Designer Meghan Shadrick, whose clients moved from a sleek urban dwelling to this 1907 gem in Chestnut Hill, mixed contemporary looks with traditional pieces.
Designer Meghan Shadrick’s (meghanshadrick.com) young clients are modernists at heart. They’d previously lived in a city condo and owned a collection of extraordinary contemporary pieces of furniture and art. But when they bought a charming 1907 home in Chestnut Hill to be closer to their hometown in West Roxbury, styles collided—they needed solutions to live comfortably and with an aesthetic that mirrored the things they loved. “They had invested in a few good pieces from their previous house and wanted to incorporate those into the new design,” says Shadrick. “Their previous home fit a sleek, urban look, so we really worked to layer in classic midcentury modern pieces, antiques and more tactile finishes.”
Shadrick, whose own style showcases clean, masculine lines mixed with vintage and feminine touches that are layered and livable, says her aim is never to have a room look completely new and perfect. “I love to let some patina shine through,” she says. “I love to mix in a family heirloom, a collection they’ve amassed or pieces picked up on travels. With my clients, we really take stock of what’s currently in the house to see what will carry over into the new design. I also talk with them in depth about the style of the house and its location; structure itself informs the design story.”
Most of the home’s dark wood molding was maintained.
One story for the Chestnut Hill project included darkstained woodwork throughout the home, with some of it in rough shape, particularly in the foyer. Shadrick and her clients maintained the darkstained wood moldings in the living and dining rooms, but decided to paint the central artery of the home a cool gray for a brighter feel that picked up the color scheme of many of the furnishings. She also incorporated neutral, textured-fiber floor covering to help merge the old with the new.
The living room features an A. Rudin (arudin.com) sectional. Photographed by Jessica Delaney
Family traditions often begin in the living room. So, Shadrick ingeniously added a Platner dining table (dwr.com) and matching chairs to a niche area in the space for family game nights. “We also wanted to create multiple seating areas, introducing multitasking swivel chairs to the groupings,” she says. “Each feels intimate on their own, or can swivel and work in tandem with another pair for their many extended family get-togethers.” An A. Rudin (arudin.com) sectional, repurposed from the clients’ previous home, grounds the space.
To soften the masculinity of the dining room’s wood paneling, Shadrick used lighting and chairs with rounded edges.
For the dining room, Shadrick’s challenge was the space’s massive scale. “Given how large this dining room was, the mission was to integrate a modern table for 12 that [didn’t] feel weighted in the room,” she says. “Many modern tables also tend to be light and airy, which we felt would get lost in a room of this size. By custom fabricating our own table, we were able to fill the space visually without having to overly furnish the room. To soften the masculinity of the table and wood paneling, we introduced rounded edges through lighting, chairs and even the sideboard.” Phillip Jeffries (phillipjefiries.com) silk and Abaca wallcovering and Robert Allen (robertallendesign.com) wool drapes added texture and a luxe feel to the room, while Circa Lighting (circalighting.com) creates a warm, elegant glow.
JW Construction transformed the kitchen into a bright, functional space.
For the master bedroom, Shadrick and her clients’ vision was serenity and peace. The couple had an existing bed to work with, so the designer layered in chic, neutral pieces with texture—including Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (mgbwhome.com) furniture and Regina Andrew (reginaandrew.com) lighting—for added nuance. Shadrick also advised to keep the palette white to camouflage an oddly placed hearth in the room; the decision worked perfectly.
The home’s rooms benefit from abundant light, something the designer took advantage of with neutral tones in the living room.
The couple tapped Jon Wardwell and the masterful team from JW Construction (jwconstructioninc.com) on the kitchen’s design. The transformation was remarkable, as Wardwell created a bright space—lined with white subway tiles and a massive island—for entertaining and for budding gourmet chefs to practice their craft. Kitchen appliances are from Miele (mieleusa.com), Sub-Zero (subzero-wolf.com) and Viking (vikingrange.com).
A built-in reading nook below the stairs.
In the end, Shadrick’s clients were delighted with every room. For this Boston designer, it was another lesson in the marriage of styles and time periods—and not dismissing the riches of the past. “I believe a tension between old and new, rough and polished, traditional and modern are important aspects of a successful design,” she says. “There’s a tension created between opposites. That, along with a dose of wabi-sabi, is what creates dynamic and comfortable spaces.”
Shadrick included pops of rich color and fabrics throughout the home.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Chestnut Hill
INTERIOR DESIGN
Meghan Shadrick Interiors
KITCHEN DESIGN
JW Construction
RESOURCES
A. RUDIN
Sectional sofa, living room
BAKER
Chairs, living room
CIRCA LIGHTING
Lighting, living and dining rooms
OCHRE
Chairs, dining room
VIKING
Oven, kitchen