying to figure out how to plan a few walls into their existing layouts. To remove an equally historic addition to some open floorplan idea is just criminal IMO.
Open concept is already going the way of the dinosaur. Anyone who does that NOW, deserves to lose money - a punishment for being so far out of date. Separate kitchens (as they used to be) are coming back big time - at last!
When you’re an introvert, you appreciate being able to retreat to the kitchen occasionally when entertaining.
The fireplace in the kitchen doesn't need to be touched at all! It's gorgeous!!
With just fixing structural damage, paint, mildew / mold is enough. This house is absolutely beautiful
Exactly what I was thinking! I would love to get my hands on this house!
The uneven floors are also not as big of an issue as this guy is making it out to be.
I honestly think the kitchen is so beautiful and I love the huge fireplace with 19th century cabinetry around it. I would be so mad if I bought a house and found out builders modernized the kitchen too much and boxed in fireplaces I could have had in my bedroom.
guess what's up in my youtube search box?
"old Plantation mansion/house original kitchen"
I can spend hours looking at authentic original kitchens. They are rare. Even in England & France castles & chateau. rare.
Ugh I liked everything he was saying until he started going on about completely doing away with the old kitchen. There’s so many modern houses that you can decorate and build in modern ways. Why the haste to do away with historic elements? And I understand that the kitchen was an addition, but its a centuries-old one. It still is historical, and it’s big and not tacky. Could easily be restored as well and just have modern appliances put in.
When he said he would gut the kitchen I thought about gutting him! I would add a beautiful maple table and chairs in front of the restored fireplace, think of the wonderful times gathered next to that fireplace. Restore, renovate don't destroy!
I seriously wanted to scream when he was talking about changing that fireplace to he a double sided. That wouldn’t match the house whatsoever that masonry is amazing. Yikes.
The kitchen has beautiful cabinetry as it is. I would die if he took that kitchen out.
I dont think that kitchen was centuries old the fireplace was
I hope that the huge fireplace is restored and not made smaller . I can’t stand it when original character is stripped from antique houses.
Yeah, and there's a built in firewood pizza/bread oven!
The guy should have his head examined for wanting to change that fireplace!
Same ! This guy is an idiot for wanting to get rid of the garage by the kitchen too! Most people in cold climates want a garage next to the kitchen to bring in the groceries and not freeze their rear off. His idea of "modern" living isn't how everyone lives. No one needs 3 living rooms
I have a huge fireplace, made for smoking food, in my kitchen too and it's one of our favourite spots in the home, especially during winter. I understand the need for a mordernised kitchen, but making the fireplace smaller is a terrible idea.
Please don't break away the existing kitchen! It's very unique, and although it's newer than the original house, it's stil over 170 years old. Don't make it a modern kitchen, because that really doesn't match the aesthetic and feeling of the whole place.
He's speaking of a place of wanting to entertain and make better use of the space, which is true. You can def make the kitchen more modern while still keeping character and matching the original home aesthetic.
@@WenNRome You can still easily entertain in multiple rooms, and it generally makes more a more interesting, varied gathering.
Its also a way better quality than any modern kitchen, those cabinets if taken care of can last at the very least another century.
This man should never be allowed near a historical home. He's not talking about renovations, he's talking about completely destroying everything that makes people like an old house.
Yes that surprised me too. When he started talking about stripping it completely, it didn't make sense to me. People buy these old homes to keep them as original as possible. If your going to strip it completely, you might as well buy a new house. This is a beautiful old home and a classic timepiece of history.
Yes. Finds like this are so rare. Why not keep it as historically accurate as possible.
Yeah. He's not right in the head. Doesn't get it.
💯
And it truly, for its age, is in incredible shape. Do the minimal you need to to make it structurally sound without damaging the interior. But... I can't imagine it needs a lot of structural changes. The staircase is in beautiful shape. It's not falling apart... the walls appear to be straight. The front door needs some work. Those floors might get a little annoying in spots if you don't improve them at all... but I feel like you could level out some of the bigger holes and leave the bulk of it as is. Maybe even just some custom rugs to even out the holes (thicker where the floor/flooring drops). Not wall to wall rugs... but maybe a handful of area rugs.
