The grand rooms of this 38,000 square-foot Georgian masterpiece by society architect Horace Trumbauer were restored to celebrate the pinnacle of Gilded Age aesthetics. Built in 1912 for Colonel and Mrs. Robert Leaming Montgomery, this iconic building is a pure study in elegant early 20th century design expressing dynamic social history. As it was never restored or refurbished, it is the last great Main Line Estate, a veritable time capsule.

The mastermind behind the comprehensive restoration was Robert Montgomery Scott, the grandson of the original owners, who invited us to “make her the beautiful old lady she is,” celebrating her continued vitality. This complex aesthetic undertaking was achieved with a master plan for architectural renovation, furnishings restoration, and painting conservation. Extensive damage had been sustained after decades of roof leaks that caused crumbling plaster, disintegrating wall upholstery, and stained limestone. Working with Decorative Arts curators from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the interiors were thoroughly researched, and the restoration was specifically aligned with the taste of the family, all of whom had crystal-clear recollection of the house when it was built. Inventive restoration procedures were par for the course in this gentle, yet dramatic restoration. Its emotional and visual continuum expresses the graceful maturation of an architectural classic, home to generations of this storied family that cherishes it past, present, and future.