Empty nesters decamp to Boston from the suburbs, taking their previous home design with them.
A custom dining booth created a cozy banquette nook in the clients’ new penthouse.
Downsizing doesn’t equate to diminishing. When two empty nesters decided to leave behind their 8,000-square-foot residence in Wellesley for a waterfront penthouse in Boston’s Intercontinental, they took every inch of their expressive, bold, showstopping style with them.
A Natasha Baradaran light illuminates artwork by RETNA and pedestals and a vessel from Studio H Collection.
To help with the move they enlisted their longtime collaborator, designer Kelly Hinchman, founder of San Diego-based firm Studio H (studioh-int.com). “We are fortunate to have collaborated on six other projects with these wonderful clients. They are deeply family-oriented, with their two boys now in college. After years in their home in Wellesley, they chose to downsize and return to city living,” she says.
A Kelly Wearstler buffet displays totems from Studio H Collection.
The original project was featured in Interiors Boston after it was completed in 2008 in a piece entitled “Block Buster.” At that time Studio H achieved the client’s goal of creating a glam, contemporary design in a traditional, tree-lined suburban setting using bold lines and geometrics softened by fabrics that provided texture and warmth. Hinchamn intentionally juxtaposed patterns, played with scale and designed everything to speak to each other. A cohesive design and color story were especially important in the very open floor plan where nearly every room could be seen from the first floor.
The clients’ art collection found prominent spots on the newly painted walls.
With the clients’ lifestyle change came a new layout and a new vibe. For their urban life, they embraced modern California cool, energized by their bold and layered art collection. Remarkably Hinchman was able to repurpose the majority of their decor. “I was thrilled to see our custom pieces, thoughtfully designed and curated for their Wellesley home, seamlessly fit into their new space,” says Hinchman. One such custom piece is a black and caramel dining booth which played off grounded sectionals in Wellesley’s adjoining living room. In the penthouse, the grey sectionals adorn the living room once again and the dining booth has created a banquette nook, paired with the same simple swivel chairs. “It’s a striking focal point as you enter the living and dining area,” says Hinchman. The clients felt no need for a formal dining area with so many fantastic restaurants just steps from their front door, so they tasked Hinchamn with turning that space into a game room, accommodating their pool table which once lived in the basement. Large prints in muted hues that once hung next to the television in the large family room are the perfect complement in their new position on the wall behind the pool table. “Every time I visit, someone is enjoying a game of pool—it’s become a real centerpiece of their home life,” says Hinchman.
The pool table has become a real centerpiece in the new space.
Some decor was able to move right into the room it once occupied like the primary bedroom’s custom bed by Studio H, the home office’s Julian Chichester desk (us.julianchichester.com) and the Ligne Roset Ploum sofa (ligne-roset.com) that tucks into a corner, as it did before in Wellsely.
A custom sectional by Studio H in a Glant fabric and Woven Concepts rug ground the lively colors within the clients’ gallery wall.
“Remarkably, many of their large furniture pieces fit perfectly in their new penthouse. We were able to move quickly on the renovation, which included refinishing the floors, updating decorative lighting, and refreshing the paint, wallcoverings, and window treatments,” says Hinchman.
Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White provides a warm, creamy backdrop for the penthouse’s stunning cityscapes and harbor views.
The clients are passionate art enthusiasts with a deep love for color and many of their prized pieces found prominent spots on the newly painted walls. A set of Kaws figurines that once hung above a bar cart are now displayed in the living room near the sturdy grey sectional, Alex Guofeng Cao’s monumentally-sized pixilated image of Madonna is now in the entry, and an image of the client made from miniature metal hearts hanging from nails by Carl J. Myers has a place in the primary bedroom. Additionally, there is a portrait of Kate Moss by Mr. Brainwash in the guest bedroom, artwork by RETNA in the entry and Banksy in a cozy nook, just to name a few.
Ligne Roset’s Ploum sofa tucks into a cozy corner.
“Their home truly reflects their essence,” says Hinchman. “It’s a space that is both calming and vibrant, creative and filled with joy. We chose Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White as a warm, creamy backdrop that beautifully complements the stunning cityscape and harbor views visible throughout the home,” she says.
A portrait of Kate Moss by Mr. Brainwash hangs in the guest bedroom.
The shift from suburb to city, from family house to apartment in the sky, from commuter to pedestrian, was made even smoother because the clients were able to move with all the things they loved from their former home. They may have given up some square feet, but their life feels bigger than ever.
Design Details
Type
Penthouse
Interior Designer
Kelly Hinchman, Studio H
studioh-int.com
RESOURCES
David Bryan Sanders
Chair, son’s bedroom
davidbriansanders.com
Gabriel Scott
Chandelier, dining nook
gabriel-scott.com
Kelly Wearstler
Buffet, pool table room
kellywearstler.com
Made Goods
Nightstands, primary bedroom
madegoods.com
Makkas
Drapery, pool table room
Drapery, dining nook
Drapery, living room
Drapery, cozy room
Drapery, son’s bedroom
Drapery, home office
makkasdrapery.com
Natasha Baradaran
Lighting, entry
natashabaradaran.com
Restoration Hardware
Sectional, cozy room
rh.com
Shine by Sho
Dresser, primary bedroom
shinebysho.com
SoHo House
Nightstands, guest bedroom
sohohouse.com
Studio H Collection
Pedestals and vessel, entryway
Totems, pool table room
Banquet, dining nook
Sectional, living room
Ottomans, living room
Bed, primary bedroom
Flora vessel, home office
studiohcollection.com
Woven Concepts
Rug, pool table room
Rug, living room
wovenconcepts.com