An absolutely beautiful house...
Love the kitchen fireplace. Fix the mold, repair what you must but don't ruin a perfectly lovely and cozy layout. I have never liked open floor plans, used to live in one. Everyone told me having a master bedroom upstairs was a mistake, 😒. It wasn't. I get so many compliments on my house and my rooms are all separate! Not one big giant room you do everything in so the view is always the same. We cook in the kitchen, eat in a separate dining room, watch tv in a different room and the tv isn't visible from anywhere else. It's fabulous. These old houses had it going on whether they are colonial, victorian, or something else.
That's a Vermont Casting woodstove and therefore is one of the BEST woodstoves to have there, especially since the design elements is in keeping with a 1700s house.
Why do I love the current kitchen? If painted cream with some marble worktops and a cute custom built island I think would have a real charm to it. Even if you have to change the doors I think the unique shape of the cabinets is a fun touch.
Or how about a historic color on the cabinets???
don’t change that kitchen. don’t. it’s beautiful and fine the way it is. you change it and everything you did in the front of the house is pointless. keep the charm, keep the character. a modern kitchen would look like trash next to the front of the house. don’t ruin this masterpiece. not everything has to be modern. update the appliances, fix the fireplace, add an island and leave. it’s finished.
I wouldn’t even add an island. I picture a long farm table in front of that gorgeous fireplace.
@@FolkFaninMA Agree. I wouldn't add an island either. A big old farm table is what it needs.
No island- large period heart pine table with Windsor chairs, sitting area by the restored fireplace- it’s a “keeping room” they are a gathering place sans big tv and annoying mess. Great place to read and chill, do projects- there are plenty of other “family room” options.
This thread gets it.
@@williamrobles2901 totally!
Do Not Change the kitchen fireplace….this is the aesthetic that makes this room!!!
listening to him talk is so upsetting. i hope whoever buys it actually appreciates this amazing home and doesn't change any original features! or remove fireplaces etc.. open concepts are horrible and if that is what you want, buy a mcmansion. as someone searching for a home currently, we've had to pass on so many homes because of how they were "fixed up". we're looking for a historical home with all the original details. if we wanted a mc mansion or modern home we'd look for that type of home, stop destroying home beautiful homes! which is also why I find this video so upsetting, we could afford this home after the "fixing up" but if they did what he suggested wed pass! nothing worse than paying for a home that has just been renovated with the mind set of ripping it all out and putting it back to the way it was before, walls and all.
omg no, keep that fireplace for the master bath! Can you imagine, sitting in a claw foot tub, crackling fire keeping the whole room toasty warm, reading some classic literature, eating strawberries with champagne, and waiting for your man candy to give you a foot rub? Yeah, me either.
The original cookhouse was tied into the main house at a later date. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people will destroy the original integrity.
I find it ironic that we are now seeing so many of those houses that were gutted for an open floor plan are now showing signs of permanent structural damage. If I had a home like this I would hire an architect to preserve and respect its structural integrity and restore it as close to its historical state as possible. What a gem!
No to getting rid of the cabinets and kitchen fireplace . Paint, modern countertops and appliances, maybe new cabinet door hinges and a unique freestanding island.
Edit: don't cover up the 2nd story fireplace! Make it work!
This video should be titled "Touring a surprisingly intact colonial home that some random dude wants to destroy."
Such a shame if those that buy this house gut it and take away all the character. In the UK this house would be 'listed' and you would not be allowed to do that. Yes, make it livable with bathrooms etc but don't take away all the history. Open plan living will become less fashionable with time and change. My first task would be to look at the roof!
I agree completely, such a shame. Coming from Montreal, P.Q., which was founded in 1642, and which still has many of the original old buildings which have been lovingly and pain-stakingly maintained, I just can't see the point of completely gutting this kitchen and destroying all of it's character.
