CITY PENTHOUSE

Photos by Douglas Friedman Photography

On the cusp of beginning their next life chapter, a couple approached NHD with a challenge: designing two homes for them at once. A coastal estate with sparkling ocean views would serve as their family retreat. In contrast, a mid-rise penthouse at the Mandarin Oriental in Boston would become their city base. 

Although each home has its own distinct aesthetic, the project required NHD to carefully consider their clients’ lifestyle holistically and conceive a design that anticipates and honors every facet of who they are. 

The couple, who have timeless tastes, were drawn to the sophisticated, full-service hotel feel of the Mandarin, including its existing maple wood paneling. Built in 2008, the 3,700-square-foot, two-bedroom penthouse required a new wood floor stain throughout, extensive bathroom renovations, and a full-sized laundry room. Avoiding a lengthy complete renovation, the project still culminates in a fully integrated space, representing a mindful dialogue between traditional aesthetics and contemporary comforts.

The Porta Romana Axel Chandeliers in the dining and living rooms shine like functional sculptures without blocking out the city itself. In the living room, classic furnishings can be easily rearranged, depending on whether the clients want a quiet conversation for two or an elevated entertaining experience with passed appetizers.

The dining room is another story. Here, NHD played the linear panelling in all its abstraction off the figurative canvas and a formal table, inviting the eye to dance right along.

In a unique layout, the primary bedroom is accessed via the foyer with a hall leading to private ensuite his and hers bathrooms. In both spaces, large stone slabs make a splash, while also grounding the clients in the natural beauty of the Charles River Esplanade below.

In her bathroom, the shower and integrated sink feature a timeless combination of custom Paramore Clio Mosaic flooring that complements the Taj Mahal stone. The marble casing is fabricated to perfectly match the door frames throughout the penthouse–symbolic of how important even the subtlest of details are to this space. Her dressing table is a focal point, with a mirror carefully installed to complement rather than block out the city skyline beyond. 

His ensuite bathroom is striking, with masculine slabs of dark Fior de Bosco for the sink and Whitewood Stone for the walls and floor, offering a respite at the end of the day. 

In the city, it’s standard for a laundry room to be located directly off the kitchen, and this home is no different. But here, when the built-in drying racks are cleverly concealed, guests could just as easily assume they are walking by a wet bar or the headquarters for the family dog, Hoops.