Room of the Day: A Pied-à-Terre on the Park
A great room in an 1860 brownstone blends traditional and modern decor with unobstructed views of the famed Boston Common
Wanting a closer connection to the sights, sounds and energy of Boston, these homeowners swapped their previous pied-à-terre in the sky for a less lofty perch in a classic brownstone in the heart of city’s historic district. The home’s remodeled great room is now a stylish space to host cocktail parties and display a growing collection of modern art.
The gold-veined black marble fireplace inspired the room’s furniture selections. “The fireplace is so beautiful, it would’ve been folly to try to take the focus away from it, so instead we happily embraced it,” says interior designer Dee Elms. A metal bookshelf, a table lamp, accent pillows on the club chairs and the chenille fabric covering the sofa pick up the golden hues.
Gold is the all-star accent color for the space, but the many shades of gray on the wallpaper (made from silk and abacá, a banana palm native to the Philippines), the pleated wool drapes and the painted crown molding unify the room’s traditional and modern elements.
The decision to put a custom banquette in the bay window was a hard sell to the homeowners at first. “Since there was already a dining table, they thought it might be redundant,” Elms says. “But it actually draws people to the window and the beautiful views. It’s also a more informal and intimate spot to entertain.”
The back of the banquette aligns with the bottom of the windowsill to create the appearance of a built-in. The bay window is purposefully left uncovered, both to highlight the view and let the sculptural modern chandelier stand out.
The back of the banquette aligns with the bottom of the windowsill to create the appearance of a built-in. The bay window is purposefully left uncovered, both to highlight the view and let the sculptural modern chandelier stand out.
Since the couple’s suburban home is a traditional space with antique furniture and classical art, their pied-à-terre provides a more fitting gallery for their growing collection of modern paintings. They found many of the artworks in Boston galleries.
The light soffit above the credenza created a design challenge for Elms. Wrapping such sharp corners in wallpaper would’ve been difficult, while painting the soffit in a solid color would’ve drawn unwanted attention. To solve the problem, Elms used a Venetian plaster wall treatment to mimic the look of wallpaper without the hassle.
The light soffit above the credenza created a design challenge for Elms. Wrapping such sharp corners in wallpaper would’ve been difficult, while painting the soffit in a solid color would’ve drawn unwanted attention. To solve the problem, Elms used a Venetian plaster wall treatment to mimic the look of wallpaper without the hassle.
BEFORE: The great room’s previous decor featured neutral tones and contemporary furniture. Creating a layered look that blends traditional and modern design, as well as a layout that draws people to the views of the Common below, were among the many considerations of the redesign.
See more Rooms of the Day
See more Rooms of the Day
What happens here: Weekend entertaining
Location: Boston
Size: 465 square feet (43.2 square meters)
Design: Terrat Elms Interior Design
These homeowners use their city apartment on weekends to take in a show, enjoy a hot new restaurant or host an evening with friends. The couple’s previous pied-à-terre near the top of a 30-floor building felt removed from the energy of the city. Their current crash pad, on the fourth floor of an 1860 brownstone, is closer to the action: It’s just a few blocks from the Massachusetts State House and directly across from the Boston Common.