Some homes are renovated. Others are brought back to life.
At 1103 Calhoun Avenue in Downtown Ocean Springs, a home that has stood for more than a century has entered a remarkable new chapter.
Built in 1888 and known today as The House of Seven Gables, the home sits on more than an acre directly across from Little Children’s Park. After an extensive restoration and expansion, it now offers 3,025 square feet, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and more than 800 square feet of covered porches.
But what makes this home so special is not simply what was added. It is what was carefully kept.
From 1888 to Today
When the property was offered for sale in 2023, the original Victorian home measured just 1,356 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was a home in need of repair, but one with unmistakable character and more than a century of history behind it.
What followed was far more than a typical renovation.
The home was thoughtfully restored, expanded and reimagined for modern living while preserving many of the materials that connected it to its past.
Today, original cedar siding and interior beadboard remain. Original pine floors were preserved upstairs, while salvaged oak and new red oak flooring were incorporated elsewhere in the home. Historic-inspired custom paint colors and carefully selected architectural details help the new portions of the house feel as though they belong.
The result is a home that has changed dramatically without losing sight of where it began.
The Details Tell the Story
Throughout The House of Seven Gables, there are reminders that this project was approached differently.
Barreled ceilings, custom fixtures and vanities, and tile selections from Stafford Tile in New Orleans bring personality to individual spaces. More than 800 square feet of covered porches extend the living areas outdoors, while Ipe porch decking, custom copper gas lanterns, copper flashing and a Brava roof were selected with both beauty and longevity in mind.
Even the smallest details received attention.
Custom cabinetry appears throughout the home. A built-in pet gate was incorporated into the design. In the primary bathroom, apothecary-style drawers and a concealed coffee nook turn everyday necessities into thoughtful design moments.
It is the kind of home that rewards you for looking a little closer.
A Kitchen Made for Gathering
The kitchen brings another layer to the home's transformation.
Inset-panel cabinetry creates a timeless foundation alongside GE Monogram, Sub-Zero and Big Chill appliances. A Galley corner sink serves as one of the room's focal points, while a concealed cabinet door leads to something you might not expect.
Behind it is a fully equipped scullery with an additional stove, sink and beverage station.
It allows the main kitchen to remain part of the gathering space while providing additional room for prep, entertaining and everyday life. It is a thoroughly modern feature incorporated into a home built nearly 140 years ago, and somehow, it feels right at home.
More Than an Acre in Downtown Ocean Springs
Then there is the location.
The House of Seven Gables sits on 1.13 acres directly across from Little Children’s Park, placing its owners in the heart of Downtown Ocean Springs while still offering a property size that is increasingly difficult to find in the area.
From here, the restaurants, shops, galleries, festivals and waterfront that define the downtown lifestyle are close at hand. The home is also within the golf cart district, making it easy to experience Ocean Springs the way so many locals love to.
The property itself has been professionally landscaped with irrigation, complementing the home's expansive porches and creating a setting that feels connected to the surrounding neighborhood.
A New Chapter for an Old Home
There is something special about seeing an old home given the opportunity to continue its story.
The House of Seven Gables looks very different than it did when it was offered for sale in 2023. It is larger, more polished and filled with conveniences its original builders could never have imagined.
But pieces of the 1888 home are still here.
The cedar siding. The beadboard. The pine floors. The proportions and architectural character that made the house worth preserving in the first place.
Rather than erase those pieces in pursuit of something new, this restoration made them part of what came next.
Now, The House of Seven Gables is ready for its next chapter and its next owners.
