Spring is in the air. It’s the season for properties to begin hitting the market in earnest. I think we’ve seen the last of the snow, so by the time little green plants start peeking out of the ground you should be prepared to hit the open house trail if you’re in the market for a new home. 143 new properties have hit the market since January 1, but 96 of those came on this month. It’s clearly getting ripe around here. I’m pleased to say I have a number of new homes hitting the market as well. Four this week, a couple next week and hopefully several more over the next month or so. I’m pretty excited about this newest batch of homes – they’re all exceptional values and beautiful. I have open houses all weekend and even a Commuter Open House on Monday for those of you with a little time when you get off the train on Monday. In no particular order, I’ll give you a brief run down on each of them and some of my favorite photos from the shoots. By the way, if you’re in the market, or even just considering it, you might want to sign up on my website as I have some super cool tools that the average home buyer will find quite useful. Ever been scrambling around on a Sunday (lacking the appropriate caffeination) trying to pull open house info from the Boston Globe, Boston.com, some random real estate website, etc? 45 minutes later your hunched over your computer furiously loading all the properties into Google maps and cross-referencing the open house times? No more! Check out my open house search tool. Just plug in your parameters and viola! you’re in business. all the available open houses are magically delivered to your screen, mapped and chronologically ordered. Pretty cool, eh? Sign up for an account for lots of other goodies. Anyway, the task at hand. The smallest of my three new homes is a loft-like condo in The Brewery District adjacent to Stony Brook station between Boylston and Porter. As described in MLS:

 

 

Perfection. Design, efficiency and location. Brewery District loft steps from Stony Brook Station. Total renovation from basement to roof. High-efficiency heating and point of use, on-demand hot water for kitchen and bath. Amazing insulation in walls and roof. Incredibly well thought out design including cabinetry, and built-in oak/aluminum wardrobe. Roof rights and nice rear deck. This is a great space to just sit and enjoy the light and quiet – it has a certain Zen quality about it.

These descriptions aren’t as easy to write as you think so keep that in mind. Criticism welcome as long as it’s accompanied by a suggestion. This unit is seriously wonderful. It’s going to make some one very happy. I sold it several years ago at Arthouse and they had to pry it from my kicking and screaming then too.

 

 

This is the perfect starter pad – not just because of the price point, but it’s been renovated really well. Way better than what is typical for a unit like this. Over insulated, thermal panes and steel doors make it efficient, but also really quiet. The look of the ceiling is obviously cool but check out the Miele washing machine/dryer. Under sink you’ll find a point-of-use, on demand hot water system. It runs the kitchen and the bath. Sweet! Open house Sunday April 2, 1:30p-2:30p. I’ll be having a commuter Open House on Monday April 4th, 5:50p-7p.

Next on the list is a single family home on 30 Neillian Crescent, on Moss Hill in Jamaica Plain. This home is one of the best values on the Hill in a long time. It may not be the cheapest ever, but it’s definitely priced right – especially considering the condition:

Beautiful open-plan home in highly desirable neighborhood. New kitchen w/SS apps and large prep space. Guests can sit in dining rm and chat w/the host or lounge in living rm in front of fireplace. Picture window looks out over quiet street of well-maintained homes and enormous corner lot. Each bedrm is bigger than the next with a large master facing the rear of the home. Huge, open family room with direct-entry garage and 3/4 bath. Short walk to Larz Anderson Park. Short commute to Med area.

 

30 Neillian Crescent Open Houses Sat April 2, 12-1p & Sun April 3, 1:30-2:30p

 

 

Finally, last but not least is 41 Bournedale Rd, Jamaica Plain. This is the Woodbourne Neighborhood. There are a handful of duplexes just like this one in the “Bourne” neighborhood and I’m a big fan of the layout. They have kitchen, dining and laundry all in the back with a door to the back porch and yard. There’s a tiny hallway separating the dining area from the living room. On one side of it the designer snuck in a built-in hutch. It’s a nice little surprise when you come around the corner. The living room has a wood burning fireplace and a set of stairs that gently curve upstairs out of site. Very cute. My favorite thing upstairs is a cozy reading room just off the master bedroom. I’d spend a lot of time there if it was my place. Here’s what I wrote on the MLS:

Charming 2 story home w/perfect plan. Property has feel of a house rather than a condo. Open kit/dining room opens to covered porch. Enjoy your morning coffee listening to the birds chirp in the wooded yard. Granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Breakfast bar separates kitchen from dining room with built-in hutch.Walk to T, conservation land, shops and restaurants. Ask about Forest Hills Initiative for exciting information about area future development.

