"Not only did we restore the original finishes and materials on the inside and outside, we reinstated formal room separations that were removed at some point," Waterman said.

Step one for Waterman's team was stripping the woodwork down to original material and refinishing in a period appropriate stain, including refinishing the hardwood flooring.

They created separation in the front room by defining two spaces from one large area that had been opened up in previous decades. The installation of a pair of pony walls and matching columns split the space into two rooms—an entry hall and a parlor.

The entry hall offers access to the staircase, and also features some out-of-the-ordinary seating. "We salvaged an old pew," Waterman said.

In the parlor, a wall-sized shelving unit was removed in favor of the new pony wall and antique furniture. The pièce de résistance in the parlor, though, is the rebuilt fireplace. The fireplace surround had been removed completely during attempts to modernize the house. Some sleuthing, combined with inspiration from the house itself, allowed the team to fabricate a period-accurate centerpiece for the parlor.