The Plan

Even the best laid plans will undoubtedly change as new challenges appear and unexpected surprises require us to pivot and adjust course. To address this uncertainty, we have developed a flexible plan to transform the estate. Here’s how we intend to do it.

  • Phase One involves the renovation of Chesterfield’s three accessory structures: The Music Studio, The Chestnut, and The Caretaker’s Cottage. The goal is to create livable spaces that can be used while The Main House is under renovation. Each cottage will undergo a gut renovation, bringing it up to current building code and introducing energy efficiencies. The Music Studio is a three-bedroom space originally built in the late 1920s by Albert Spaulding to use as a conservatory for teaching students and performing recitals. The living room has a barreled ceiling with perfect acoustics, and we are restoring and preserving the velvet and wooden Madonna sculpture above the fireplace. The Chestnut is a two-room stone cottage built at the same time as the Main House and used as an icehouse until the late 1920s when a kitchen and bathroom were added. The Caretaker’s Cottage is a traditional shingle-clad colonial home, built in the early 1900s that contains a series of small rooms within a tiny structure. All the cottage renovations give a nod to history and preserve unique architectural elements, while incorporating modern conveniences and energy efficiencies. Our renovation goal is not to create museums or preserve a moment in history down to the last detail, but to create comfortable living spaces that enjoy modern amenities in a classic setting. This phase will allow us to start a conversation with the town of Great Barrington, proving our credibility and building trust that the renovation will follow the local rules and regulations. 

  • To tackle a project as large and as complicated as the Chesterfield Estate requires a vision, leading to concepts that get refined and ultimately condensed into construction plans. We were fortunate to be allowed access to the estate prior to closing, and Michael Davis spent many days in early 2023 roaming the halls of the Main House and documenting the structure. His preliminary drawings provided a foundation for discussion. Michael’s visits also recorded how natural light entered the house and where the best views were, which did not always align with the window locations. After a series of collaborative meetings and site visits, the architectural vision was born and the design concept took shape. The primary goal of the architectural design is to rebuild the Main House in a thoughtful way so that the resulting structure looks more authentic and in keeping with its setting than the 2023 house. The underlying aesthetic is probably best described as’ eclectic traditional’: A house structure with classical design elements. We’re avoiding overly engineered historic details instead incorporating features within the building’s fabric that enhance its overall design. A house with the scale that befits a Main House, but one that is comfortable and at ease in its surroundings, evolving naturally over time.

  • This phase is the main event: the renovation of the Main House. Prior to any construction taking place, we’ve taken several preliminary steps — prequels if you like — that needed to be tackled. The first which commenced immediately upon closing was to clear the Main House, since the previous owner was a hoarder and had kept every single piece of paper he touched (whether it was a bank statement, a grocery store receipt or a multimillion-dollar commercial real estate deal package). Next up was to remove the asbestos cladding from the pipes in the basement, the butler’s pantry, and the ground-floor bedroom. Then it was time to remove the slate tile roof (which was failing and letting in more water than it was keeping out), along with some targeted demolition, since the interior walls were made of horsehair and plaster; flammable and unsuitable for modern wiring. The next phase, currently in progress, involves engineering and industrial design; quantifying and balancing the power load, incorporating a central heating and cooling system, adding an elevator, and reconfiguring the chimneys, which were installed over a century ago in a higgledy piggledy fashion with complicated (non-code compliant) flues. Then, and only then, can we fire up the jack hammers and commence the renovation of the Main House.

  • This phase involves the creation of a backyard oasis (including a swimming pool, hot tub, outside kitchen with grill, fire pit, etc.) and the big reveal — panoramic mountain views from almost every angle. Other projects in this phase include the addition of a kitchen garden, an Edwardian-style greenhouse, a full-size maze, a multi-sport court (tennis, pickle ball, volleyball, badminton, basketball, etc.), and a renovated/expanded shed to house the farm equipment (and to include the addition of a farm office where the groundskeeping crew can take shelter from the elements and warm up with a nice cup of tea).

  • This phase, which has yet to commence, includes the addition of an outdoor amphitheater and Playhouse in Freer’s Field. The goal is to host community-driven arts-based events on the estate that promote the arts and benefit the town of Great Barrington and its residents.

  • This phase involves the revival and replanting of The Field, including the orchard and terraced vegetable fields, and adopting a strategic landscape plan that will attract birds, bees, and butterflies. Activity is underway and has included the planting of lavender, wildflowers, Joe Pye Weed (which attracts butterflies), and the installation of bluebird houses along the perimeter of the field. This phase also includes adding a well pump and irrigation system to service the field (since town water is expensive and treated with chemicals, it is unsuitable for arable land) and the clearing and tilling of the field in preparation for next season’s crops.

  • The goal of this phase is to reconnect the Chesterfield Estate with the town of Great Barrington and to build a long-standing partnership where the estate can co-exist with the town and support the community in a meaningful way.