Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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A vintage Eero Saarinen pedestal table and chairs define the dining area in this sophisticated South End bachelor pad. Haute Property NEWS, STARS, AND TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE The Bachelor Pad, Reimagined DESIGNER MICHAEL FERZOCO CREATES A SLEEK, COMFORTABLE CONDO FOR A SOUTH END BUSINESSMAN WITH SOPHISTICATED TASTES. BY MARNI ELYSE KATZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL J. LEE G one are the days when the so-called bachelor pad meant black leather sofas, shiny chrome trim, and cookie-cutter kitchens. Today, says Boston-based interior designer Michael Ferzoco of Eleven Interiors, men are looking to establish themselves in a more serious style. "The common theme," says Ferzoco, who is responsible for setting up homes for numerous men, gay and straight, young and old, "is a fresh start, be it for guys who are just out of a relationship, attending school, or setting up in a new city." Michael Richards, a partner in Ernst & Young's financial services practice, is one such bachelor. Having relocated to Boston after 20 years in Chicago and three in Charlotte, North Carolina, Richards rented and then purchased a 1,700-square-foot condominium in the South End in 2007. Over the years, Ferzoco has worked with him to make it his own, most recently ripping out the high-end but humdrum kitchen that had what Ferzoco describes as "cabinets the color of pancakes." Richards tells us, "I don't think I have one item left that I brought with me. But Michael was really patient; he let me come to it over time." Richards didn't dictate a particular scheme, but he definitely leaned toward an understated look in a neutral palette. "I wanted a contemporary feel, but not funky. I don't like clutter," he says. The desire to up the level of sophistication is true for most of Ferzoco's single male clients. continued on page 128 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 127-128_BC_HP_Opener_LateFall13.indd 127 127 9/16/13 10:52 AM