Meyer & Meyer, Inc. Architecture and Interiors Wins 2010 Classical Home of the Year

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English Rose Estate

"When the house was orginally built, the materials incorporated into the design were the best available. It was important that skilled craftsmen and artists replicate and expand on the authentic details of the home's former glory," notes John Meyer, AIA.

Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) August 2, 2010

Meyer & Meyer, Inc. Architecture and Interior Design was presented with the 2010 Best Classical Home of the Year Award for the expansion and restoration of the English Rose Estate in Brookline, Massachusetts. The award was presented by Dream Home Awards, a national organization that invites firms from all 50 states to submit their design and building projects. The winners are acknowledged for their ability to set new standards of excellence within the Nation's Building Industry.

The English Rose residence is a three-story, 18,000 square foot, symmetrical red brick Georgian Revival Estate. Built in 1929, the home's influences came from both eighteenth-century France and the American Gilded Age. "It is a beautiful, romantic house inspired by European elegance and grandeur" says John I. Meyer, Jr. AIA LEED AP. The house is large, but rooms within distinct sections were designed to a comfortable human scale creating intimate spaces.

Under the direction of Principal Architect, John I. Meyer, Jr. AIA, LEED AP, the project included complete interior rebuilding of two thirds of the house to create a new entry and reception halls, construction of a main stair, master suite and bath, and a 3rd floor bedroom suite. A limestone portico was added on the west elevation with a stone balustrade railing at the second floor terrace.

Built in 1929 for Quincy Adams Shaw, a wealthy copper mining investor, the home reflects a prevailing taste that looked to Europe for design inspiration. "When the house was orginally built, the materials incorporated into the design were the best available. It was important that skilled craftsmen and artists replicate and expand on the authentic details of the home's former glory," notes John Meyer. "This project proves the point that good craftsmanship is not a thing of the past." Each team member - the architect - Meyer & Meyer, Inc., interior designer - Eugene Lawrence & Co., master builder - Woodmeister Master Builders, Inc. and decorative painter - John Canning Painting & Conservation Studios, contributed their distinctive talents to the home's stunning composition.

Interior finishes are in the spirit of French Rococo. Architectural elements are finished in three different gold leafs: 15 karat, 18 karat and 23 karat and paintings and murals are by a renowned muralist and decorative painter, John Caning. Custom millwork throughout includes coffered ceilings, rooms featuring hand-carved brackets, pediments, chair rails, dados and picture rails. The grand staircase is limestone with a custom bronze railing with a hand-crafted, sculptured and lighted feature at its termination. The award-winning Neoclassical master bath with its French slipper tub is the culmination point of a collection of rooms comprising the master suite. The master bath features a rotunda highlighted by paintings of the changing seasons. Behind each painting is a large closet with velvet-lined shelves. French antique chandeliers throughout the suite all have a recognized pedigree.

The project is a fusion of architectural planning, detailed craftsmanship and exhaustive research. The team members were key contributors in addressing this project's design challenges and instilling quality craftsmanship as a hallmark of the project's success. Meyer & Meyer, Inc., known for its ability to meld historic design with modern-day living, was responsible for overseeing the conceptual design and managing the project through to completion. The site is one of the most significant in the area. Features include two long lily ponds along the back patio edged with boxwood and a swimming pool which is hidden in a glade. A wooded landscape on the property provides privacy and views from the main house.

About Meyer & Meyer, Inc.
Meyer & Meyer, Inc., an award-winning architectural and interior design firm, provides comprehensive services for residential, commercial, and institutional clients. The firm has earned an impeccable reputation for design, detailing, and use of quality materials - and for the principals' hands-on involvement in every job. Their expertise ranges from authentic historical styles to innovative contemporary design. They approach each project with a fresh, imaginative eye and explore it from all angles. The results - a new Georgian mansion, a contemporary penthouse, an historic renovation, a Victorian town hall or Gothic Revival church renovation - share a distinctive elegance, harmony, and serenity. Their residences and buildings are designed to last for centuries, and to be cherished for their character and grace.

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