This 300-Year-Old Connecticut Home Is a Celebration of Antique Americana

As anyone with an affinity for taste will surely admit, what antique homes lack in contemporary conveniences, they make up for in long-forgotten character. Such is certainly the case for real estate broker and interior designer Scott Francis’s 300-year-old home in Litchfield, Connecticut. The native New England resident and his partner made an offer on the highly coveted home in the peak of the pandemic, not expecting much to come of it, but to their pleasant surprise—and perhaps Francis’ insider knowledge—they won the competitive bidding war. 

“We saw the incredible beams throughout and the fireplace, and we thought, ‘You know, there was no chance we were going to get the home because we are aware of the multiple bids on the table,’ but we decided to lob in an offer over-ask,” he explains. “And because we were in the business, we knew that we could wave a few things to try to be more competitive.” A few short weeks later, the historic home was theirs. 

While some may wander across the three-bedroom cottage’s original wide-plank floors and see only a difficult design journey ahead, Francis saw opportunities. “I think a lot of people are very risk averse with a home that’s over 300 years old,” he admits. Of course, the elements that needed updating, such as the extra and unnecessary walls, the HVAC systems, and the plumbing, got the modern treatment, but most of the home’s pre-existing architectural elements, including the floors and the three original fireplaces, remained. “My favorite thing about this home would probably have to be the three fireplaces,” Francis notes. “I’ve always been drawn to homes with amazing fireplaces, and I’ve always felt like it’s the heart and soul of the home.”

Rest assured, the home boasts plenty of heart and soul.

Photos by Kirsten Francis

Living Room

“We use this as a little bit more of a formal space when we have guests. It’s best in the late afternoon, as we get a really nice sunset on this side of the house,” Francis says. The space is finished with various antiques he’s collection over multiple decades. The leather-clad horse, American flag, and landscape painting above the fireplace are pieces that match the cozy space’s patina and warmth. The exception, however, is the 1970s brass and glass coffee table by Mastercraft. “It’s one of my favorite coffee table makers. I just think that it’s was fun to add a midcentury element into the space where we obviously have certain other traditional elements,” Francis explains.

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Kitchen

A 300-year-old kitchen is not exactly up-to-code when it comes to basic cooking in the 21st century, so Francis was more than willing to give this room a serious facelift. While he left the floors intact, he performed a gut renovation on the rest of the kitchen without sacrificing the character or history of the room.

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Exterior

As records show, Francis’ home was built between 1719 and 1729, though the exact year isn’t clear. While he was drawn to the classic New England architecture, which includes near perfect symmetry and a center chimney, he added his own touches here and there. He ripped off the asphalt roof and replaced it with a cedar one, painted the whole home white, and revamped the patio for outdoor entertaining.

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Primary Bathroom

Wood floors in the bathroom may be a bit of a hot take, but Francis is strictly tile-averse. Plus, ripping out the original wooden planks seemed criminal. So he kept the space simply and masculine, complete with a vintage rug, soft wall hues, and myriad Edwardian-inspired plumbing fixtures. The toughest part, he admits, was the free-standing shower. “It was a bit of a feat,” he says.” As for the cast-iron tub, it’s one of his favorite pieces on the second floor of the home. He adds, “There’s nothing like a cast iron tub to keep the heat in all winter and make your bath last that much longer. I use this quite often.”

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Family Room

Back in the 18th-century, this room would have been dubbed the boarding room, and it was where the original family’s babies would have been born. In fact, there were 11 kids living in this home at one point. Luckily, the enormous fireplace kept everyone warm. “The fireplace, which is original, has an incredible eight-foot lintel that spans across the top in one solid piece of local granite.” He adds that they always have a fire going, starting October 1st.

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Bar

Not a full bar with its own private room, this bar is simply an elegant moment that lives atop an antique dresser. It’s surface is covered with a collection of vintage glasses and crystal. The painting, a nod to the area’s equestrian-centric background, was one of Francis’ first purchases for the home.

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Dining Room

“We have a very oversized ellipse dining table, which I absolutely love,” Francis notes. “It’s currently set for eight, but we can expand up to 12 people, depending on how many we have for any given holiday.” What’s more, if you’re facing the windows, you’ll get the best vantage point of the whole property, including the wheat fields in the distance.

Regardless of where you happen to find your seat assignment, you’ll get an excellent view of Francis’ growing collection of copper. “I’m a huge fan of copper. I love collecting vintage pieces, specifically a mixture of early American, although, a lot of them are French.”

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Guest Bedroom

Just upstairs is what Francis calls the Americana room, where red, white, and blue are on full display. “It’s certainly a collection of my favorite antiques. There are a lot of very early American pieces, including American folk art, which I absolutely love.” The most eye-catching piece is undeniably the portrait, which Francis uncovered at the annual Brimfield antique fair in Massachusetts. “It’s an aristocratic boy with his dog jumping up on him. What’s not to love about having a dog jumping up on you, as long as it’s your own?”

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