If you believe a historic home must be cramped, dated and dark, a look at a bright, vibrant, welcoming house at 427 Concord Road in Sudbury will change your mind.
Known as Whitehall, this place is the Grande Dame of historic homes in Sudbury. Built in 1810, the house was purchased in 1910 by renowned Gothic Revival architect Ralph Adams Cram as a retreat for his family from their abode on Beacon Hill.
In Cram’s time, the home’s fabulous east wing was added to the house, creating an additional story and space for a library and primary bedroom. The west wing was built to make room for servants. Their call bells are still on the wall.
The house is set on 2.5 acres of sweeping lawns and gardens and includes a generous patio and a tennis court. The cement balustrade in front of the house, tall columns at the back, triple chimneys and verandas on the sides show that this is an extraordinary home.
On the market for $3.9 million, the property is listed by Laura Semple and Beth Hettrich of Coldwell Banker Realty. Semple said, “I grew up in Sudbury and have always admired 427 Concord Road. I have driven past it hundreds of times as it is situated prominently on a hill on historical Concord Road, where militia men marched to Concord in 1776.”
Fast forward to the 21st century. The home now boasts 6,884 square feet of renovated living space. It offers an exquisite balance between period craftsmanship and contemporary updates that fulfill the needs of modern-day families.
When you enter the foyer through the impressive front door, you can see straight down the long hallway through the Dutch door to the lilac promenade and an arbor, creating an instant connection between the inside and the outside of the property. It’s a wonderful first impression.
The first floor features elegant rooms for entertaining. A front-to-back living room was once two rooms and it features two fireplaces. One of them has an attractive mantel and a wood-stove insert and the other, the former kitchen fireplace, offers a brick hearth, a beehive oven and a smoking chamber.
Two French doors lead out from the living area to a mahogany deck and a reception lawn. Summer parties flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The focal point of the dining room is its wide Rumford fireplace, built in the 1800s to minimize heat loss. Covered with hand-painted Delft tiles, the front of the fireplace is elegant and eye-catching. There’s a cooking crane in the fireplace but with a beautifully designed chef’s kitchen adjacent, there’s no need to use it.
South African-born interior designer Mally Skok conceived of the remarkable kitchen in this house. Its ocean blue island with a thick marble top seats four for family meals. But the centerpiece of the kitchen is its blue Majestic range that sports a rotisserie, a bain-marie (fancy double boiler) and a wok. Another oven, by Thermador, stands ready for additional cooking and the giant gourmet refrigerator is hidden behind paneling that matches the plentiful cabinetry.
A window treatment made of Skok’s own fabric design adds a warm accent to the room. The boldly patterned floor and mullioned windows with garden views emphasize this kitchen’s role as the heart of the home.
Modeled after conservatories in Victorian-era homes, the adjoining sunroom features a lantern roof that admits natural light. This room is cozy in every season with radiant heat. A wood stove serves as a pizza oven in this family space.
The most amazing room in the house is a two-level library. Lined with heart pine bookcases, the room underscores the home’s history. Reportedly, some of the historic books will be conveyed with the home. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace adds drama to the space. The ceiling beams came from a renovation by Cram of Massachusetts Hall at Harvard University. French doors in this room open out to the reception lawn.
Up the Colonial Revival staircase, six bedrooms await. The primary suite features a spacious bedroom, a dressing room with walk-in closet and a spa bathroom.
Three cars can park in the recently built garage, connected to the house by a breezeway.
| Rank | Prior Rank | Company name/Prior rank (*unranked in 2023) |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1 |
Coldwell Banker Realty |
|
2 |
2 |
Compass |
|
3 |
3 |
William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance |
