Back in 1770—before the United States had even been founded—a classic saltbox residence was built in the hills of what is now northwest Connecticut. Over the next 250 years, a succession of owners renovated it, each leaving behind traces of their own tastes and priorities. Eventually, the house lost much of its original shape and character—until now.

The current owners enlisted Haver & Skolnick Architects to return the structure to its historic form while introducing a large, carefully considered addition that makes the entire property more suited to modern living. The result puts the original saltbox abode at the forefront, visible from three sides, while the addition is set discreetly back, allowing the centuries-old structure to take center stage. Clad in gray-green clapboards and unified by a chic sensibility across the new and old sections, the home feels both cohesive and inviting.

A massive chimney anchors the center of the original house, which was rebuilt entirely with salvaged materials to impart it an already aged look. Three fireplaces open off the central stack: one in the tavern, another in the study, and the last in the keeping room, where it was used for cooking. A slender passage off the keeping room provides the only interior connection to the new addition.

RELATED: This $75 Million Estate Spans 270 Acres Across New York and Connecticut

The newer part of the home includes a large great room sporting a cozy living area with a fieldstone fireplace and a stylishly simple kitchen inspired by the home’s original Colonial aesthetic. Dormers in the high, vaulted ceiling flood the space with natural light. Beyond that is the primary suite, along with two guest bedrooms. A sunflower-yellow mudroom provides access to the carriage house, where the ground level includes a gym and garage space, while upstairs sits another bedroom and an office.

The home’s lower level, meanwhile, is designed for hanging out: A rustic pub is outfitted with a patinaed copper counter, above which hangs a photo mural of the farm in the 1930s. There’s also a golf-simulator room with wooden bleacher seating that allows it to transition into a home theater for movie nights—definitely not something they had back in 1770.

Outside, interconnected terraces and decks overlook the property’s eastern meadow. There are multiple fire pits for cozy winter nights, and fieldstone piers support a dining pergola. And after a quick dip in the pool, there’s a rustic copper outdoor shower.

Click here to see all the photos of the Connecticut estate.