Jill MedingerA four-story 1876 estate, a hidden Irish pub, a crystal horseshoe chandelier, and a designer whose name means “warrior” in Gaelic.
Cassi Ward Power’s lifelong connection to horses began in suburban Ohio, where she learned to ride on a buckskin pony and spent her childhood on wooded trails and at local 4-H events. Those early experiences shaped her understanding of horsemanship and the grounding presence of horses.
While attending Ohio University, she boarded her horse at a facility that partnered with Easterseals on equine-assisted therapy. Asked to help children with disabilities mount and ride, she witnessed the therapeutic bond between horse and rider. The experience influenced her decision to pursue graduate work in special education and reinforced her belief that horses are powerful healers.
Years later, a family friend reintroduced her to the barn community after the COVID-19 pandemic. Cassi’s daughter, Margaret, then 13, took her first riding lesson at the same barn and was immediately captivated. It wasn’t long before she was spending every possible hour at the barn. The barn quickly became a welcome return to a familiar and healing rhythm after the pandemic. The family purchased a Quarter Horse, and competitive riding soon became part of their routine, with shows in Wellington, Lexington, Lake Placid, and other major venues. For the Powers, time at the barn remains a source of connection, purpose, and renewal.
That same friend, interior designer Kelly Laurence, would later guide the family through the renovation of their historic Queen Anne home in Milton, Mass. Laurence, founder of Warrior Design and Decor, works across luxury residential and hospitality design. Her firm’s name reflects the Gaelic meaning of “Kelly,” translated as “warrior,” and her reputation for creating highly customized, narrative-driven interiors.
When the Powers relocated to Milton, they asked Laurence to evaluate potential properties. They ultimately chose a four-story 1876 estate with a detached barn on a hilltop. Laurence assembled a team that included Campbell Smith Architects for historic preservation, FBN Construction for restoration, and landscape architects Jennifer Kunkel and Bill Madden.
The renovation modernized the home while honoring its original character. Laurence envisioned the house as a place for large gatherings, adding a sunroom, expanding the kitchen, and creating a hidden Irish pub in the basement with a mahogany bar, exposed stone walls, and a speakeasy door. FBN Construction uncovered an original inglenook on the main floor, which Laurence restored with traditional materials including embroidery, velvet, leather, and gold accents. The former ballroom became a living room with a limestone plaster fireplace surround. The dining room’s Arts and Crafts millwork was preserved, and a Tree of Life tile motif was added to the fireplace. The expanded kitchen now includes a butler’s pantry, built-in bar, and breakfast nook with transom windows.
The detached barn was transformed into guest quarters and office space. Laurence salvaged original boards for shelving, reused stall hardware for doors and hooks, and incorporated a two-story stone fireplace. A concealed door near the wet bar leads to the basement, and a loft offers space for guests or a quiet retreat.
The finished home reflects the family’s equestrian lifestyle, Irish heritage, and love of gathering. It has become a place where history, design, and the rhythm of barn life converge.
