This Dedham Victorian Got a High-Gloss Glow-Up

This article is from the spring 2026 issue of Boston Home. Sign up here to receive a subscription.

The graciously proportioned 1870s home with views of the Charles River had always been part of the neighborhood landscape for Angela Cavallo. Living just around the corner, she admired it from afar, never imagining it would one day belong to her family. Then their own house began to feel small. With a teenage son and an 11-year-old daughter, the need for more space—and more breathing room—became clear. Renovated and sitting on the market longer than expected, the historic home suddenly made sense. “It seemed like a great fit for us,” Cavallo says.

The house had already undergone a full gut renovation by its previous owners, leaving the bones in excellent condition. And while they loved the home’s historic details, the interiors felt restrained. “Everything was white and cream—very neutral and bland,” Cavallo says. Elegant, yes—but not reflective of a household built around gathering and everyday connection.

The sunroom, from which there are views of the river, is painted in Farrow & Ball’s “Breakfast Room Green.” The woven chandelier is from Currey & Co. / Photo by Greg Premru

The wallpaper in the daughter’s room features a whimsical Aux Abris wallcovering depicting an elephant-and-monkey motif in a pink, blue, and green colorway. / Photo by Greg Premru

It was important that every space in the house felt inviting; after all, the family home is the neighborhood hangout spot. “At any given time, there might be 10 kids here,” says Cavallo, noting that their parents were often there, too. There would be no off-limits rooms or wasted space. To bring warmth and personality into the home, the family turned to Jocelyn Chiappone, founder of interior design studio Digs Design, whose work they had followed for years. With the kitchen recently renovated and the architectural details intact, the project focused on cosmetic updates throughout the house—completed over the course of several months, a quick turnaround for a whole-house refresh.

“The challenge was how to keep the historic quality while updating it with a joyful and vibrant design that feels current,” Chiappone says. “The goal was to use and love every single space.” That intention came into sharp focus in the living room. During the initial walkthrough, Chiappone recalls the husband poking his head into the large, formal space and saying, “This room is huge, and I want to spend time in here, but I don’t think I will.” At the time, the room felt formal and underused.

In the kitchen, a painting by Laurie Fisher featuring stripes of various hues hangs on the grasscloth-covered wall. Stools are upholstered in Tillett Textiles fabric. / Photo by Greg Premru

Chiappone’s solution was bold. Now known as the “Green Room,” the living room is finished in a high-gloss lacquer in Cavallo’s favorite color. Once the room was lacquered green, it quickly became a space people gravitated toward. The room was layered with generous seating, some from the family’s previous home, including antique bergère chairs re-covered in a modern geometric fabric. A custom game table wrapped in a Schumacher wallcovering is a striking accent, while the homeowners’ “fabulous art collection was the icing on the cake,” Chiappone says.

Through a set of pocket doors is the family room, the most used space in the house. Chiappone worked with the existing grasscloth and added a comfortable sectional for family movie nights, anchoring the room around the television. Elsewhere, the design reflects a balance between the home’s historic details and the family’s everyday routines. The dining room features a classic medallion wallpaper that nods to the home’s roots, while the breakfast room feels lighter and more casual. Paneling, natural tones, and layered textiles echo the Charles River views.

The dining room’s vintage credenza is painted an olive green and adorned with Greek key embellishments. The mirror is from Bunny Williams, and the wallcovering is Phillip Jeffries. / Photo by Greg Premru

With walls sheathed in a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth and a geometric-shaped chandelier strung from the ceiling, the bedroom’s blush and beige color scheme is soft and soothing. / Photo by Greg Premru

Upstairs, the primary bedroom offers a serene retreat. Soft blush and beige tones create a calming atmosphere, punctuated by walnut nightstands and a vintage dresser that Chiappone says bring in just enough dark wood to keep the room from feeling too feminine.

Throughout the home, antiques and vintage pieces are layered with bold wallpaper and confident pattern play. Statement wallcoverings appear in the vestibule, stair hall, and powder rooms, adding moments of surprise for guests.

With the home fully installed in under six months from start to finish, the project was a breath of fresh air for Chiappone. “Most of our projects are renovations or new builds that are years in the making. Here, old-fashioned decorating took center stage and at a warped speed,” she says. And the historic home’s new stewards couldn’t be happier. “Jocelyn is amazing. She’s a genius at elevating historic design,” Cavallo says. “Not only is the house beautiful, but it also suits exactly how we live.”

In the powder room, an Urban Archaeology washstand with lean brass legs and a marble top has a classic appeal that suits the architecture of the home. The scallop-edged mirror is from Made Goods. / Photo by Greg Premru

One of the second-floor bathrooms features white cabinetry and tile, which serves as a lovely backdrop for the vivid Christopher Farr wallcovering. / Photo by Greg Premru

In the foyer, an 1840 mahogany console table with conch shell and patera inlays is paired with Quadrille wallpaper and a spherical light fixture from Mr. Brown London. / Photo by Greg Premru

Interior Designer Digs Design