Country Living magazine is the number one shelter publication on newsstands today, reaching 11+ million readers every month. The magazine is a true reflection of the country lifestyle with its editorial mix of decorating and home building, antiques and collectibles, crafting, gardening, food and entertaining.

Read the article on The Restored Homestead in Country Living Magazine.

Our Current Project

Watch videos of our progress!

The Pierce homestead was built sometime in the 1740’s and is typical of colonial Georgian period architecture. The original post and beam frame was built on top of hand hewn granite slabs and while some foundation digging was done to build the stone pier for the chimney structure, the “basement” or cellar was shallow – barely head height for a short person.

The front door opened into a small hall with a steep, narrow turned staircase leading to the two upstairs bedrooms. There was a parlor room to the left of the front door that served as the collective bedroom for the parents and very small children. To the right of the front door was the keeping room – today’s equivalent of the kitchen and family room. It’s hard to tell if the saltbox shed at the back of the house was part of the original structure; however, this area later became the functional kitchen with, no doubt, an adjacent “birthing/sick” room.

This was a large house at the time it was built – and, of course, back sheds and barns extended it in the typical Yankee “big house, little house, back house, barn” configuration.

The Restored Homestead will reconstruct the Ebenezer Pierce homestead, retaining the original home's dimensions and using much of the original frame, flooring, doors and mantles. The home will include the central chimney and fireboxes – one in each front room, and the back keeping room that is today's kitchen. The kitchen will feature Crown Point cabinetry, wood and granite countertops, antique flooring and tile in the prep areas, and walk-in pantry. There is a spacious eating area for casual family meals.

A beautiful panel fireplace surround will be placed around the keeping room/kitchen fireplace while the dining room fireplace will have its original, restored mantle and cupboard. The front hall will have a coat closet with wide period vertical boards that have been carefully cleaned, oiled and restored to make a quiet, elegant statement to visitors entering the home. 9/6 true divided light windows with randomly glazed old glass recreate the look and feel of the old home with separate storms and screens. Shake shingles will cover the gable ends of the home.

The first floor master bedroom suite is in the side ell for privacy and convenience. Once the children are grown, the home will suit the empty nester with a second laundry area on the first floor.

We love the idea of stairs leading from the kitchen to the upstairs bedrooms – the arrangement is so functional for today's families. Upstairs there are two very large bedrooms, a "super-sized" full bath, laundry room, wide hall with a linen closet, and a "bonus" room that can be converted to an extra bedroom, as needed.