My Houzz: Traditional Charm in a Compact Boston Condo
See how this first-time homeowner renovated her 408-square-foot place on Beacon Hill
After years of living in shared rental apartments, Catherine Rurode, an attorney, decided that it was time to find a place of her own in Boston. Together with her parents, she bought a 408-square-foot corner condo in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. “This apartment is what made Boston feel like home,” she says.
The area’s hidden gardens, old brick buildings and quaint historic atmosphere are just a few of the things Rurode loves about her neighborhood. The cobblestones, she says, are “slippery when wet and horrible in heels,” but “as soon as I see them, I know I’m home.”
The area’s hidden gardens, old brick buildings and quaint historic atmosphere are just a few of the things Rurode loves about her neighborhood. The cobblestones, she says, are “slippery when wet and horrible in heels,” but “as soon as I see them, I know I’m home.”
Since this is Rurode’s first home and time living without a roommate, she wanted to make it a comfortable space that reflects her personal style. She turned to Houzz for inspiration throughout the planning and execution process. “My goal was to create a warm home where I felt able to relax and enjoy my surroundings,” she says.
“The pink rug was a fun starting point,” Rurode adds. “It perfectly blended my single millennial style with my traditional tastes. When else will I be able to have a giant pink rug in my living room?”
Rurode bought the stacking coffee tables and spray painted the frames gold so that they would coordinate better with her decor. The two versatile pieces can be rearranged depending on her needs.
Wall paint: Wall Street, Benjamin Moore
How to Use Full-Scale Decor to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger
Find pink rugs in the Houzz Shop
“The pink rug was a fun starting point,” Rurode adds. “It perfectly blended my single millennial style with my traditional tastes. When else will I be able to have a giant pink rug in my living room?”
Rurode bought the stacking coffee tables and spray painted the frames gold so that they would coordinate better with her decor. The two versatile pieces can be rearranged depending on her needs.
Wall paint: Wall Street, Benjamin Moore
How to Use Full-Scale Decor to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger
Find pink rugs in the Houzz Shop
This vintage bar cart originally belonged to Rurode’s grandmother. Rurode keeps it in the living room to display wine, spirits and colorful cocktail-making accessories.
Photo Flip: Bar Cart Bonanza
Photo Flip: Bar Cart Bonanza
This wall-mounted marble slab creates an additional work surface and sitting area for the small kitchen. Rurode uses the surface as a handy coffee station.
Shop for white bar stools on Houzz
Shop for white bar stools on Houzz
Before: The existing kitchen was functional but filled with mismatched colors and finishes. Rurode worked closely with Metropolitan Cabinets and Countertops in Norwood, Massachusetts, to help reconfigure the small kitchen. She also consulted her real estate agent on a couple of kitchen decisions to make sure that the space would be suitable for resale.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
After: The renovated kitchen is designed around having a full-size gas stove. “I was so sick of cookie trays not fitting in the small oven I had in my prior apartment,” Rurode says. She spent more on appliances for the kitchen, knowing that future renters or buyers in this neighborhood look for high-end finishes.
Appliances: Yale Appliance + Lighting
Appliances: Yale Appliance + Lighting
Before: The existing bathroom had many builder-grade finishes that Rurode knew she wanted to replace and upgrade.
Find a local bathroom contractor
Find a local bathroom contractor
After: A compact white vanity adds storage and refreshes the space. For cost savings, Rurode decided to keep the existing tile and paint it white.
Shop for a compact vanity
Shop for a compact vanity
Rurode replaced the wall mirror with a medicine cabinet to match the new vanity. The navy walls contrast with the white finishes.
Wall paint: Old Navy, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Old Navy, Benjamin Moore
Despite the condo’s lack of square footage, Rurode managed to devise a workable entryway landing area using a small rounded console table, trays and a mail organizer. She bought the vase in Hong Kong, and it adds a decorative touch to greet visitors into the home.
It Can Work: No Entry Hall
It Can Work: No Entry Hall
The bedroom is small, but Rurode personalized it with a dramatic gallery wall featuring photos from her travels.
Opposite the bed is a simple white shelving unit that provides storage for jewelry, books and knickknacks. The mounted TV makes use of the wall space.
In the corner of her bedroom, Rurode created a workout area with an exercise bike.
How to Create a Home Gym You’ll Actually Use
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
Find small-space inspiration
Find a general contractor
Shop for home products
How to Create a Home Gym You’ll Actually Use
Shop for home gym equipment
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
Find small-space inspiration
Find a general contractor
Shop for home products
Who lives here: Catherine Rurode and her goldendoodle, Reagan
Location: Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston
Size: 408 square feet (38 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom