My Houzz: A Sun-Filled Family Condo in Boston
A design industry couple see the light in their bright, baby-friendly new home
Faith Towers
December 19, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Faith Towers is a designer, writer and crafter with a passion for all things creative. She received her art degree from Skidmore College, and her work has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo. She writes her blog called Design Fixation and also spends her days designing wedding invitations and stationery.
Houzz Contributor. Faith Towers is a designer, writer and crafter with a passion... More
Jessica and Cody Klein began looking for a condo to buy for their growing family in 2014. After a year of fruitless searching, they stumbled upon a three-bedroom condo in Boston’s Savin Hill neighborhood that had two bathrooms, a city luxury they had yet to experience in their previous small rentals. They fell in love with the home, and when they noticed that the owners’ monogrammed towels in the bathroom had the same initials as their own, they took it as a sign and submitted an offer immediately. They bought the home and have been personalizing it ever since.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jessica and Cody Klein; their daughter, Evie, 14 months; and their dog, Bella
Location: Boston
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1905
Jessica owns an interior design business, and her husband Cody works as a landscape architect. Their occupations played a large part in their approach to the design of their home. “We both work in the design industry and that’s where our passion lies, so we wanted our home to be a direct representation of us,” Jessica says.
The result is a warm and family-oriented space where Jessica and Cody love to wind down from the day, eating and watching a movie together, with a glass of wine in hand.
Who lives here: Jessica and Cody Klein; their daughter, Evie, 14 months; and their dog, Bella
Location: Boston
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1905
Jessica owns an interior design business, and her husband Cody works as a landscape architect. Their occupations played a large part in their approach to the design of their home. “We both work in the design industry and that’s where our passion lies, so we wanted our home to be a direct representation of us,” Jessica says.
The result is a warm and family-oriented space where Jessica and Cody love to wind down from the day, eating and watching a movie together, with a glass of wine in hand.
The family spends much of their time in the living room, thanks to the warm sunlight that streams through the large windows during the day. Bella, a rescue Jack Russell terrier mix, also enjoys the space.
Rug: Flor
Rug: Flor
On a bar cart in the living room, a Jonathan Adler squirrel match strike stands ready to help.
Jessica draws inspiration from restaurant and boutique hotel design and tries to incorporate that aesthetic in small ways. There is also a hint of West Coast style, which she owes to the years she lived in San Diego before moving to Boston.
Wall color: Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall color: Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore
Now that their daughter Evie is mobile, they have been working on childproofing their home. Evie enjoys pulling magazines off the shelves every time she crawls into the room, so Jessica is planning to put fabric bins filled with toys in those spaces instead. The couple is flexible in their design aesthetic, allowing their vision to evolve as their family grows.
Bookshelves: Target
Bookshelves: Target
Design books can be found throughout the house, arranged neatly on shelves and tables.
Evie’s nursery shares the same clean look as the rest of the house, albeit with a more whimsical feel.
Jessica notes that while the rest of the rooms in the condo have taken time to evolve into what they are today, the nursery was a different story. She had a few months to design and implement her ideas in this room, with a finite deadline.
Wall color: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; rug: Urban Outfitters
Jessica notes that while the rest of the rooms in the condo have taken time to evolve into what they are today, the nursery was a different story. She had a few months to design and implement her ideas in this room, with a finite deadline.
Wall color: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; rug: Urban Outfitters
Two large windows allow plenty of bright light into Evie’s room during the day.
Rocker: West Elm
Rocker: West Elm
Well-loved children’s books and meaningful art pieces sit on display along shallow wall-mounted shelves.
Shelves: Ikea
Shelves: Ikea
City living does have its trials and, for the Kleins, those trials are often space related. When the couple moved in, the guest room bed’s box spring wouldn’t fit through the front stairwell, so they had to tie a rope around it and pull it up through their back balcony.
Wall color: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore; bed: West Elm; rug: Overstock
Wall color: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore; bed: West Elm; rug: Overstock
A Nespresso machine is available for overnight guests when they wake up.
