Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/136432
REDESIGN The formal dining room of this townhouse boasts beautiful original details but is made more comfortable with soft drapery. FLAT OF THE HILL GLAMOUR 78 Beacon Street, Beacon Hill Square Feet: 7,878 Beds + Baths: 6-plus; 6 full and 2 half Amenities: 11 fireplaces, enclosed garden, roof deck Price: $10.75 million Agent: Beth Dickerson, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, 617-510-8565; bethdickerson.com ILLUSTRATION BY JEFF OSBORNE THE PRESENT: Listing agent Beth Dickerson of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty says this home is one of Boston's most prestigious addresses. "This five-floor townhouse is conveniently located to all the amenities of Charles Street as well as the commercial areas of Back Bay," says Dickerson. "This is one of the most sensational Flat-of-the-Hill mansions one will ever see." The home, overlooking the Public Garden, was built around 1848 for United States Congressman and Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Williams Crowninshield. The formal entertaining rooms with high ceilings were brought back to their original splendor during a 2009 renovation. The lower-level kitchen has marble countertops, custom glass-front cabinets, and French doors that open onto an enclosed garden. The top-floor media room is a great place to host guests, or just spend an evening with the family. THE FUTURE, REDESIGNED: Jeff Osborne, one of the principals of Hark + Osborne Interior Design, admires that the last architect modernized the townhome while maintaining the integrity of its historic details. "The stately design elements, including the crown molding, stained-glass windows, and soaring ceilings add such style and dimension to each of the rooms," he says. "We would switch from a pastel-based palette to some warmer gray tones with subtle pops of color." Osborne PRESENT admires the formal dining room as one of the home's best features. "Given that this is a six-bedroom family home, it should have a dining room that evokes comfort and conversation," he says. "Without touching any of the original detail, we would make this formal dining room a little less stiff, using a light, warm taupe paint color and soft drapery in a neutral tone. A large pendant over a new dining table would fill the ample ceiling height. A fixture with a drum shade, or multiple shades to layer the light, would add texture and softness to the coffered backdrop. The ambient light would cast amazing shadows on the wainscoting. Using an unexpected wood species for the dining table would help highlight the original detail of the finish work in the room. New fully upholstered chairs would bring softness to the space, encouraging diners to linger. This room begs for a formal elegance, but also needs an inviting air that will fit in well with the bones of the house." Hark + Osborne Interior Design, 46 Waltham St., Ste. 205A, 617504-1767; hpluso.com BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 098-105_BC_F_RealEstate_SUM13.indd 105 105 6/10/13 3:18 PM