Somewhere Hipsters are gathered around expensive beer, reading these out loud and making fun of me. So be it. Come by this Sunday 3rd and we can have coffee together on the back deck from 12-1p.

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="aligncenter" width="567" caption="Sunroom/reading room off the master bedroom"][/caption]

 

I can’t tell you how many buyers I’ve worked with over the years who needed to be convenient to the medical area – but they are many. If you’re not familiar with Longwood Medical Area, is a medical campus in Boston. Centered on Longwood Avenue as it runs from Huntington Avenue to The Riverway, LMA straddles the Fenway-Kenmore and Mission Hill neighborhoods. It is most strongly associated with the Harvard Medical School and other medical facilities such as Harvard’s teaching hospitals, but prominent non-Harvard and non-medical institutions are located there as well, such as museums, colleges and research centers.

The four Orange Line stations in Jamaica Plain are not helpful here – but the Green Line to Heath Street or the #39 bus is. Many of these buyers need to have immediate access to one of these modes of transport as their lives are crazy busy and there is no time for pesky commutes.

[Enter] Home of the Week. The rather loft-like condo at 90 Bynner Street in Jamaica Plain. This home is located across the street from the #39 bus stop, and just a couple blocks from the terminus of the Green (E) Line.

Somewhere along the line, this 1925 apartment went condo and some of the walls were redesigned to reveal a very open plan with a wall of windows as the focal point. There is a nice master bedroom with a wardrobe style closet, and the second bedroom which will likely be an office or guest room for someone.

Beyond the convenience of the location, and the short walk to Centre Street and Brookline Village, I think the park at the end of the block is one of the most valuable attributes. The “Emerald Necklace” was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

The park system is over seven miles long from end to end. It covers 1,100 acres. To help you find your way to the Emerald Necklace parks and from one park to another, you can download a map here. The maps will show you where you can find many of the things to make your visit to the parks enjoyable and convenient, including:

Natural Features:
* Ponds
* The Muddy River
* Vistas

Park Features such as:
* Historic bridges and fountains
* Sculptures and public art
* Recreation facilities such as tot lots and sailboat rental
* Athletic facilities
* Picnic areas
* Emergency telephones
* Rest rooms

Getting Around:
* Paths, both paved and unpaved
* Suggested walking and bicycling routes
* Emerald Necklace Parkways
* MBTA transit and bus stops near the parks
* Parking lots (There are only a few.)

The full Emerald Necklace Map is 31″ wide by 17″ high. You can download a PDF of the entire map and zoom in to print just a part of it.

The Emerald Necklace Guide link below, allows you to view the material that is on the back of the map. It gives an overview of each of the 9 parks, highlighting what each has to offer, and tells the story of the history of the parks. The history includes Frederick Law Olmsted’s role in creating the six parks extending from the Back Bay Fens to Franklin Park in the later 1800s. Lastly, the Guide gives information about nearby greenspaces: the Esplanade, the Southwest Corridor Park, the Boston Nature Center and the Forest Hills Cemetery.

Emerald Necklace Map
Emerald Necklace Guide

We’re having an open house Sunday 16th, 12p-3p and there will be a drawing for $500 gift card. Also check out our www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com for more photos and a virtual tour.

Are you in the dog house? Have you besmirched your good name? I have an opportunity for you to redeem yourselves. At the base of beautiful and historic Sumner Hill, across from the old Congregational Church,  you will find this gorgeous Mansard Victorian. Bring your sweetie and give the Valentine’s Day gift of a lifetime! We’ll be having an open house for neighbors only from 11a-11:30a, and then a public open house from 11:30a-1p.

A landmark property to anyone who travels the streets of Jamaica Plain – the unique overhang is thought to be an architect’s sneak. There’s about 70SF hanging out over the sidewalk. Don’t quote me on that little historic tidbit – I’m not sure where I heard/read it anymore. I’ve got a request into a local historian to find out what I can on this lovely manse.

