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"The house was in estate condition when I purchased it, or rather it purchased me," Hallock says. "It was a true labor of love to restore the property—not something the faint of heart should ever undertake."

Respecting the historic envelope of the house, Hallock and Mowry decided against expanding the footprint. Instead, they focused on the interior, taking care to preserve the 18th-century details while adding their own stamp of modernity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the kitchen.

The sleek Carerra countertops, stainless steel appliances and minimal fireplace that extends into the family room blend seamlessly with the simplicity of the original architecture.

With this juxtaposition of contemporary and classic, being in the house is like a journey through time. Just beyond the 200-plus-year-old original entrance facing South Main, an elegantly paneled side stair hall and the original parlor (now a comfortable living room lined with a William Morris-designed wallpaper) spills into a multi-layered sitting room leading to an arresting yellow-and-gold-striped dining room stocked with superb pieces of majolica. The earlier two wings then open into a circa-1910 addition featuring the updated kitchen and family room designed by Wells. Here, diamond-paned windows overlook a series of gardens and a swimming pool that looks like something out of a Slim Aarons photo—missing only Babe Paley and C.Z. Guest. "Our house is built on a narrow, extruded lot," Hallock explains, "and Craig and I wanted to live surrounded by courtyard gardens." Outdoor lighting designer Greg Yale helped with the landscaping and exterior illumination, consisting of dozens of hidden lights that create a magical effect in the evening.