Jessica’s workspace is on one side of the guest room. While the room is visually cohesive, she tries to keep the two areas separate in an effort to maintain a work-life balance.
Desk: CB2; shelves: Ikea; striped bins: Land of Nod
Desk: CB2; shelves: Ikea; striped bins: Land of Nod
“I find myself migrating from the kitchen in the morning, where I answer emails and eat breakfast with Evie, to my studio space and then to the living room in the afternoon.”
When the couple first moved in, the walls were painted a variety of colors, including brown, green and yellow, so they ended up repainting almost every wall. The only exception was the navy blue wall in the guest bathroom. It contrasts nicely with the clean white tile and vanity.
The master bedroom has three large windows and the en suite bathroom has even more windows, so the space feels bright and open. Crisp neutral textiles further enhance this feeling.
Wall color: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; bed: West Elm
Wall color: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; bed: West Elm
A desk is tucked away in a small nook in the bedroom. Favorite photos line the walls.
Desk: Target; chair: Amazon; mirror: Ikea
Desk: Target; chair: Amazon; mirror: Ikea
The couple’s spare decorating style lends a calming vibe to the space, giving them a tranquil place to relax and unwind.
Dresser: Ikea
Dresser: Ikea
The master bath includes a washer and dryer, making laundry easier. This was especially handy when Evie was a newborn.
Wall color: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall color: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore
The eat-in kitchen has a small round table, the perfect size for their family. The clear Lucite chairs have minimal visual impact, making the space feel open and uncluttered.
The artwork above the table is a nod to Jessica’s time in Southern California.
Wall color: Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall color: Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore
A rolling cart stores often-used dry goods so they are easily accessible.
Cart: Ikea
Cart: Ikea
The Kleins have a relatively large balcony on the back of the building that provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy the outdoors during warmer months.
The Klein family loves the location of their home. It is within walking distance of great restaurants, the Harborwalk, the John F. Kennedy presidential library and the beach. The T, Boston’s subway system, transports them to downtown Boston in 10 minutes, where they like to browse the local shops and boutiques.
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.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Related Stories
Bathroom Design
6 Beautiful Master Bathrooms With Double-Vanity Setups
By Janet Paik
Geometric tile, a claw-foot tub and shiplap walls are some of the standout details in these renovated master bathrooms
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Soothing Blues and Whites in a Virginia New Build
By Sarah Lyon
Clean coastal-inspired style, statement wallpaper and custom woodwork mark the home of a decorator and a contractor
Full Story
Transitional Homes
New Layout and Function for a Chicago Family Home
By Julie Sheer
The challenges of a 110-year-old foursquare are met with thoughtful updates that add comfort and preserve character
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Color, Heirlooms and Artwork Refresh a Kansas City Home
By Julie Sheer
See how this 1922 Colonial Revival house got a bright update
Full Story
Christmas
Sweet Christmas Charm in a Renovated 1949 Home in California
By Janet Paik
Splashes of cheery sunshine yellow and shiplap walls are a backdrop to holiday decor in this decorator’s forever home
Full Story
Holidays
Tour 7 Homes With Fresh and Cheery Holiday Decor
By Janet Paik
Festive place settings, garlands and trees personalize these warm and inviting homes for the Christmas season
Full Story
Trending Now
5 Reader-Favorite Home Tours From 2019
By Janet Paik
See the bright and personalized design details that feature in the most popular homes from our My Houzz series
Full Story
Transitional Homes
New Tudor-Inspired Family Home in Chicago
By Julie Sheer
See how a couple worked with their builder to mix traditional and modern elements for a comfortable and chic home
Full Story
Small Homes
Stylish 800-Square-Foot Home Brimming With Personality
By Julie Sheer
See how the head of merchandising at Palecek transformed his rental apartment with paint, lighting and decor
Full Story
Houzz Call
Homeowners, Share Your Home With Us!
By Janet Paik
We want to hear about your recent remodel or update. You and your home could be featured on Houzz
Full Story
So calming and peaceful and inviting and the atmosphere is so humble yet it feels like royalty