Fully one-third of this home resides out of view from the street. There is another unit that is roughly half the size of the upstairs, that opens on three sides the the pretty back yard. It’s really neat to see the massive, rough hewn granite blocks that form the foundation under the sidewalk. You can see it from within the fence at yard level.

This stately home got a serious facelift less than 10 years ago. The entire Mansard “hip” was replaced with architectural shingles, new windows and soffits were added as well as copper gutters and downspouts. Quite a bit of old siding was replaced at this time as well. Generally, the exterior is in perfect condition. The current owners have done a smashing job with the interior as well. Josh & Julie have added their own brand of sophisticated, modern charm. There’s definitely more than a hint of the Orient in the decor – including a very tasteful bamboo wall treatment in the master bedroom.

There are three bedrooms that are  small, medium and large and have a gentle slope to the wall from the roof line. It adds a lot of charm and character without adversely effecting the layout or space whatsoever.

If you’re used to New England bedroom sizes, you’ll find the master suite to be a pleasant surprise.  It’s spacious and light with views out over the neighbor’s roofs to Green Street and the grand architecture of The Bowditch School. The bedroom opens to the bath by passing through a custom closet outfitted with a very well thought out organizational system. Someone with lots of clothes and an analytical mind clearly designed it. The bathroom is large for a Victorian. I doubt this room always served as a bathroom, but it certainly should have. There’s an old clawfoot tub and some bath fixtures that are reminiscent of the period, but in reality everything is new.

There is another full bath on the second level for the other two bedrooms. All the rooms open off a landing flooded with natural light from a skylight opening above the exposed rafters. Downstairs, the first floor flows just as well. The kitchen, dining and living rooms are large and perfect for entertaining – although, make everyone take off their shoes because the floors are truly luminous and it would be a crime to mar them.

The kitchen isn’t so easy to pin down to a specific style. Although the Bosch stainless steel appliances and white cabinets give it a decidedly modern look, the counters are darkly stained wooden butcher block that have a warmer feel than the typical granite counters that are so common of late.

There is a laundry cabinet that doubles as a pantry adjacent to the kitchen – and an ample deck through sliding glass doors, leads down to a beautifully landscaped yard.

The dining room is probably my favorite room in this house. One wall is covered with books, and the others are practically all windows – looking out over the yard, deck and Green Street. There’s a large closet as well, so if you put the table in the kitchen this could actually be a fourth bedroom or an office – but I think it’s configured best as it is.

The location doesn’t really get any better. When I write that this home is steps from everything – I mean it. Maybe 127 steps to the subway? (Give or take 10.) There are shops, boutiques, restaurants, pubs, etc. just a few blocks away on Centre as well as the Mosaic school across the street in the Congregational Church, and Hollow Reed up on Sumner Hill.  There’s a playground around the corner with water sprinklers in the summer and a great play structure. Further up Lamartine Street there’s a baseball field, basketball courts, the list goes on and on.

Check out our website at www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com for more information on this home and other property in and around Jamaica Plain as well as  the virtual tour at www.84Seaverns.com.

more info: thehallwayjp.com

In my photographs of different cities and countries, I convey a sense of place through architectural and other distinctive regional details – indoors and outdoors. The pictures I make document surfaces long-exposed to time and use, and place importance on ordinary things, usually overlooked or ignored. I search for random events of light and shadow to bring out these details. Many of my photographs transform small fragments of built structures into abstractions, and so they are also formal examinations – of color, texture, light, shadow, shape, and space.

I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me – and I’m sure that brings a tear to your eye, but I have a fabulous “Home of The Week” for you. There are a lot of cute homes in “JP” no doubt. Every once in a while you come across an owner who has that special talent for design. That’s Anna. She’s sharp as a whip and a bit of a Super Mom.

I’m not really sure how she managed a career, pregnancy and this stint as General Contractor, but she did – and it’s smashing.

From the street, this fashionable home on Plainfield St. is an unassuming Colonial, not unlike other single families in Jamaica Plain. Although it has a large yard and beautiful landscaping (you wouldn’t know it right now as it’s hidden under a layer of snow) you might not give it a lot of thought if you were walking by. However, behind the front door is an attention to detail and design seldom seen.

