McComsey Builders
Licensed in Pennsylvania (PA015145)
Andersen Certified Contractor
Family-owned since 1986
The Story
The homeowners are polo players who sponsor a team at Brandywine Polo Club, and they wanted to live close to the field. They came to Archer Buchanan Architects and us with a dilapidated stone farmhouse and brick addition, looking to rebuild it for their growing family while keeping every bit of historic charm they could save.
Before
Design
Archer Buchanan Architects designed the renovation around a single principle: keep every piece of the home’s original character that could still stand. We worked through every detail of the rebuild, including the structural ledgers within the stone walls, the parged and stuccoed exterior, the antique hardware, and the custom millwork built in our shop.
The Details
Navy-blue built-in cabinets, a custom bench, a row of wall hooks, and a herringbone brick floor turn the mudroom into a hardworking space that still fits the home’s period feel.
The sunroom opens to long views of the pasture, with a rustic brick floor underfoot and the family’s land stretching out beyond.
Custom wall paneling lines the stairs and hall, paired with hanging lanterns, layering the home with woodwork that feels rooted in its history.
A coffered ceiling, a period chandelier, and room for a four-poster bed give the primary bedroom the same historic character carried through the rest of the home.
Two Rumford fireplaces were rebuilt to restore the deep, well-drawing fires the homeowner loves to gather the family around through every season.
A custom Indian door, commissioned specifically for this project, sets the tone the moment guests step inside the home.
Each homeowner has a dedicated office with custom built-ins, all milled in our shop and finished with antique hardware to match the home's period detail.
Period hardware on doors, drawers, and fixtures throughout the home, sourced to keep the historic character intact.
When one stone gable collapsed during construction, we rebuilt it with concrete block to restore the home's original lines.
With the original brick and stone exterior past its prime, the entire house was prepped and refinished in stucco for a clean, lasting facade.
A central boiler powers air exchangers throughout the home, with radiant in-floor heat under every brick and tile surface.
New structural framing was installed inside the historic stone walls to hold updated floors, so the family could have a new interior within the original shell.
The basement was finished into a dedicated space for the kids to grow into.
Built-ins, wall panels, and the open-room beams all milled in our own shop.
The result
The family now has a fully restored historic home down the road from Brandywine Polo Club, with room for the kids, dedicated offices for the homeowners, and the kind of historic character no new build can replicate. The polo program has its base, and the family has theirs.
Our Projects
Your journey starts here
You can have a fully modern interior inside the historic walls you already love, with the antique hardware, period detail, and custom millwork that keep the home's character intact.
