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OPEN HOUSES LISTED INSIDE
BOSTON HOMES T HE C OMPLETE G UIDE APRIL 4-10, 2009
SERVING BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, FENWAY, SOUTH END, JAMAICA PLAIN, CHARLESTOWN, NORTH END/WATERFRONT, DOWNTOWN, SOUTH BOSTON, DORCHESTER & EAST BOSTON
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Beacon Hill townhouse is palatial BY MARILYN JACKSON STAFF WRITER
P Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around a corner of Unit 32E/F at the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton in Midtown and present fabulous views day and night. This home is on the market for $6.9 million. See page 16.
The living room of Unit 4 at 404 Beacon St. in the Back Bay is quite large. This home is on the market for $2.5 million. See page 13.
The living room of Unit 101 at 76 West Rutland Square in the South End is spacious. This condo is on the market for $919,000. Garage parking is available for $80,000. See page 26.
eter and Elizabeth Georgantas call their home at 74 Beacon St. on the Flat of Beacon Hill the Benjamin Mansion. Its name is in recognition of an outstanding 19th century architect, Asher Benjamin, who designed the granite rowhouses at 7075 Beacon St. for the Mount Vernon Proprietors in 1828. John Neale of Sprogis & Neale Real Estate and Tracy Campion of Campion & Company Real Estate have listed this outstanding residence at $14.95 million. “Its pure perfection across from the Public Garden,” said Campion. “It’s palatial,” said Neale. In addition to its fabulous location, this home with a gray granite facade has been beautifully embellished with fine, elegant details after a nearly three-year-long renovation. Peter Georgantas, a developer, and his The Benjamin Mansion at 74 Beacon St. on the Flat of Beacon Hill has an elegant double parlor wife, Elizabeth Georgantas, an interior with delicate ornamentation. It is listed at $14.95 million. designer, worked with local architect Eben Kluz to create a very special home that In designing the interior spaces, this team sions in integrating the sophisticated design reflects both grandeur and comfort. Neale, referenced Benjamin’s pattern books and touches. The delicate plasterwork on the also a historian, consulted too. looked to the lavish Newport, R.I., man- ceiling in the double parlor reflects an Adam influence, said Neale. “We tried to stay with the Federal/neoClassical appearance,” said Peter Georgantas. For example, the baseboards are marble, which is a late 19th century detail. Not many other homes have achieved this level of technological excellence or undertaken such discriminating detail, he said. “Essentially, it’s a whole new house.” This home has undergone a few expansions during its lifetime, and with this recent “complete gut-rehab,” it will last another 200 years, he said. Originally it was a three-story house. In the intervening years, two more stories were added at different times, and the front-facing windows on the first floor above the street were lengthened. When PEG Properties and Design acquired the house, it had been converted to four apartments. Today, the home has a side hall floor plan that creates grand spaces, and the brand-new, wide staircase is accented with wainscoting.
The ornate wood paneling and intricately carved mantel of the fireplace in the dining room are COURTESY PHOTOS / PEG PROPERTIES AND DESIGN original to the home.
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Beacon Hill townhouse restoration is magnificent Continued from page 1
Next to the stairs is a commercialspeed elevator. Beyond is an ArtDeco mirrored powder room. The double parlor with its 11-foothigh ceiling and deep crown molding and plasterwork contribute to the uniqueness of this home, which boasts white quarter-sawn oak and exotic wenge accents. The two fireplaces are focal points in this room, which is ideal for entertaining. A three-story addition, constructed in the early 1920s, lies beyond the parlor, and the dining room is the only one that remains intact. The room is paneled with beautiful wood, and the wall covering appears to be lincrusta but actually is plaster The kitchen is grand and functional, with its La Cornue dual fuel range, refrigeracreated to look like leather. Lead tors and dishwashers. absolutely magnificent. A walk-in fleurs-de-lis and cames hold the cery list or doodling by a youngster. In the middle of the kitchen is a closet for him and a cedar closet are glass in the windows of this room, which continues to a grand butler’s huge honed and antiqued granite on either side of the mirrored hallway before entering the bedroom where island with a prep sink. pantry and china closet. Behind the refrigerator is a big pale blue Italian silk fabric covers the A second staircase descends from the pantry to the expansive open pantry with another refrigerator, a walls. Matching Bergamo fabric was kitchen. Glass doors open onto a large Miele cappuchino and espresso used for the side chairs and the cuslandscaped brick patio, and a gate maker, a chiller and an extra freezer as tom-designed bedding. Other amenities include a gas fireopens onto Byron Street where there well as a Wolf oven with a warming drawer. And, there