Yeah. They need to keep a proper dedicated closed kitchen. I'm not a fan of the actual angled cabinets but these could be straightened out. I cant stand open kitchens dominating homes tbh. I want to close the door, keep the smells, evaporated cooking oil, noise, mess etc in. A simple informal dining table in the kitchen would suffice.
As you said no way in the UK you could get away with those sorts of structural changes to this type of property
@@catherinecole3978 absolutely agree
@@jonathanbowen3640 yes, I think the kitchen is always better with a separation. For your reasons. I thought it was very nice and the leaning doors could be rectified. I also liked that massive stove😊
@@catherinecole3978 Sadly here in the Toronto area they tear down the gorgeous Victorians for condos, or strip them down to have exposed bricks showing and cut out chunks for big windows with none of the moulding or original features. I live in Oakville, where they tear down historic houses for tacky McMansions and the old farmhouses mysteriously burn down or are bulldozed for subdivisions
I am just so glad to see the comments of this video condemning some of the suggestions that were made, especially for that kitchen!
This is my dream house I wouldnt change a thing just fix what needs to be repaired and update it
Modernize the wiring and plumbing if necessary, and obviously put new appliances in, but leave those kitchen cabinets alone! Clean and refresh them, but don't gut that great kitchen. And while I like a well-done open concept plan well enough, this is a historical house and it'd be a shame to do that here. And frankly they're overdone, the market is oversaturated with open concept. There are people who absolutely loathe open concept and they should have options, too. Restore the fireplace area rather than removing the wall. And a bathroom fireplace sounds kind of amazing, to be honest.
The kitchen is the best part of this house. And forget the view from the bedroom and keep that fireplace!
Love the tour and the property but I agree....preserve what can be saved/restored....and that means working around that lovely kitchen. If you want a modern home, then you should buy a modern home. Leave these beauties to those of us that appreciate them.
Longmeadow is my hometown! With the star on the front, this home is likely protected by the Longmeadow Historical Society, which may have prevented it from being completely torn down!
I think the kitchen is perfect the way it is. The cabinets are beautiful.
My family's home..I am a Colton. So cool to imagine my great great great grandmother as a child playing on those stairs!
Omg i looked up the history of the home and very cool!!
That’s a awesome! Longmeadow is my hometown. Small world.
Why sell the home? 😥
Why don't you buy it? I wouldn't hesitate - especially since it's dirt cheap!
Technically---This was my home and I grew up there.
I love the original kitchen cabinets. Keep them!!
No, not the kitchen 😡 that area has some of the coolest look, should be keeping the neat cabinetry it has some of the most character in the house
Agreed.
I would so keep those cupboards, they are so cool. Just need new paint and to refinish the hardware. Love this house!
That kitchen is what dreams are made of! I'd love to restore this home!
this house needs Restoration not renovation. Is this architectural digest or cowboy builders digest??
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾
He just presented various options. It will def need a few renovations though, this isn't 1786
@@WenNRome but not everything has to be "modernized" like why give up a serviceable garage next to the kitchen and easy access for bringing in groceries in a cold climate for another "living space" you all ready have two formal living rooms and an out door room . No one really uses or needs 3 sitting rooms.
@@HosCreates Yea, I most likely wouldn't but it depends on the family. The house is already closed off and the kitchen isn't extremely big so if they want a more open floor plan in that part then that is what they would have to do or add another addition .
100% accurate. We need a petition.
Nooooooo! No stupid open floorplan in a historic home! Leave that kitchen fireplace alone!
I so agree with you! A lot of people want to go in and replace all the things tht give the house of that period, it’s character with modern conveniences.
I've renovated about 5 period homes (abroad) and I'm staggered at the proposed costs. I'm female, 71 and do huge amounts of the work myself along side my builder. Leave as is and make structurally sound. A house will 'tell you' what it needs......if you listen
So accurate. I very much appreciate your view point.
