BEACON STREET BROWNSTONE

Photos by Read McKendree

For a designer, it’s the ultimate compliment when a favorite client returns again and again. Or, in this case for the third project in five years.

Our clients, a husband and wife with two older children on the verge of flying the nest, approached our studio for a full design of a 19th century Boston brownstone. When we had been brought on, the architect had already laid the floorplan—and the brownstone’s footprint was finalized. It was up to us to envision the millwork and architectural detailing.

From the start, our clients gave us tremendous trust and latitude. We were guided by a shared language of respect for quality, timelessness, and clients that occasionally enjoy being pushed out of their design comfort zones.

“You already know what we like,” they said. They were right. We heard their voices in our heads as we sourced.

The home’s 5400-square-foot floor plan extends through the bottom three floors of two brownstones built in the 1890s that were combined into one unit in the mid 1990s. Even with three stories all entertaining takes place on the top story reached by an elegant staircase where the dining room, living room, kitchen, and pool room speak to one another through an open floor plan. Our greatest challenge was creating synergy between these unique spaces.

The library boasts a soaring 12-foot ceiling height, but the room’s dimensions are narrow. We saturated the space with a moody blue gray and menswear-inspired seating to conjure a 19th century smoking room. The result? A small room that feels larger-than-life.

 
 

The entry hall is the highest trafficked artery of the home. We achieved a gallery feel by wrapping several walls in white suede. The neutral palette allows the eye to rest before moving into more dominant rooms.

 
 

The vision for a sophisticated yet functional living room began with the lighting—which we were first enthralled by on a buying trip in Milan. Pearlized glass drops are strung across leather straps suspended from the ceiling, calling to mind morning dewdrops.

 

The wife wanted to create a space that could comfortably fit relatives for Thanksgiving, but also required that the room have an overarching year-round function. We added a bar and two club chairs to invite private conversation away from the buzz of the pool room. 

 
 

The painting mounted over the pool table was a milestone birthday present for the husband, and incorporates the grill of his beloved Ford Bronco. It sets a playful tone for the pool room. Here,  the family and their guests gather for a casual game of billiards, or to catch a football game on the widescreen.

 

We wanted nature to be the main attraction rather than the kitchen itself–and focused on showcasing the breathtaking river views. To make pre-existing cabinetry blend into the floor’s open concept, we painted the uppers the same color as the wall behind. 

 
 

The primary bedroom’s water-inspired palette brings nature inside further. The bathroom has a metal floating tub for ending the day serenely as the city buzzes below. A bed of steel clams climbs the wall, offering the eye a meditative focus.

Our studio’s design never makes a dramatic impact at first glance. Instead, we bring together luxurious homes with quiet little choices that appear along the way and create an overall sense of wellbeing for our clients–just like this space.