But Lupfer said the back of the house needs to be redesigned to include a modern kitchen, if the Texas Historical Commission approves. A sunroom that was walled in a couple of decades ago might also be removed.

In the past, the kitchen was in the basement, and food was hoisted up on a dumbwaiter.

“The goal is a full-sized modern kitchen that’s not stuck down in a dank basement,” Lupfer said. “Most people don’t have servants these days, and the kitchen is integral to entertainment.”

Likewise, the upstairs layout will be modified to make room for modern bathrooms and closets, while preserving some notable details such as plaster crown molding, he said.

“There’s an equilibrium we’re looking for,” Lupfer said. “We want to preserve this historic building. There’s also a huge sum of money being invested, and if at some point they want to sell it, they’d like to be able to get some of that back. If we simply go about it as a pure preservation project, it’s exponentially more difficult to recoup that substantial investment.”

Kenneth Hafertepe, a Baylor University museum studies associate professor and historic preservation expert, said he understands the need to make some changes to the house to carve out a modern kitchen and bathrooms.