Ditto. Myself and my husband do these old houses, and spent only a tiny fraction of what this guy is quoting. I mean, $50k to replace that stunning kitchen? There's no understanding that insanity.
Wow! You must have so much great advice. I’ve lived in a home from 1811 that (thankfully) has had very little (bad) updates for the past 8 years. I’m finally ready to remodel, starting with the old Tin roof. Thoughts? Ideas? Prices are so ridiculous!
@@kellyroth3512 First I would replace/keep the tin roof (unless you live in hurricane territory) and just have it heavily insulated. Many new builds are going with tin roof - they're light weight so less structural costs and much cheaper. We only have heavy cement or clay tiles (england). Or invest in a solar roof tile. Generally your old houses have little or no foundation so I always start with structural improvement. Moving walls or altering window sizes is not expensive but again steel or concrete lintels are a must. Sounds like PM knows a great deal and probably better versed on US materials. Here we insulate insulate insulate floors walls ceilings but every house I buy, I rewire completely and new plumbing so I take houses back to the skeleton . Bon Courage.
Houses with history and character like this are my fave
Please do not alter this totally intact original cooking fireplace with it's beehive oven. This is what makes this home valuable . Find an original crane and reinstall it. With all the changes you are planning to make, leave this period house alone and just build a new house. There are many people out there that would just want to do repairs and a few mechanical updates .
I love these series from AD! Talking about old homes is just as fun as seeing new homes please never end this series
This kitchen is probably the best part of the house ! Put a big farm table for dining or if you absolutely want a separate dining room, pur an island with seating (in keeping with the style of the rest of the kitchen) and use the room next door as your formal dining room.
As an interior architect, his vision makes me cringe. Removing so many original, or very early additions and features is just a travesty. When you remove history, you can never get it back. We have enough "new and modern" architecture in this country. Respect and preserve what is old and quit trying to bring everything into the 21st century.
Agreed, if somebody wants something 21st century, there’s a lot of ready built houses that won’t last for more than 5 years. This house has stood there for 150-250 years. Fixing the structural issues, upgrade all piping, electricity and probably windows and doors, and in general make it last another 250 years with the help of more modern building techniques and finding a way to respect history. Restoring something like this isn’t easy and not for everyone but it certainly can be done
@@onelyone6976 Exactly. It was drilled in me in school to respect and preserve history. To save what we could for generations to come. Think about all the lives lived there, all the stories. Spaces have souls, like people. We need to preserve that.
Agreed. The old stuff is totally unique! Putting new in, just won't last, and it will become dated fast.
I agree. The craftsmanship today is out the window. I don't know if it's more laziness or the fact these people really don't know what they are doing and how to restore and take the easy way out. Either way I only support The National Trust for Historic Preservation because the work they do is amazing in respect for the integrity of these buildings.
I 100% agree.
Please, everyone, dont mess with the ORIGINAL BEAUTY OF THIS HOUSE.
He seriously never needs to give advice on an historic home ever again. If he had his way everything would be gutted and a brand new home would be built. Note, the comment about replacing/upgrading all the windows. Also, the addition, circa 1850, is also historic. He was willing to completely gut the addition with no respect to its significance.
An absolute travesty to touch that fireplace in the kitchen!!
Well I certainly hope whoever buys this property does NOT listen to your idea that one should gut the 1850's addition!
The kitchen was a nice when I was in there walking in the back door the fireplace was going nice and cozy I would keep the kitchen right where it is
With what little history America has, you'd have thought he'd be keen to retain as much of it as possible.
The hearth in that kitchen 😍
He tells us "the addition was built in 1850," and then goes on to advocate gutting it and turning it into a modern, 2021 kitchen space. Sorry, no, The Secty of the Interior's Standards would suggest doing the research and documentation to establish what was original to each part of the home and then restoring each section to the period in which it was constructed. AD should know better than to have a "builder" come in a guess at what might have been original and then throw around unsubstantiated ideas for remodeling a HISTORIC home which should be restored properly. This is why we see so many remuddle jobs on home improvement shows! There are plenty of opportunities to create brand new kitchens out there, PLEASE leave the 1850 kitchen additions in their period. Love the house, disappointed in the video. Next time, please help inform viewers and bring in an expert on historic homes.
