Purple no longer: Norwell’s ‘Purple House’ turns from gallery to showroom
Norwell’s historic “Purple House” certainly stands out on Route 53, but it will remain purple no longer.
The former home of the Hartstone Gallery will soon be painted white and become THE CABINETRY, a kitchen and bath design boutique.
The design company currently resides in Hingham.
Norwell resident Marlene Ketchen, the owner of the business and, now owner of the “Purple House,” said she has been looking for a permanent home for her company for two years and is excited to move in.
“I loved the old style and the charm of the building,” Ketchen said. “It’s such a beautiful building. I plan to keep everything I can and restore it.”
The “Purple House,” at 25 Washington St., is also known as the “Z. Cushing House. “It was built sometime in the late 18th and early 19th century and includes the main house and a two-storied barn on two acres of land.
Ketchen purchased the site in mid-April for $800,000 and is using Jonathan Detwiler, owner of Buttonwood Renovations, and Mike Lievi, owner of Lievi Electric Inc., as her contractor and electrician respectively. Both are residents of Norwell.
The main building will house The Cabinetry on both floors, with showrooms and meeting rooms on the first and staff offices on the second.
The second floor now consists of two apartments, with a kitchen in each. Ketchen plans to convert one of them into a staff kitchen.
The Cabinetry has been in business for 25 years, but Ketchen purchased it from her uncle 15 years ago.
“It’s a beautiful old home,” she said of the Washington Street property. “It has so much history, which I think is perfect for what we do in our business because we remodel and make homes beautiful.”
There is a significant amount of work to be done inside the home, needed to make this old building a modern home for The Cabinetry, according to Ketchen. That includes updating the bathrooms, having the floors refinished and adding a fresh coat of paint.
Ketchen hopes to have The Cabinetry up and running in its new Norwell home by September.
By KATE WALSH