This 1790 New Hampshire house is full of weird, perfect design choices

I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the most interesting c. 1790 houses I have seen in a long time. Located at 120 Main St in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, the historic Gould home is on the National Register of Historic Places and is currently on the market for $547,000. It is a fantastic puzzle of a house, combining a pre-Revolutionary center-chimney Cape with a 1790 brick-end Federal addition. The way the previous owners kept the original character while making the space actually livable is incredibly impressive.

First impressions from the road

From the front, it looks like a straight-up museum. The classic white clapboard, the perfectly symmetrical windows, and those twin brick chimneys are exactly what you want from a grand Federal home.

But once you pull into the driveway, you see the red brick-end wall and how the main house connects to the massive barn structure in the back.

The main entry has a gorgeous teal door set into a classic Federal frame, with an old brick path cutting through the grass.

The side entry

Instead of the front door, let’s walk through the side gate. The red door with black latch hardware set against the light siding is such a great look.

The driveway curves right past this gate, leading back toward the detached garage and the sprawling backyard.

The grand entry and that staircase

Okay, let us go inside. This foyer is unbelievable. The staircase is painted a dusty pink, and the wall features a faded mural painted by Rufus Porter himself.

The mural is worn down in the best way possible, showing the texture of the plaster underneath. It feels so honest and untouched.

You can see the heavy front door up close here, complete with its original thumb-latch hardware and massive lock.

The kitchen and keeping room

Now for the kitchen. They did not try to turn this into a sterile modern kitchen. Instead, you get sage green cabinets, exposed ceiling beams, and a brick fireplace.

The floor has a diamond wood pattern that feels rich and grounded without being overly formal.

The sink is a huge slab of soapstone set right under a bank of three large windows looking out at the yard.

The carving on the front of that vintage soapstone sink is beautiful. It is the kind of detail you just do not see anymore.

They used textured green tiles behind the stove that work beautifully with the rough wood post and lintel framing.

On the other side of the room is the old fireplace, complete with wood-storage cupboards built right into the blue-green paneling.

The main rooms downstairs

Just off the foyer is a parlor painted a deep teal. It has a wood stove insert in the fireplace and those incredibly wide pine floorboards.

A built-in corner cabinet painted bright white breaks up the deep teal walls and holds books or dishes.

From this angle, you can see how the rooms connect, with the pink-trimmed doorways linking the different colorful spaces.

Then there is this second living space painted a soft sage green, with a tiled fireplace and more of those gorgeous exposed ceiling joists.

Having windows on multiple sides lets the natural light show off the texture of the plaster walls.

Another view shows the doorway back to the pink foyer. The paint colors in this house are incredibly bold and completely work.

A very green bathroom

The downstairs bathroom has heated floors, a walk-in shower, and a copper vessel sink sitting on a simple wooden vanity.

The deep blue mosaic tile behind the tub is a great modern choice that contrasts with the softer green wall tiles.

Tucked away near the toilet is a tall glass-doored cabinet built right into the wall for storage.

The pantry and back hall

This walk-in pantry is stupidly clever. It has a butcher block prep counter, open storage shelves, and a bold diamond-patterned floor.

The back mudroom and laundry area continues that green and black checkerboard theme and opens right to the garden.

The upstairs landing and bedrooms

Heading up the pink staircase, you reach the second-floor landing where the historic mural continues.

The woodwork up here is simple, with gray floors and pine doors that have aged beautifully.

One of the bedrooms has a dusty rose accent wall and low windows that make the room feel incredibly cozy.

Another bedroom has pale sage walls and a clean, quiet feel.

This bedroom shows off the massive timbers in the ceiling and has painted floors.

The pink door leading out to the landing adds a perfect pop of color to the plaster walls.

The attic hideout

If you go up another level, there is a beadboard attic space that would make the best reading nook.

The way the ceiling angles follow the roofline makes it feel like a secret hiding spot.

The ell and the barn studio

Back downstairs, a transition room with deep green walls and an old brick fireplace leads out to the connected barn.

Look at the size of that structural timber post on the left. The framing in this house is absolute art.

There is a wood-paneled passageway that connects the main house to the creative work areas.

Inside the barn is a massive studio or home office, heated by a propane stove so you can use it year-round.

The rough-sawn floorboards and exposed beams give this room so much character.

A wooden stairs leads up to the loft level of the barn.

Up here, you can see the original post-and-beam construction and the old roof rafters.

Out in the yard

The backyard is incredibly private, with a lawn that rolls down past the barn toward the surrounding conservation land.

The barn has weathered siding and a garden shed built onto the side for storing tools.

There is a wooden pergola covered in vines, perfect for sitting outside on a summer evening.

The property covers a full acre and sits right next to a historic 1812 schoolhouse.

From this angle, you can see the screened porch off the side of the house, which must be amazing in the fall.

They even have a tree swing hanging from a huge maple tree on the lawn. This place is just magic.