He reminds me of a construction supervisor who has as much constructive methods as a bulldozer. I would have slugged him when he said "gut the kitchen put in a 21st Century one" !!! Imagine how out of place that would be, as he was so enthralled about "stepping out of the18th Century into the 21st Century" when he was so enthused about destroying that wonderful kitchen. Want 21st Century buy 21st Century. Renovate don't desecrate! Besides I bake all our bread, I would love to have that brick bake oven fireplace in my home and use it!
This guy is a bozo, he doesn't have a brain
Please continue this series! Would love to watch the progression of these different projects you're finding. Find some architects to discuss their work on similar projects as well!
Leave the fireplace the hell alone! That’s history!!
We need Nicole Curtis on this one! She’d keep the character of the home and would never tear it all up to modernize it!!
I am in love with this house and would not want to take to much of the history out of this house. I want the character. There would be very little updates unless something was unsalvageable . Thanks for sharing this ♥️👋🏾have a blessed week
I love seeing this old home, but realistically it's cost-prohibitive. It'd cost you probably a million or more just to renovate it and take you a year to complete. This means, someone rich looking for a second home... and who would be looking for a second home in Longmeadow, Massachusetts? No one. So who would actually do this? Which would explain why it's been abandoned for what looks like 30+ years.
The tour guide says the Longmeadow market can justify such a project, but comps say otherwise... A 6 bedroom house in the area is closer to $500,000 without renovations needed... so if you bought this reno for $400,000 and spent a million dollars... no, the market doesn't justify the cost.
Love this house! But I wouldn't take out or cover up anything that came with it, but incorporate it. I grew up on a 1914 house with a stone foundation. My husband and it seriously considered a house that had the original deed from Madison on the wall!- and a fireplace you could sit in. The inglenook also had them original turn-spit, and a little window for smoke. We ended up with an 1898 Victorian.
I loved this house so much that I hope this guy never touches it 😆
Uneven floors after 300 years gives character and interesting talking points, not a 'problem'.
He has the best job. To be able to restore these beautiful, historic properties to bring back the life in them and allow another family to move in is amazing.
He seems more a "remodeler" than a "restorer".
@@amysbees6686 okay. I didnt catch that but thanks.
Buying a historical house to tear down the walls and create something new is just... wrong. I see how the idea might appeal to the nouveau riche.
Gutting the kitchen is STUPID!
May not agree with some of his decisions as a preservationist but I’m thrilled to see AD creating content highlighting restoration!!!
This video made me sad. Why rip out an beautiful old kitchen and fire places? Why buy an old house if you're gonna replace everything with very modern design. Why not just buy a modern home/ build you own home and leave old historical homes intact for the people that do appreciate them?
I can't believe you would give an eighteenth century home an open floor plan! I had to stop the video at that point. There are plenty of new houses with open floor plans that will go out of style in 5-10 years. Why would you mess with a beautiful colonial home??
I concur with everyone here that wants to leave as much that is original to this historical home! If I were to buy this home and renovate, I'd work on the fireplaces and chimney's to make them workable, and absolutely save the fireplace in the kitchen and repair it so that it can be used as it was intended. Fix the structural issues, refurbish the original woodwork, repair or replace plumbing and electrical, install HVAC, but leave the original design intact. Modernize minimally, most people who want to buy an older historic home will WANT it to be as close to original as possible, don't go overboard!
that massive hearth in the kitchen is gorgeous, and why not have a fireplace in a bathroom?! i think that's trendy now, and makes sense if you're going for an old fashioned look throughout the house.
It would be a really great house to take it back to the way it looked when it was built. I really love that original fireplace very rare do you see that in a house
That kitchen is a dream. Just replace the appliances by new ones.
