Boston home is magnificent overlooking South End square

By the mid-1800s, as the city was selling house lots in the South End, 11 unique "Venetian-Gothic-style" row houses were constructed along the north side of Rutland Square, near Tremont Street.

These homes were built between 1859 and 1861; the ribbon-like garden that runs down the middle of the tree-lined street was added a few years later.

In fact, according to Phebe S. Goodman’s "The Garden Squares of Boston," homeowners gave up some of their frontage so that horse-drawn carriages would still have enough space to travel down the street.

These attached townhouses have low stoops, arched bay windows and ornate entries, presenting an attractive streetscape. The facades are buff-colored and have light-colored sandstone ornamentation around the windows and in between each story.

One of these fabulous single-family homes at 19 Rutland Square is on the market. Lili Banani, Annette Itzkan and Paul Whaley of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have listed the residence at $3.15 million.

When the current owners bought the property 11 years ago, it was a two-family house.

The couple completely renovated it to create a spectacular home with five levels of living space.

The South End architectural firm of Kunz Associates was the designer.

A grand staircase with an open balustrade and cherry treads and rail occupies the center of the first floor.

Beneath the recessed entry is a set of double doors that opens into a small vestibule. The iron grillwork has a similar design as the fence in front of the house.

Through a second set of doors one comes upon a stunning foyer and a grand staircase that stands alone. It has cherry treads and an open balustrade. (It was featured on HGTV some time ago.)

A large built-in niche in the foyer helps define the space, which continues on one side of the staircase toward a spacious kitchen. A coat closet and a powder room are built into this side of the house.

At the front is a magnificent dining room, with a marble fireplace that is decorative, and a four-window bay that looks out to the square. The windows are arched.

On the other side of the staircase, next to the fireplace, is a long wall of shelving with cabinets that can hold a library of books and art objects.

The formal dining room features crown molding and a decorative marble fireplace that add to its elegance.

Next to this expanse is an elevator, which gives access to every floor.

At the back is a spacious kitchen that concludes in a boxed bay with side windows and French doors in the middle that open onto a balcony.

It is the perfect size for a table and a couple of chairs and sipping morning coffee in the warm weather. The bay itself easily holds a table and chairs for indoor breakfast.

The design reflects an emphasis on natural light, and the kitchen is bathed in it, even on a cloudy day. Recessed lighting is abundant too.

The kitchen boasts top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances – a huge Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Thermador professional six-burner gas cooktop and double wall ovens and a stainless steel Fisher & Paykel two-drawer dishwasher.

The kitchen also has custom cabinetry and granite counters, plus a large granite-topped center island with shelves underneath.

The eat-in kitchen was custom designed, and a balcony is off this room.

The flooring on the entire first floor comprises limestone.

Above the staircase, which is easy to navigate, is a large dome with a suspended chandelier. The stairs open into an elegant music room, which has another marble fireplace, which is decorative.

This room is above the kitchen and has a higher ceiling than the 11-foot height on the lower floor. The molding around the room is deep and is topped with roses, rather than the traditional acanthus leaves.

"When we did the renovation, we saved as much as we could, especially the woodwork," said one of the owners. "What wasn’t here, we replicated."

Off the music room is another balcony, accessed through a pair of French doors.

Above them is a wide, arched transom that extends across the tall sidelights on either side of the doors.

The traditional sidehall floor plan begins here with a flight of stairs that ascends to the third floor and the bedrooms.

The music room is as stunning as the living room, with its high ceiling, built-in bookcases and decorative fireplace.

On the same level as the music room at the front of the house is the living room, which is stunning. A decorative marble fireplace with a coal grate occupies one wall that otherwise is filled with bookshelves, like those in the dining room.

The crown molding here is ornate, like that in the music room, and both rooms have an intricately designed original ceiling medallion and cherry floors.

The master bedroom suite encompasses the entire third floor, which has the original wide honey pine flooring and another decorative white marble fireplace. The crown molding is simpler, and a fan hangs from the ceiling.  

A set of doors beneath a gentle arch opens into the bedroom. At the back of the house is the master bath, which also is accessed through a pair of doors beneath an arch.

The master bath has an interesting layout. An oversized glass-enclosed shower is one on side of the room, and the toilet on the other.

In the middle is a two-sided mirror, and on either side is a vanity with an undermounted sink.

Closets on either side of the room, next to a window, make this room easy to share in the morning.

The master bedroom suite encompasses the entire third floor.

Two large walk-in closets in the hall between the bedroom and bath flank the elevator.

The top floor has two more bedrooms, each with two closets. The windows are smaller here, cut into the mansard roof. The back bedroom has a wide window seat.

A full bath with a combination shower/soaking tub is off the hallway. A skylight in the bath gives access to the roof; another skylight above the staircase brightens the stairs and the hall.

The garden level of the home serves as a family room and home office but could serve as an au pair suite. It has a compact kitchen with an electric range tucked into a corner and a full bath with a glass-enclosed shower and pedestal sink.

The best feature of this space is the wall of windows that look out to the patio and bring in lots of light. Against one wall are more shelves. One is quite wide and serves as desk space. Two deeded parking spaces lie beyond the patio.

DETAILS

Address: 19 Rutland Square, South End

BR/BA: Four-plus bedrooms, three full baths, two half baths  

Size: 3,903 +/- square feet

Age: Circa 1860; 1999-2000

Price: $3.15 million

Taxes: $19,420

Features of home: Elegant, single-family home with spectacular staircase; high ceilings, ornate crown molding, ceiling medallions; gourmet chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry, granite counters, high-end stainless steel appliances; two balconies; two deeded parking spaces.

Close by: Restaurants and shops in South End, Back Bay, Prudential Center and Copley Place; South End Branch Library; Boston Center for the Arts; Southwest Corridor Park; Symphony Hall; MBTA Orange Line, commuter rail and Amtrak service at Back Bay Station; easy access to Routes 90 and 93.

Contact: Lili Banani, Annette Itzkan or Paul Whaley, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 160 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116. Phone: 617-267-2909.

Website: www.NewEnglandMoves.com

This property may be seen by appointment.