Home Decor 100 Year Old Colonial Townhouse
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1784 Peletiah Foster House
A newly restored colonial home by Anu Koiv and her husband, Dr. Mihkel Haus, in South Windsor, Conn.
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Pre-Renovation
When the expansion of a shopping mall threatened to swamp the historic 1784 Peletiah Foster house in South Windsor, Conn., the structure was dismantled -- board by board -- and stored for safekeeping. Miles away, a conservation-minded couple, Anu Koiv and her husband, Dr. Mihkel Haus, heard of the project. Having rehabbed several old homes in the past, the pair knew the rigors involved. "Still, something seemed to call to us," remembers Anu.
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Light-Filled House
Following their instincts – and hearts – they purchased the building and resurrected it on a tree-lined corner in Lyme.
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Brick Foundation
To suit their family of four, the design was modified from a center chimney Colonial to a saltbox with an ell. And modern amenities were added. But mindful of their treasure's unique 18th-century spirit, Anu and Mihkel also preserved or replicated many of the original elements, including floors, bricks, and paneling. Today, with charm and character intact, the house has never – Peletiah would agree – been more beautiful.
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Blue Closets
To recreate a Colonial-era feeling, age-appropriate features such as paneled closet doors and black iron hardware were incorporated into the rear addition. The wide floorboards were salvaged from the original house; the half-round window is new.
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Ochre Parlor
In the parlor, the fireplace wall of raised paneling, the chair rail, and the paneled wainscot are original. Doors to the left of the hearth conceal a china cupboard. "In some rooms," Anu explains, "the handsome paneling had been covered with layers of wallpaper."
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The Original Kitchen
To preserve the 18th-century ambiance, the owners spent hours researching historic colors. "We wanted to enhance the architecture as well as forge a pleasing transition from room to room," says Mihkel. The sunny parlor gives the original kitchen – with its massive hearth and beehive oven – a cheery view.
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Palladian Window
Windows were replaced throughout. To maintain the home's early-American flavor, each of the new 12-over-12 custom windows includes four panes of old glass "to give the impression they're original," explains Mihkel. A new Palladian window – a feature that proclaimed wealth and status in the late 1700s – illuminates the kitchen and family room in the ell.
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Staircase Runner
Paint hues, during Colonial times, were quite vivid when first applied, and then faded or oxidized over time. Deep yellow or ochre, red, green, and umber, derived from earth pigments, were the earliest paint tints. A yellow hue befitting the period emphasizes the parlor's woodwork. The faux carpet on the original triple-run staircase was called "a poor man's runner," says Anu.
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Fancy Room
The dining room or what the owners call "fancy room" enjoys a glimpse of yellow entry. The Federal-style chair, mahogany dining table (which easily expands for entertaining) and portrait are reproductions.
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Front Detail
The front entrance exhibits detailed molding.
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Colonial Paint Palette
Colors culled from the past evoke a colonial aura inside and out.
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Architectural Elements
Essential architectural and decorative elements gives this house the appearance and character of an earlier dwelling.
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Green Fireplace Mantel
A soft green frames one of the house's fireplaces.
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Fireplace Detail
Wood detailing around this fireplace adds interest and period architectural details.
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Dining Room Cornice
Colonial molding in the dining room.
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Dentil Molding
Millwork was a term, in the 18th century, for any work done by a sawmill -- such as chair rails. The Peletiah Foster house is rare in that most of the original millwork has been preserved. Mihkel enhanced the front with new doors that replicate the old and dentil molding similar to that on the dining room cornice.
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Antique Bowl & Vase
Colonial artifacts sit quietly.
Home Decor 100 Year Old Colonial Townhouse
Source: https://www.countryliving.com/remodeling-renovation/home-makeovers/advice/g136/colonial-home-renovation-0205/