The Macalester Alumni House on Summit Avenue, once home to Macalester presidents, now provides accommodations for illustrious visitors—Rosalyn and Jimmy Carter stayed there, as did Macalester alumnus Kofi Annan—visiting scholars, and prospective students and their families. The 1926 Georgian Revival residence hadn’t been touched in 30 years and was showing its age when we began the restoration in 2011. The work required a careful balance between preserving the architectural integrity of the house and updating the interiors with long-lasting, durable, and period-appropriate finishes and furnishings.