Take in the front view of 29 Woodland Road in Southborough and you are looking at history: a stunning, circa-1864 Greek Revival home that at one time had a twin property located beside it. The story goes that it was a haven for mentally challenged children, with local residents Mrs. Green and Mrs. Robinson running the plantation-like complex that came complete with barnyard animals. Their goal was to teach the children wage-earning skills.
But today, the rear of this home offers a different perspective with a recent renovation and structure that complements the original building while also offering a modern and eye-catching addition.
There are strong elements of the past and present here, a theme that reverberates throughout the home.
Going with that theme is the landscaping portion of the property renovation. As a landscape architect, homeowner Phil Bevins set out to create a connection between the outdoors and the home itself and incorporate two ideals into one amazing plan.
“Regarding the rear renovation, the placement of doors and windows was key, sightlines were everything, connecting to the view,” he explained.
Intriguing highlights begin the kitchen/keeping room of the home where French casement windows create a captivating milieu, inside and out. The unique windows lend a European feeling to the newer kitchen and family room, which underwent a to-the-studs renovation. The interior of the kitchen features custom maple cabinetry imported from Canada. The cabinetry wraps around the L-shape design featuring a center island. Squared casement windows enhance a bank of cabinetry, creating old-world charm while offering a completely contemporary space. It’s a seamless marriage of two styles, rounding out with high-end appliances that include an Asko dishwasher, Thermador professional grade stove and stainless steel French door refrigerator.
Dedicated to authentic detail, Bevins – who harks from Kentucky – and his wife, Lis Pennington, imported Southern yellow pine from Louisiana for flooring. Seen throughout the first floor, it conveys a yesteryear vibe, the rich grainy tone of the flooring unlike New England’s standard oak or even wide pine.
The kitchen opens to a keeping room where the outdoors is as germane to this room as heat and electric. Bevins’ landscaping outside is framed with more French casement windows. And the keeping room also has access to a Trex covered patio.
“When we did the renovation, we kept modern maintenance concerns in mind. The columns are fiberglass, the porch floored in durable Trex, and the house is completely sided in HardiPlank,” said Bevins. The nearly no-maintenance HardiPlank is a composite fiber cement siding that withstands years of weather, making it a popular choice for renovation projects.
Architecture is a fitting description of Bevins’ landscaping, which is intricately designed to maximize the seasons together with lighting, his choice of plantings, and his keen attention to the views from indoors. “In New England, you only get to enjoy your outside landscaping for about five months of the year. This design has something to offer year round, and even in the dark,” he added.
Located off the keeping room is a built-in pantry coordinating with the kitchen cabinets, and a snazzy half bath with vessel sink,
Following the natural sightlines here, we next find ourselves at the opposite end of the home, and the original front door. The columns here are massive and worth a double-take as you enter. A traditional foyer then opens to a spacious living room, which flows into a formal dining area. A redesigned bluestone fireplace can be enjoyed from either room, it’s blue-green hue as much conversation piece as it is part of this heating source. And painted in a soft matching tone, the two adjacent spaces blend beautifully.
The dining room then opens to a music room. Clad in vintage bead board, the room was probably once a summer porch enclosed over time and is now a cozy nook. An upright piano is right at home in this space, but the space could also serve as a home office or den.
Among the more unique, eclectic highlights in the home is the repurposed door of a china closet.. The arched, glass-paneled door now fronts the entrance to a rear staircase, emphasizing the past even as it leads to new square footage.
Things change in the second story sitting room that the staircase accesses. Modern lines become more relevant here along with a peaked ceiling and architecturally enhanced windows complemented by more French casement windows. White trim, exposed beams and tongue-and-groove paneling add to the sunny motif here. And as on the first floor, the grounds are part of the second floor décor, with windows here offering sweeping views of the property.
The sitting room accesses a large loft where plush carpeting offers a welcome shift from the array of hardwoods elsewhere. “If the new owners wanted, there’s ample and accessible space beyond this room,” said Realtor Lorraine Estella of Realty Executives. “The unfinished square footage is extensive with room for a master suite, full bath and walk-in closet without changing the footprint.”
Currently, there are four bedrooms in this home, each located on the second floor in the original portion of the home.
Vintage wide pine flooring is found underfoot on this floor and leading to a second-story balcony, a must-have feature with any true Greek Revival.
The main hall of the home’s second story includes two renovated full baths. Each has a vintage vibe, with materials chosen for their authentic vintage look but also for easy maintenance and long-term appeal.
Bedroom four on the second floor harbors an interesting niche, a shallow, floor-to-ceiling cupboard. Inside the niche is a glimpse of the past: visible layers of wallpaper, trinkets and bobbles found throughout the house and grounds during the renovation. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” said Estella. “It’s part of the charm in owning an antique property.”
Additional amenities of this unique home include a five-bedroom septic system, 1.19-acres of land, central vacuum and town water. And hobby enthusiasts will want to take note of a detached two-car garage with spacious workshop above at this home. It offers level access to the main grounds, making it a convenient location for woodworking or for use, perhaps, as an artist’s studio.
Realtor Lorraine Estella is marketing the Southborough home for $649,900. For more information, contact Estella at 508-726-3809.
DETAILS:
Address: 29 Woodland Road, Southborough
Style: Greek Revival
Year Built: 1864 (with recent updates)
Rooms: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Lot size: 1.19-acre lot
Taxes: $7,699
Asking price: $649,900
Intriguing circa 1864 colonial with spectacular 21st-century renovation throughout much of the interior. A brilliant combination of old and new, surrounded by distinct architectural landscaping meant to be enjoyed year round. State-of-the-art kitchen with contemporary overtones, wide window views, cozy keeping room. Formal living room, dining room, music nook. Second-story addition features grand bonus space, loft and four original bedrooms. Renovated baths. Detached two-car garage with spacious space above great for workshop, artist’s studio etc.
