Boston's South End features three new condos

Three inviting new condos are emerging at 5 Dwight St. in the South End. From the tall baseboards to the deep crown moldings around lofty ceilings, these homes were created with respect for the existing architecture.

“We try to make things that are appropriate to the building,” says Rob Ferris of CreekSquare Development and Ferris Real Estate. “The building will tell you what to do.”

Ferris and his wife Karen Kelsey were among the first developers to come to Dwight Street. They’re experienced at creating new homes in the spirit of the old.

So, this 1870s building must have called out for a generous entryway, a real lobby, arched doors and windows and stylish wainscoting.

Every unit is contemporary, and all make excellent use of traditional detail.

Unit 1 is a garden-level duplex on the market for $1.05 million. The first floor is the bedroom level, with clear-finished white oak floors.

Arched windows were made with a template from the original sash, and the window sills are nice and thick. Tall crown moldings line the ceilings.

The two bedrooms on this level are about the same size; the master is distinguished by a big walk-in closet.

Both bathrooms are spa-like with Carrara marble and honed Jet Mist granite. Showers sport multiple body sprays.

The downstairs living level is spacious. Kelsey does the kitchen design on this team, and she made good choices with light, custom, made-to-measure cabinetry, marble subway tile and honed granite on the long breakfast bar with room to seat five or six.

The open living area in Unit 1 is on the garden level which also has a patio with gas, water and electric service.

“When we lay out the interiors, we think about different family groups,” Ferris says.

The high-end appliances include a Jenn-Air refrigerator and a six-burner 300,000 BTU Jenn-Air range with a Thermador hood. The dishwasher is a Thermador as well. A gas fireplace would make the coldest nights seem cozy here, as would the radiant heat.

The third bedroom, located behind the kitchen, could work for an au pair or an in-law suite as it has its own full marble bath. It’s so quiet that it could make a good home office. There is a patio out back with gas, water and electricity and convenient access to parking.

At 680 square feet, Unit 2 is listed for $560,000. The stairway that ascends to it was repaired in place from the original and opens up to a good-sized landing.

The entry into this one-bedroom floor-through is dramatic: you step right into an 11-foot-tall space with large windows and a gorgeous kitchen.

The kitchen in Unit 2 features a white quartz peninsula, espresso-stained cherry cabinets and a six-burner gas range.

Espresso-stained cherry cabinets contrast with a white quartz peninsula. Many gourmet meals will begin in this space, if the Thermador fridge and range and Jenn-Air hood and dishwasher are any indication.

Entertaining in the combined living and dining space would be a pleasure. It’s all wired for home theatre, and it also has a gas fireplace for those quiet evenings.

When it’s time to call it a night, the new homeowner can first step out onto the rounded deck that adjoins the bedroom. It comes complete with access to gas, water and electricity.

But the real relaxation here might take place in the bath, with its contemporary sink, marble tiles and multiple showerheads. “It’s like your own hotel bathroom,” says Kelsey.

Unit 3 is the penthouse, and it’s striking. At 1,575 square feet, it has three bedrooms and three full baths and is listed at $1.4 million.

“This is a grown-up space,” Ferris says in the chef’s kitchen, with its Jenn-Air and Thermador appliances.

The penthouse kitchen has high-end appliances, a large island and dark-stained cabinetry. Nearby is a built-in bar.

There’s a metallic shine to the tiles on the backsplash and an arty rectangular light fixture above the island.

 “This kitchen has glorious storage,” Kelsey says. A built-in bar has dark cabinetry to match the kitchen. Drawers are deep to hold bottles.

The large, open living/dining space could be configured in many ways, but you would probably want to place some comfortable chairs around the gas fireplace. This room is also set up for a home theatre.

There is an office/guest room on this floor with direct access to a rounded deck supplied with utilities. The full bath on this level uses space well with a corner shower.

Another guest bedroom is on the upper level with a Jet Mist granite and marble full bath. This bedroom has fabulous city views; the State Street building is distinctively lit at night.

The master suite is located on the opposite side.

A tiny window in the penthouse repeats the architectural details found throughout the building.

Triple closets provide wardrobe storage. The master bathroom is outstanding with a comfortable soaking tub plus a walk-in shower. The double marble vanity is 7 feet long.

The master bedroom is a romantic spot with a gas fireplace. “The mantel was built in place,” Ferris says. A deep, arched window is an architectural detail that might make a wonderful “canopy” for a bed placed underneath, another unique detail in a building filled with them.

DETAILS

Address: 5 Dwight St., South End

Unit 1: Three bedrooms, three baths, 1,460 square feet, $1.05 million

Garden-level duplex with cook’s kitchen and expansive living area downstairs, plus au pair or in-law suite; private patio, direct access parking.

Unit 2: One bedroom, one bath, 680 square feet, $560,000

Floor-through with high-end kitchen with dark cabinetry and pale quartz countertop, private deck.

Unit 3: Three bedrooms, three baths, 1,575 square feet, $1.4 million

Penthouse duplex with unusual built-ins; fabulous chef’s kitchen; master suite with unique architectural features and marble baths; private deck, deeded parking space. 

Age: Circa 1870; 2011-2012

Taxes and condo fees: To be determined

Features of building: Victorian-era townhouse converted to three new units with high ceilings, hardwood floors, tall crown moldings and deep baseboards; gourmet kitchens; marble and granite baths; rounded decks to match the bows of neighborhood architecture; laundry hookups; gas heat, central air conditioning; groundwater recharging system to collect rain water.

Close by: Restaurant Row, specialty shops and South End cultural attractions, Peters Park; easy access to MBTA Silver Line and Back Bay Station Orange Line and Amtrak, and close to Routes 93 and 90.

Contact: Rob Ferris, Ferris Real Estate, 101 Tremont St., Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: 617-510-0287.

Website: www.creeksquare.com

An open house will be held at Unit 1 Sunday, Jan. 22, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and at Units 2 and 3 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.