What happens when someone takes a well-built 1750s home and lovingly coaxes it into the 21st century? You get 4 Spaulding Lane in Hollis, New Hampshire. The exterior is a seamless blend of the original exterior design and modern additions such as a two plus car garage and hand-crafted pergola. The large round window over the entryway offers a glimpse of what’s inside.

Mud Room, Laundry Room and Main-Floor Bath

The mud room is a large space with a built-in cabinet and bench for hanging coats, putting on boots and storing mittens and scarves. The laundry room boasts of Milton & King wallpaper, large storage closet and shelves made from reclaimed wood. There is a laundry sink located next to the washer and dryer, and an exterior door leads directly to the backyard. The main-floor bathroom has plenty of natural light.

The Kitchen

They say that the kitchen is the heart and hearth of the home, and in this case it that is literally true. The home’s central fireplace retains original interior brick domed bread oven & copper hot water basin that has been refitted for gas logs. You can add the warmth of a fire to this space with a push of a button and without the smoke and mess of a wood-burning fireplace. This amazing period feature is surrounding by a modern kitchen with brand new Bosch appliances, granite countertops and shelving made from recycled wood. There is storage galore in both above and below counter cabinets.  Milton & King wallpaper creates a beautiful backdrop to this setting and plenty of windows bring in natural light, making it feel like home. This room, along with most of the rest of the home, has wide pine plank flooring, bringing continuity to the spaces. 

The Living Room

Open, airy and filled with light, this special room has Milton & King wallpaper along with dark wood wainscoting. A built-in cherry corner cabinet adds personality to the room and the large French doors leading to the pergola-covered patio adds to the sense of space. The kitchen fireplace is incorporated into this room as well, with a wood-burning hearth on the living room side. 

The Dining Room and Parlor

The entrance to the dining room is at the back of the living room. Given the unique design of the home, this room boasts of windows on three of its four walls. The overhead light is mounted on a wood beam, adding a dramatic flair. From the dining room, you enter the original entrance to the home with one of the two sets of stairs that lead to the upper floor. To the left of the entryway is the parlor. Here, a small wood fireplace is linked to one of the home’s original chimneys, making the room feel cozy and inviting.

Second Floor Bedrooms

At the top of the stairs, you can see some of the original beams of the home. A large window brings natural light into the space, and the hallway leads to the second-floor bedrooms. The larger room mirrors the dining room, in that it has windows on three walls. The walk-in closet offers plenty of storage and the high wood ceiling includes the original hand-hewn rafters. The exposed brick chimney and natural wood trim complete this space.

The second bedroom is slightly smaller but still has the same original hand-hewn rafters, exposed brick chimney and natural wood trim. A traditional closet offers plenty of storage.  The windows and high ceilings give the room a sense of spaciousness. 

Shared Second Floor Bathroom

The bathroom makes great use of its space with built-in storage and under-sink cabinet. The angled shower stall with glass doors and walls, also has storage for soap, shampoo, and other necessities. The room is finished with a tiled floor and granite sink.

Master Bedroom and Bath

When entering this bedroom from the hallway, the first thing you see is a custom-built window seat under two large windows. More custom cherry wood built-in features bring a sense of enchantment to the large master suite. Two bed-side reading tables sit on other side of the arched inset with space for a king-size bed. Additional shelf and drawer storage is on either side of the archway. A full walk-in closet provides plenty of room for hanging clothes, shoes, etc. There is the exposed brick chimney from the main fireplace in the kitchen below, which has another set of built-in shelves near the window seat. The high ceilings have beautiful wood beams and there are many windows that bring in natural light, including a curved transom in the bed nook. The second set of stairs, papered in Milton & King wallpaper, lead the mud room, just off of the kitchen. Partway down these stairs is a large round window, just one more unique feature in an amazing home. 

Before we leave this space, we need to go back to the window seat, because along the adjacent wall is the door to the master bath. A huge claw-foot soaking tub with tiled surround and large windows, invites you to soak away the troubles of the day. A luxurious, tiled walk-in shower offers a great alternative to the bath. Double sinks, lovely tile work on the floor and walls, as well as high wood ceilings, create a relaxing atmosphere. 

The Basement

The partially-finished basement has a tiled floor and the original granite walls. The owners had intended to use this space as a wine cellar, but the options are nearly limitless. In a set of rooms at the back of the basement are the utilities, including the new hot water heater.  

Outside

French doors in the living room lead to a large patio with a lovely hand-built pergola. The lovely view encompasses only a small part of the two acre property. A former horse barn, small but sturdy, can be put to its original use, or transformed into a greenhouse, play house or other purpose. The fields and trees on the property are partially fenced in and the driveway is paved. The garage has traditional doors on the driveway side but also has a glass garage door on the side toward the outbuilding. This can be used to move equipment, such as a tractor or lawnmower, or to create a workout area. All outdoor lighting is Dark Sky Lighting.

Additional Things to Know 

Most of the home has been completely refurbished, with new wall treatments, windows, built-in pieces and appliances.  Specifically:

• The house is net-zero ready.
• All of the Kitchen appliances are Energy Star Bosch 800-series
• All windows are triple-paned glass 
• Aprilaire self-contained evaporative humidifier keeps air from becoming too dry
• ERV system keeps fresh air circulating through the house year-round
• Aerobarrier envelope sealing reduced air leakage by 87.5%

HVAC System Specifications

• 5 9K Mitsubishi Indoor floor-mounted units w/ 5-unit branch box
• 1 42KMitsubishi Outdoor Smart Multi-Zone Hyper unit
• 2 12KMitsubishi Indoor low-profile units in attic part of 2nd floor with ducting to 2nd floor rooms
• 1 22K Mitsubishi Outdoor Multi-Zone Hyper unit
• 7 Kumo Touch wireless remote controller thermostat kits
• 2 Renewaire 70 CFMhrd-wired cabinet units w/2 timer booster controls

In addition, all spaces in the home have been heavily insulated and all window and door openings were sealed with low-expanding foam.

Conclusion

This amazing home has personality and charm, perfect for those who want modern luxuries with connections to the past.  The interiors are warm and inviting, high efficiency without the high maintenance, and the outdoor spaces offer plenty of room to grow.