Anna had some help from her hubby Edward, but I think even he would give her the lion share of credit for this enormous undertaking. I sat with them recently at the robust dining table and talked about the work they had done. I got woozy. Much of the work that Anna did took place behind the walls. This isn’t just a little icing on a cake. She engineered this home top to bottom. Feel free to grab us at the open house Dec 13th (11:30a-1:30p) and we’ll tell  you all about that, but for now I’ll show you the fun stuff.

You enter a pretty common foyer with a set of stairs up and a doorway to the kitchen – which is uncommon. It’s kind of hard to describe Anna’s style but I guess you could call it Danish Modern.

There’s just the right mix of mod light fixtures and Italian tile with warm wooden furniture and European decor. The powder blue cabinets are the first thing you notice. They look sturdy and significant – not the normal stock. It turns out that Anna had them custom finished because she couldn’t find something she liked that was mass produced. This is the kind of kitchen where you can make a serious meal and entertain a large group of people. The massive center island houses a Dacor range and a stainless steel vent hood hangs down from the ceiling. The honed granite counters contrast perfectly with the modern cabinets and the sleek tile backsplash. The wall oven and microwave are also Dacor and there’s a ginormous Amana fridge that could hold provisions for an army. It’s all well lit with recessed lighting and plenty of great natural light.

One of my favorite features of this home is the half flight up, half flight down design of the living and family rooms. It gives you easy and immediate access to both but provides enough separation that guests wont hear pots and pans banging while they’re conversing or watching the game, but getting food and drinks back and forth is a snap. Also, as those with kids would appreciate, mom or dad can easily keep an eye on the kids without having them underfoot during food prep or adult convos.  In the photo above, the door on the left goes up to the more formal living room, while the door on the right goes down a half flight to a family room.

This was originally designed as a master suite. It is expansive and has french doors out to a very private patio on one side and sleek, narrow windows on the other that afford a little more privacy while allowing natural light to flood the room. The bathroom that ajoins this space is rich. Upon opening the door you are enveloped in cool green mosaic-like tiles and and a timeless marble floor. It’s not that thin, slippery, cheap stuff. It has a real permanence to it. The bathrooms in this home, in general, are amazing and will all look great in 20 years. The design is classic and solid. It’s the kind of materials you might see in a Gropius house or the like.

This space also has good storage and a laundry closet. It’s currently used as a family room where little Archie and Harrison can play without being out of earshot and mommy’s watchful eye. It’s even big enough to make into an au pair suite or an in-law when you need help with the kids. (That’s one lucky nanny.)

A half flight up from the kitchen is the formal living room. It has a cavernous volume to it. Cathedral ceilings slope down to a modern fireplace surrounded by a sophisticated, neutral tile.

The combined open kitchen/dining, living room and family room are enough space to have a very large group of people without anyone feeling like they’re bumping into each other.

Off the foyer and the kitchen you’ll find another stunning full bathroom, mud room, closet (formerly used as a study!) and a door leading out to the deck and another large patio.

Anna put more work and money into her bathrooms than most people put into their whole house. Both of the lower level baths have showers with a simple glass panel and a tile ridge to keep the water in. The faucetry throughout the home is all the very best money can buy – each fixture, each faucet making a subtle, sophisticated statement.

The upstairs bath is a Zen paradise. The focal point of the room is a beautiful soaking tub with sleek, modern lines that contrasts remarkably with the slate floor. All the baths have undergone a full transition with recessed lights and touches that indicate this was no “once over” renovation.

There is a landing at the top of the stairs with three bedrooms off of it and the bath I just described.  The largest of the upstairs rooms is currently used as the master. Anna & Edward outfitted this room with a fantastic closet, of course. The second bedroom is quite large as well and the third upstairs room is a perfect room for a child or a nursery.

There is multi-zoned heating and air conditioning throughout the home and all sorts of electrical and plumbing upgrades.

