The expansion and masterful restoration of a classic turn-of-the century estate in the heart of Brookline reveals a sophisticated and expressive home for an accomplished couple with children and pets. Carefully orchestrated interior programming influences the scale and placement of outdoor amenities, making this property flow graciously from inside and out.

The formidable facade commands a traditional yet crisply tailored bluestone walkway that slices through layers of vegetation, framing the grand mansion’s elegant front entrance. New white magnolia trees provide scale without blocking valuable sunshine from important interior rooms. A century-old sugar maple and mature stand of hemlocks anchor the southern corner of the home to the land, and a preserved, moss and lichen covered stone retaining wall and staircase become a cherished reminder of the property’s established history.

A new granite retaining wall forms an elevated terrace where dining, lounging, cooking, and mid-afternoon bonfires happen just footsteps from main living areas. Bluestone paths and staircases invite active children to explore and play in open lawn areas with their dog, and textured drifts of flowering shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses soften the structured, private garden spaces. Newly sculpted landforms are blanketed with durable, native groundcovers, and when the leaves fall from preserved perimeter trees, beautiful seasonal views of Boston’s skyline expose this property’s remarkable proximity to the City.

Collaborators: LDa Architecture and Interiors, Wellen Construction, Paragon Landscape Construction, Select Horticulture, Nina Farmer Interiors, Eric Piasecki Photography