Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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has hosted parties for as many as 120, as well as ladies' lunches and cocktail parties benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Boston and receptions for MassGeneral Hospital for Children, including a picnic under historic American beech trees. "Many people stray away from entertaining because of the stress involved in planning a party," says Dan Mathieu of Max Ultimate Food. "Elena and Tom know how important it is to gather a great group of friends together and the goodwill that comes from doing so." Matlack is involved in every detail from the food to the f lowers—she likes to do the arrangements herself. Mathieu, who has worked with Matlack on several events, describes her as "the consummate hostess." Quiet time with family is as important as hosting splashy events for Matlack, who serves up her grandfather's special pasta fagioli recipe to her clan around her kitchen table. That personal touch can be seen in the décor throughout the house. "My design aesthetic came from my heritage, my per- sonal story, and my travels," says Matlack. Indeed, her favorite furnishings have deep personal connections: a reupholstered antique armchair belonged to her husband's grandfather, a restored dresser came from her parents, and a sideboard was purchased from Martha Stewart for the dining room. Matlack has kept some of the house's original furnishings, such as the library chandelier, but she added wood paneling as well as a pair of foo dogs, a gift from her husband, that sits proudly on the onyx fireplace. In the classic dining room, Matlack holds large family dinners using antique china dating back to 1875, inherited from her husband's family. Osborne & Little starred wallpaper adds a surprising touch to the ceiling, and the walls are upholstered by Chris Robert of Architexture. A portrait of an elegant lady sits in the corner ready for restoration—it was found in her parent's basement. Hidden behind the door stands an austere armoire that Matlack plans to turn into a bar, mirrored on the inside and lacquered red on the outside. Matlack's favorite room is her bedroom, which she designed to be "neu- tral yet sexy, classic, and comfortable." A large artwork based on a Vogue magazine cover adds a sassy contemporary twist. Her 9-year-old son Cole's bedroom takes a detour into the Wild West, with its log bed, antler chande- lier, and cowboys climbing the wall—references to the annual family trip to a ranch in Montana. That rustic feel is mirrored in the third-f loor playroom, which was once divided into six dormitories for the Winsor School. Matlack knocked down all of the partitions to create one large family room with a vaulted, beamed ceiling and wood columns. In one corner stands the 1980s arcade game Pac-Man; in another, a foosball table. Family nights are spent watching movies on the huge screen (The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a favor- ite) or playing pool. Like everything else in the house, it ref lects Matlack's vision: "Find something that makes you smile and brings experiences that you can have as a family." BC BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Wallpaper offers a creative alternative to paint. Elena Matlack was on to something with the Brunschwig & Fils emerald wallpaper in her foyer and stairwell, and the Osborne & Little star pattern that envelops the dining room. High-end papers made in vibrant, saturated colors with contemporary designs inspired by vintage patterns have many designers opting for wallpaper over paint. "Wallpaper is definitely a staple, and I have been using it consistently for the past 10 years," says designer Ana Donohue of Ana Donohue Interiors. "The trend now is less graphic geometrics in bright colors and more organic options in either the content of the paper or the pattern on the paper. Think a bit sexier and subtler." Donohue's cherished wallpaper brands include Phillip Jeffries, Furn & Co., The Martin Group, and Osborne & Little. Boston Design Center, 1 Design Center Place, No. 337, 617-449-5514; bostondesign.com; anadonohueinteriors.com PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY RYAN The bedroom's neutral palette is offset by a Vogue-inspired artwork. " My design aesthetic came from my heritage, my personal story, and my travels." ELENA MATLACK continued from page 115 The Matlacks removed partitions to create a vaulted space with comfortable seating and games. 116 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM HAUTE PROPERTY 115-116_BC_HP_Opener_Spring14.indd 116 2/7/14 12:08 PM