BELMONT VICTORIAN THIS OLD HOUSE SEASON 36

LOCATION: BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS   

For the 36th season of This Old House, Amanda Reid led the interior design for the restoration of an 1890s Shingle Style Victorian, shaping a home that feels historically grounded and fully relevant to modern family life. The work focused on bringing back character and detail that had been lost over time, while creating spaces that feel intentional, comfortable, and cohesive.

On the main level, period-appropriate Victorian fireplace mantels anchor the living spaces and restore a sense of rhythm to the home. Handmade tile at the fireplace adds texture and craft, reinforcing the home’s roots. A palette of blues and soft lilacs flow from room to room, creating continuity while allowing each space to have its own presence. In the dining room, deep navy walls introduce richness and contrast, balanced by painted wainscoting and lighter furnishings.

Smaller spaces were approached with the same level of care. In the powder room, a marble countertop salvaged from another part of the house was restored and paired with a metal-legged console vanity and curved marble backsplash. The gentle lines of the vanity echo the movement of the wallpaper, creating a layered, intentional composition in a compact space.

Upstairs, the primary suite offers a quieter counterpoint. Marble finishes and a refurbished clawfoot tub give the bath a timeless foundation, while the bedroom features a custom hand-painted wall treatment that reimagines a damask motif at an enlarged scale. Executed by a New England artisan, the installation brings artistry and depth to the space, closing the project with a sense of craft, confidence, and continuity.