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Some homes whisper their stories quietly through worn floorboards and faded wallpaper. Others — like the three-story 1905 Georgian Revival mansion of Justin and Tedd Trabert — shout them in technicolor, full of drama, history and charm.

This grand estate, now lovingly referred to as “Trabert Manor,� with its arches, columns, moody decor, and a ballroom-turned-primary suite, was originally built for Henry and Anna Powitzky, a couple so fiery that their quarrels became local legend. The police were summoned so frequently to break up fights in these very rooms that “a Powitzky� became shorthand among officers for a domestic dispute. Today, more than a century later, the same walls that once rang with turmoil now echo with laughter, music and the clinking of glasses.

The Traberts didn’t set out to become stewards of ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ history. In 2017, they left Fort Lauderdale for a 40-day, 22-city road trip, open to wherever the road might lead them. A job interview brought them to ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ on the very day of the solar eclipse. Standing under that cosmic shadow, they felt destiny’s nudge: this would be home.

Justin and Tedd quickly fell under the spell of the city’s architectural treasures. And when they first set eyes on the Powitzky mansion in Compton Heights, its grandeur and eccentricities mirrored their own love of history and design.

Tedd affectionately describes Justin as “the historian with great style and creativity." With an eye for beauty and a respect for craftsmanship, he has lovingly restored the home’s millwork himself. 

The house is a feast for the senses. Step into the entryway, and you’re greeted by the shimmer of crystal chandeliers that catch the light just so. The parlor, also known as “Peacock Parlor�, drenched in deep blue and gold, is a jewel box of color, while the dining room, with its coffered ceilings, curved windows and 12-seat table, begs for long dinners and lively conversation behind its pocket doors.

But the mansion is no museum. Whimsy lives here, in this “Alice in Wonderland� inspired home. In the kitchen, Justin’s art installation, “Spilling the Tea,� sends delicate teacups tumbling up the wall and across the ceiling, as if gravity has politely excused itself. Quirky artwork and bold décor fill every corner.

The Traberts have shaped their home into a stage for fellowship. The second floor is designed with guests in mind: serene retreats with private suites, and even an outdoor terrace where, during COVID, close friends huddled under blankets for movie nights under the stars. Back inside, gorgeously impressive, century-old area rugs create warmth under your feet, enhancing the “home away from home� feel of the guest suites.

And then there’s the ballroom. Once a space for high society waltzes, it now serves as the couple’s third-floor primary suite.

Beyond the walls, the nearly acre-sized lot offers a rare expanse of city green space. Cozy furniture, a fireplace, and soon, a fanciful “glamping area� with hammocks and rose bushes, make the outdoors as inviting as the interiors. Tedd says, “we love the sounds of the city,� making this outside oasis a dream come true.

For all its opulence, it’s the personal touches that truly define this home. Family heirlooms are seamlessly woven into the décor, layering history upon history. In the grand stairwell, a commissioned stained-glass window depicts two Greek goddesses — Hera and Hebe — honoring the couple’s beloved German shorthaired pointers, who trot happily across the estate’s grounds.

Perhaps the most ambitious project to date has been the 18-month-long, nearly half a million-dollar restoration of the home’s clay tile mansard roof. The project tested their patience and privacy. The couple described their home as living in a “bird cage� from all the scaffolding and contractors behind unsuspecting corners. “People walk into historic homes and get enamored and don’t see all the imperfections. Through this experience we are wiser now,� says Justin. While the roof was a great undertaking, the final result was totally worth the sacrifice. The roof gleams proudly now, a crown befitting the mansion’s stately presence.

Where once there was turmoil, there is now fellowship. Where once there were police sirens, there is now the sound of glasses raised in celebration. Justin and Tedd have not only preserved a piece of ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ history, but they have reimagined it, filling it with laughter, light and a touch of whimsy.