Charlestown Navy Yard Condo

Waterfront unit with views of Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline. Collaborative team of architect, interior designer, contractor and very creative clients!

In the fall of 2016, clients approached architect, Mary McKee and interior designer, Aimee Anderson to see if they would work on the design and be the project managers for the renovation of their new condo at Flagship Wharf in Charlestown, Ma. The previous owner of the condo had combined two units into a single 2300 sf unit. The clients not only sought to update the condo, but also to create a unique, well designed and highly functioning space for the two of them and their five grown children who periodically stay with them.

The first step was to figure out the project scope and design. While the clients asked McKee and Anderson to develop a master plan, they had originally intended to do the project in two phases. Thankfully, they fell in love with the proposed plans and decided to do the entire project. The scope included renovating and opening up all of the living spaces, adding a third bedroom and creating an office and separate master bedroom suite.

The selection of the contractor for the project was key. We wanted to find someone that was a finished carpenter by trade and who wanted to work as a collaborative party in the special design elements in the project. We found just the right person, Nick Schiffer of NS Builders.

Construction began in October, 2016. The priorities for the project were first to open up the previous closed in kitchen to the incredible views of Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline. The clients wanted to create a living space that would feel cozy and comfortable for the two of them, but also accommodate large family gatherings and their monthly cooking classes with their friends. They wanted a large eating space as well as a cozy “perch” for the nights when the two of them were dining together.

McKee and Anderson engaged Pierre Matta and Karen Connors from Newton Kitchen and Design to work with them on the kitchen design and cabinets. Anderson chose a dark grey laminate cabinet, with stainless steel toe kicks and Buster & Punch hardware on the cabinets. They went top of the line with appliances from Yale Appliance and Lighting, to include a built-in Miele coffee maker and steam oven. Anderson proposed using reclaimed white oak for the open shelves in the kitchen to give an almost Scandinavian feel and warmth. A pale blue ceramic Walker Zanger tile from Tile Showcase was used for a backsplash to add a little color “punch” to the kitchen. Other notable design elements were the 42” Kohler Stages sink with two faucets to allow for multiple cooks at the sink. There is also a built- in teak drying rack behind the sink that sits over a trough that is made out of the same material as the counters.

The client really wanted to have a pharmacy-like pantry in the kitchen, but was wary of blocking the views. The designers were constrained by the location of the building’s plumbing and therefore had to leave the sink in the current location. So McKee proposed a glass pantry with black painted mullions to give it that pharmacy feel that she was after. The result: A separate yet transparent "glowing glass box" that sits in the middle of the kitchen/dining/living space. On the other side of the pantry is a wet bar area with it’s own 18” dishwasher, wine refrigerator and a back-painted glass glassware cabinet. The bar area is strategically located by the entrance to the large deck that overlooks the harbor and the skyline.

The island creates a separation between the kitchen and the living space without creating any visible barriers to the view. Hexagon cement tiles from Cle fall in a random pattern under the island further defining the two spaces. A warm reclaimed white oak table extends from the island, supported by a "steel knife" support custom built by Schiffer.

The living area has low furniture from Verellen that is all oriented toward the views. It’s elegant and minimal, yet comfortable.

The powder room has a custom designed reclaimed white oak shelf with a vessel sink, Kohler fixtures in brass, and RH Modern lighting overlapping a CB2 mirror. Anderson chose Kelly Wearstler for Ann Sacks tiles of dots and lines for the walls and light blue penny tiles for the floors.

We enlarged the opening from the front hall to the den and added glass doors for privacy. We also replaced the wall between the living room and the den with glass to create a visual connection between the spaces, but added a semi-transparent vinyl to allow for some privacy when desired. The rich wall color and built-in couches (featuring custom upholstery by J&I Upholstery in Lynn, Ma) add another special element. A fiber-optic star-like ceiling brings the night sky in the den as our clients gaze toward the Boston skyline. The TV hangs on a black pole in front of the glass wall. All of the AV work throughout the condo was carefully orchestrated between the designers and AdTech.

The clients found the Safarani Sisters, twins from Iran who recently graduated from Northeastern and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and commissioned them to create an interactive piece of art in the entry hall.

Moving down the hall to the guest rooms, the guest bath has simple white subway tiles, Popham Design Houndstooth cement tile, a wall mounted vanity from Porcelanosa and black Schluter edges to compliment the black Brizo faucets and shower head. Surprising lighting from Park Studio LA complete the room.

The previous owner had a large master bedroom with ample closets and a separate walk in closet and laundry room. We reconfigured the space to add a second guest bedroom and moved the laundry room into the common space. The master suite is totally private now.

While doing demolition, we discovered steel angled beam in the wall between the two guest bedrooms. We decided to wrap the beam with plaster and add shelves around it to make it a fun design element.

The laundry room has one wall of built-in cabinets by Schiffer and his team. The client chose a funky wallpaper from The Detroit Wallpaper Co. of shoes. The “Fenway” green cement floor tiles from Marrakech Design were arranged in a random pattern and add a warm color to the room.

The office has two glass sliding doors from The Sliding Door Co, one is 3’ long and the other along the hall is 5’ long and to allow the room to be completely open to the bedroom and hallway or closed off. The office has a 3” thick floating reclaimed white oak desk situated in front of the large windows looking toward the Boston skyline. We designed file cabinets and floating shelves to the right of the desk out of the same material.

McKee, Anderson and Schiffer collaborated to create these beautiful custom built-in oak dressers and a large custom, shoe cabinet. The dressers have hidden pulls to keep the design very simple. We added the same wood panels behind the dressers.

The master bath is a work of art. We designed a custom concrete wall mounted vanity with a shelf below and pole for towels. The linen cabinet is custom as well. Anderson chose the “egg” tiles from Marrakech Design. The shower has the same egg tiles, two black shower heads from Brizo and a recess to hold teak shelves. Schiffer built a custom teak floor for the shower.

We worked with Boston Closet to design the perfect custom built-ins for the clients in the two walk-in closets.

We decided to go with a clear finish on all of the hardwood floors to give it a light color and warmth. Schiffer did an amazing job building windows sills to match for all of the windows. He also wrapped the stairs to the deck with the same material to make it appear continuous.

We painted all of the window panes black to frame the views.

All of the doorknobs were custom made by the clients and Schiffer skillfully and painstakingly attached them to working hardware.

This was a unique project in many ways. The clients were open to innovative design decisions and welcomed them. They were very brave in letting us make some of the decisions we did. It was a true collaboration between architect, interior designer, contractor and client.