MAGNOLIA PLACE
815 Griffith Ave
Owner: Beverly Smith Vaughn

Built in 1946 of Boston stone, this charming home has the feeling of a cottage tucked into a garden—one that has been evolving for years and probably always will.

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Beverly Vaughn first fell in love with the house after attending a book club here. “It is me,” she says simply. The nearly one-acre lot was another big draw, offering beautiful views from virtually every room. Soon after moving in, Beverly and her husband planted the first Magnolia tree. That was in 2011, and Magnolia Place was born.

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Today, six different varieties of magnolias grow throughout the property, along with landscaping that Beverly admits is still a work in progress. “It’s never complete. It’s always changing.”

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Inside, the approximately 1,900-square-foot home retains its original hardwood floors and comfortable, traditional character. A master suite was added in 2019, and the kitchen received an update in 2025. Rather than feeling overly formal, the house has the easy, collected quality of a true cottage—warm, personal and full of things that make it distinctly Beverly’s.

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Christmas brings another layer of personality to the house. Traditional decorations fill the rooms, while the master suite features a special bird and wildlife tree. An unusual collection of Christmas dishes may make its way onto the dining table as well.

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Outside, the garden will glow with white lights during the tour, and the garden itself will be open for guests to explore.

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Asked what visitors always stop to see, Beverly doesn’t point to one particular object or room.

“Looking outside from a window,” she says.

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Perhaps that is the best way to experience Magnolia Place. From almost anywhere inside, there is another view of the garden—and another reminder that this is a home still being created.