If you’re not familiar with the Parkside Neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, the name kind of says it all. To the North is a beautiful park bordering Williams Street and Dungarven Road. There are vegetable plots there and the neighborhood folks sometimes use it for pot lucks and such. Just a block away at the corner of Rossmore Road and Stedman Street you’ll find a brand new tot lot completely outfitted with state-of-the-art play structures and a bouncy soft ground material. Two blocks to the east is Franklin Park which is home to America’s oldest zoo and golf course and some fantastic trails. I often ride my bike there. Recently a friend showed my some great foraging opportunities just minutes from the entrance and my daughter loves to go geocaching and letterboxing there as well. I hope you can make it by our open house on Sunday. Of course call if you have any questions. 617-828-7956 or www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com for a virtual tour.

This is one swell house folks. I helped the owners, Dan & Anna find this place a few years ago or so. I can remember it was super cold. Actually, I think we established it was actually colder in the house than outside. The place was a mess. It was a good, solid house but it needed lots of ‘TLC’ as you read a lot on the sheets. Since then Dan & Anna have labored night and day to whip this baby into shape.

Inviting Dutch Gambrel on pretty street with circular flow for entertaining. Big deck off the kitchen overlooks large yard ready for your landscaping ideas. Rare full bath on 1st floor & brand new bath on 2nd floor has bright, Zen-like feel. Attractive kitchen with granite & stainless steel appliances. Kids will love the secret 3rd floor loft. Short walk from charming Roslindale Village and the commuter rail. Walk to Sophia’s Grotto, Birch St. Bistro, Fornax, Emack & Bolio’s or Delphino’s as well as a large grocery store and gourmet cheese and wine shoppes.

Check out www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com or www.25 DentonTerrace.com for more information and a virtual tour.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms out there! I hope you have a great day and may all your children be as amazing as me. Seriously, we have three great open houses today – and there’s something for everyone.

Today I had the great pleasure of touring 10 Revere Street on Sumner Hill. Methinks this is one of the finest pieces of architecture in Jamaica Plain let alone maybe the best location. Upon climbing up the steps and crossing the enormous porch you enter a massive door the likes of which can’t be found these days.

The foyer is easily my favorite location in the house, which I guess makes sense as one would consider that their first impression. A substantial archway frames the room punctuated by a handsome staircase and fireplace. I currently live in a modest little condo and can only imagine the feeling of satisfaction one gets when entering this magnificent home only to be greeted by a crackling hearth.

There is a formal living room in the front  and a dining room in the rear. Giant windows provide ‘king-of-the-hill’ views over the rest of Sumner Hill and JP. Each windows frames out another perfect view. One particular view from the dining room looks into an outdoor sitting area with beautiful rock work and one of the turrets of Saint John’s Episcopal Church. This is the type of setting only found in Europe or the like.

The Jamaica Plain Historical Society describes the locale:

The Queen Anne-style is particularly well represented on Sumner Hill, and the area hosts some of the most architecturally sophisticated examples of the style. Large, well-detailed houses constructed in the mid-1880s, exhibiting complex plans, asymmetrical fenestration, elaborate porches, contrasting surface textures, and multiple chimneys, stand at 6, 8, 22 Everett Street, 11 Revere Street, and 11 Roanoke Avenue. 10 Revere Street, an exceptional example of the style designed by the well-known Boston firm of Ware and Van Brunt, is also responsible for Memorial Hall and the Episcopal Divinity School at Harvard University. This handsome house has an unusual roofline, vertical and horizontal boarding, turned porch posts, and a lively mix of shingles and clapboards. Other good examples of the style are located at 9 and 14 Newbern Street.

Obviously the mortgage on this little diddy is no chump change, but the pain is eased a bit by the two in-law or au pair units contained within the plan. The lower level has a quaint 1 bedroom apartment with a surprising amount of natural light. The third floor and cupola contain what is probably the most unique 2 bedroom apartment in Jamaica Plain. The spaces ooze history and charm. Imagine climbing the spiral staircase to the cupola room and climbing into bed with a skylight window and a view of the Boston skyline.

John Maxfield of Prudential Unlimited Realty will be having an open house there this Sunday from 1p-3p. Owner will entertain offers within PVRM 55: $1,195,000 to $1,394,876. Offers will be responded to April 15, 2009. Owner reserves the right to accept an offer above the range at any time.