I like the layout of the house. The best features for me is the stairs and the kitchen, can put an island in the kitchen & it would be fantastic. With a lot of love, dedication & cash injection, it can be restored.
Really enjoyed the first part of this until he mentioned gutting the 1850 addition...it would be a SHAME if that huge fireplace was reworked into something modern.
I may get alot of dislike for these comments but I feel this gentleman has no idea about maintaining the integrity of the historical property. He is talking about bringing in new with old but the buyer is one that is attracted to the historical features, character and history and are going to want all the old features left in tact. Leave the back stair case, the master bedroom should ALWAYS have a fireplace.
Whenever I see people who try and modernize and renovate beautiful old homes into modern open floorplan it reminds me of of the stepmom from beetlejuice lol. Beautiful old home lived in by a couple turned into an “artistic” nightmare.
You fool - that fireplace in kitchen is GORGEOUS and should not be touched. No one wants to see a colonial era home suddenly go modern as one steps into the damn kitchen.
I nearly turned this off when you started talking about stripping out the kitchen. I'm an interior designer and see no problem with keeping it but refreshing it. We need to respect great materials and workmanship. It is a terrific space for family living.
Totally disagree about the kitchen fireplace. No way I would do anything with that. The kitchen is big enough that the ‘real estate’ the fireplace is taking up isn’t needed, but the charm it is lending the space is priceless.
Also, I think the first thing I would do is get that huge branch off my roof.
Living in Massachusetts, you definitely want a garage. I don't quite get why he's suggesting getting rid of it entirely for a family room.
I grew up in a house built in 1763. I was fascinated by friends houses because their furniture didn’t lean away from the walls and nothing rattled when big trucks drove by. It is very different.
I am seriously so so sick of combined kitchen/living/family concept. There's even an uptick in new condos serving the demands of consumers who want separate kitchens behind doors that close them off. Bring that back in a big way please! The thought of doing a gut job to this kitchen and opening it all up made me stop watching!
Same
Dude, you are in Massachusetts and you want to convert the garage into an additional living room?!?! No. No way. That is ridiculous! Keeping your car our of the snow is a major plus! And there is plenty of living room space at the front of the house. Also that kitchen is large enough to have dining without doing major renovations and destroying the beautiful fireplace.
Gorgeous! I love this house! I wouldn't change as much as you suggested though. I love the fireplaces, love the wide plank floors, the rooms, the colours, the character, love love love this house!
Don’t destroy the garage. It’s amazing such an old house has a garage
Beautiful and well built 18th century home! Even if it means paying more for a good quality air conditioning system to solve the moisture and mold problems, I still think it is a very worthwhile idea!
Sir that kitchen is stunning etf dont gut it
Looks like an swedish traditional big farmer's house with the red paint and white trim. The interior also reminds me somewhat of it.
Unfortunately, somebody very young bought this house at auction in December 2021. I sincerely hope they maintain the integrity of this house.
The kitchen cabinets are beautiful. What a shame if someone guts it. It just needs new appliances and maybe a new sink and restoration of the fireplace.
When people buy a historic home, they want to live in a historic home. All this modern remodeling and destroying of the original features is totally defeating the purpose and doing such a huge disservice to history. It just needs to be structurally cleaned up to make it livable with some modern appliances added but nothing too modernized or overdone. I cringed when he talked about adding a full height window in the kitchen. Yeah we know full height windows = modern but it would clash with everything else
I would kill for a house like this! Love it!
What a gorgeous house, I would keep it period and not modern personally, maybe install a gas fireplace in the upstairs planned bathroom if possible.
Just a reminder - open floorplans are well and truly out of fashion. But if you must have such an outdated look, please dear God, never EVER do it to an old house. Not ever.
It's the rat running in the background @ 2:44 for me lmao
I was so close to buying that house- and loved the kitchen as it was- mold and all! I wish I had gone thru with it.