Buddhist art, Dutch details and plenty of effortless elegance imbue an older home and its inhabitants with a fresh outlook.
Transforming a five-story, 1830s row house into a home for a family’s new life is no simple undertaking, and no one knows this better than Patricia McDonagh.
“Everything is very aligned, simple and clean, but to do something like that in an old house takes a lot of precision,” says the designer, who carried out the historic Beacon Hill home’s renovation. “Over the years, it had become a little dowdy and dull, so we wanted to make it a little more exciting but keep the integrity of the building.”
The preserved original staircase stands against the foyer’s lotus-patterned wallpaper, a nod to the owner’s years spent living in Bangkok. “The lotus is symbolic of a pure heart, and it has big graphic impact,” shares McDonagh.
“The client is very pure hearted but super sophisticated and so stylish, so I wanted to reflect that in her space,” McDonagh comments “Row houses can get dark, so I wanted the place to reflect a lot of light but still be tranquil.”
Spiritual artifacts collected from her extensive travels through Asia are present throughout – a pair of antique Buddhist statues, symbolizing protection, by the fireplace and a figurine on the family room mantle. Another key theme is arches. An allusion to new beginnings, the motif subtly graces doorways and furnishings, and a living room photograph of an arched corridor lends the wall a hypnotic infinite quality.
While aspects such as the eat-in kitchen, with its funky dining table and crisp white seating, exude a modern appeal, mainly a calm, timeless quality extends, including a hammered iron cocktail table crafted by a local blacksmith, a graceful skirted ottoman, and a framed fragment of a 17th century Italian mural. Other touches are lighthearted – a pair of zebra-print cashmere chairs and the playful painting of a ram that captures the owner’s “whimsical” personality. Original Delft tiles surround the family room fireplace – incidentally befitting the owner’s Dutch descent, a theme carried on in the blue-and-white powder room wallpaper. The room itself channels a laidback aura, with a small workspace and plenty of room to play.
“I wanted it to be beautiful, but not precious, and still easy to take care of,” notes McDonagh. As the family was moving from a larger suburban home, storage space was a priority – a precious commodity in older buildings. “I used every inch for storage,” the designer points out. “Clever space planning was imperative.” Due to the home’s narrow shape, several pieces of furniture, such as the living room’s 12-foot sofa, had to be built on site to make the most use of the space. The master bedroom – a serene, airy space, and the designer’s personal favorite – was split to add a dressing area and “a serious closet.”
On the roof deck, a spacious terrace overlooking a bewitching view of the city was also overhauled. “[The original deck] wasn’t really usable,” says McDonagh, who had commissioned new patio furniture to be built by a local woodworker. Expansive seating now wraps around the perimeter, maximizing space for plein air lounging and entertaining.
“They are a truly beautiful family, and it was an honor to channel that and capture that in the space, and to see them enjoying it,” reflects McDonagh. “It really represents who they are.”
Photography Courtesy of Evan Sklar.
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