# A 250-year-old Nova Scotia home restored with care

> Designer Philip Mitchell wins a heritage award for his sensitive restoration of Sheet Anchor House in Chester.
- Title: A 250-year-old Nova Scotia home restored with care | Shortify
- Summary: Designer Philip Mitchell wins a heritage award for his sensitive restoration of Sheet Anchor House in Chester. Successful heritage restoration means…
- Keywords: philip mitchell, sheet anchor house, chester, nova scotia, heritage restoration, built heritage award, heritage trust of nova scotia, blueprint construction, vaci painting, mark narsansky, lunenburg, 18th century architecture
- Source: House & Home — https://houseandhome.com/home-tours/country-homes/chester-heritage-house-restoration
- Author: House & Home
- Published: 2026-09-18T12:11:20+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: philip mitchell, sheet anchor house, chester, nova scotia, heritage restoration, built heritage award, heritage trust of nova scotia, blueprint construction, vaci painting, mark narsansky, lunenburg, 18th century architecture
## Listening to a 1765 home
Designer Philip Mitchell restored Sheet Anchor House in Chester, Nova Scotia by 'listening to it.' The European owners wanted a heritage guesthouse for family.
## A heritage award winner
The restoration won a Built Heritage Award from the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. The recognition honors sensitive restorations of historical buildings.
## Respecting layered history
The goal wasn't to return the house to 1765. Mitchell honored later additions like the early 1900s kitchen wing and 1980s cabinets.
## 18 months of skilled work
Blueprint Construction and Vaci Painting led a team that restored original floors and hardware, replicated historical plaster, and fabricated period-accurate windows.
## Not a museum piece
Mitchell added modern updates to make the house livable today. The owners wanted to respect heritage without creating a museum.

> makes the house livable for our current time.
## Invisible infrastructure upgrades
All cladding was removed to install new electrical, plumbing, mechanicals and insulation from outside. Interior plaster and panelling stayed mostly intact.
## Two bathrooms added seamlessly
New bathrooms were positioned where mechanicals could go without damaging the building's fabric. Beams and woodwork hide unavoidable intrusions.
## The dining room restored
Original floors and panelling were restored and repainted pale green. Woven chairs surround a wood table with contemporary lighting above.
## A dramatic 18th century fireplace
The living room's focal point fireplace was painstakingly repaired. It complements original beams, floors and plasterwork.
## Green inspired by needlepoint
A 19th century wingback chair with tapestry needlepoint inspired the shades of green used throughout. The palette gives rooms an evolved feel.
## Bold historical colors
Floors were hand-sanded and painted in historical colors found during restoration. The kitchen got a vivid blue, the bedroom an arched green ceiling.
## Classic East Coast stairway
The main stairway features painted floors, walls and panelling. A vibrant hall runner resembles 18th century rag carpets.
## Balancing period and contemporary
Furniture mixes period and contemporary styles with a few quirky pieces. Colors are balanced with neutrals throughout the house.

> My clients have a great sense of fun.
## Key takeaway

Successful heritage restoration means listening to a building's history and respecting all its layers, not just returning it to its original state.