are shelves for place with an Art Deco chrome manis private parking. tel in the master bedroom and elecAt the bottom of the stairs are a foodstuffs. On the far wall is a powder room, tronic window shades that are conmudroom and a brick-walled wine cellar. Next to an informal dining area next to the elevator door. At the front cealed behind pockets. The en suite bath is as large as many are built-in shelves that provide a mini of the building is an au pair suite. The third level of the home is devot- bedrooms. It features an oversized workspace. The kitchen is gigantic, with the ed to the master bedroom suite and an glass shower that occupies a large corappliances occupying space on three en suite guest bedroom, which is locat- ner of the room and a deep soaking walls. The sink looks out onto the ed at the front of the house. A three- tub is placed in front of a bay window. patio, while the dual fuel French piece banquette in front of the window The room is completely tiled with range, a La Cornue, occupies another in the guest room also provides extra statuary marble, and the walls are hand-clipped marble mosaics. It even wall. The refrigerator is paneled with storage. Next to it is a fireplace. The master bedroom suite is has a crystal chandelier. chalkboard, perfect for writing a gro-
The library features a coffered ceiling with burled walnut inlay. COURTESY PHOTOS / PEG PROPERTIES AND DESIGN
mounted above the fireplace. Two closets in this room hold all the technology to accommodate the Smart House system, which can set lights and sound in any room as well as provide an image of the area. Beyond this room is a spacious deck with planters along the wall bordered with lights. Apowder room next to the deck has an old-fashioned oak water tank mounted on the wall. On the fifth level are two en suite bedrooms, each with walk-in closets. One of the baths has a soaking tub; the other has a shower. The front bedroom also has a fireplace. This floor also holds a huge laundry, with two washers and dryers, a sink and abundant shelves. The top floor has another bedroom and a bath with a shower, plus a large storage room. At the front of the house is an exercise room. Two of the walls are mirrored floor to ceiling. At the front is a set of French doors that open onto a balcony that spans the width of the house. And, there’s more. Stairs ascend to a roof deck, where there is an infinity-edge heated lap pool. Needless to say, the views are phenomenal. A little conservatory built against the stairs lets colorful orchids flourish. Georgantas said initially he had not planned to put a pool on the roof, but when one of his friends observed that this house has everything but a pool, he decided it would be a nice addition. Neale said the 8,450-square-foot Benjamin Mansion is “simply the The master bedroom is sumptuous with its Italian silk wall coverings and match- The master bath is a suite unto itself with its chandelier, its oversized glass- most outstanding townhouse restoraing linens and chairs. A chrome-manteled fireplace offers a dramatic contrast. enclosed shower and clawfoot tub. Statuary marble tile is used throughout. tion ever undertaken in Boston.” The vanity has two washbowls, and next to it are a water closet and a walkin closet with a chandelier for her. The next level, easily accessed by elevator, includes a beautiful woodpaneled library at the front of the house, looking out to the Public Garden. The coffered ceiling with burled wood inlay is gorgeous and looks vintage. Two doors to this room have pockets so that they fit into the wall and look like part of the paneling. A fancy wet bar/kitchenette next to the library includes a sink, refrigerator and microwave as well as cabinets for refreshments. Also on this floor is a big media room. The chimney-breast was widened to accommodate an antique mantelpiece Georgantas found in the South End. A flat-screen television is
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Web site: www.TheBenjaminMansion.com
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Contact: John Neale, Sprogis & Neal Real Estate, 679 Tremont
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St., Boston MA 02118. Or, Tracy Campion, Campion and Company Real Estate, 172 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116. Phones: 617-262-1504 (for Neale) or 617-236-0711 (for Campion).
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Green Line at Arlington Street or Red and Green Lines at Park Street, Orange Line, commuter rail and Amtrak at Back Bay station; easy access to Storrow Drive and connecting highways.
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Close by: The Public Garden, the Esplanade and Hatch Shell, Back Bay restaurants, shops and galleries on Newbury and Boylston streets and Beacon Hill’s Charles Street; Park Square, Boston Public Library and Copley Square; within walking distance of MBTA
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Address: 74 Beacon St., Beacon Hill BR/BA: Six-plus bedrooms, six full baths, three half baths Size: 8,450 square feet Age: Circa 1828; 2005-2007 Price: $14.95 million Taxes: $58,785
This home may be seen by appointment.
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