Charlestown cottage offers convenience

No, not that Wall Street. This adorable home sits at 1 Wall St. in Charlestown, a slip of a street lined with clapboard Colonial row homes built in the mid-1800s.

Were these modest dwellings originally constructed as servant quarters?

The living room is light and bright, with gleaming floors and a wood-burning fireplace that has a marble surround.

Did the dwellings serve as stops on the Underground Railway?

The historical character of Boston’s structures collides with the 21st century via fascinating speculation.

This charming three-level, 1400-square-foot home at 1 Wall St. has been listed by Jennifer Schneider of Century 21 Elite for $649,000.

A coveted single-family home in the city, this sweet three-bedroom nest has an outdoor pad of a parking space for true convenience.

The home sits on a quiet corner in hilly Charlestown at the intersection of Sullivan Street, a short drive (or walk) to downtown Boston, TD Garden and most major thoroughfares leading into and out of the cacophonous city.

Yet, as you enter the quaint yellow house right off the street, you feel you are entering a preserve of peacefulness.

Enter immediately into a bright living room with windows on two sides and a fireplace as the focal point.

The wood-burning fireplace is deep and has a swank marble surround. The polished hardwood floors shine.

This charming single-family home, built in 1850, was completely renovated 10 years ago.

Built-in bookshelves add to the coziness of the living room, which is painted a pleasing earth tone shade with a crown molding above the fireplace.

The living room adjoins a large kitchen, with many light-colored maple cabinets and French doors leading to an outdoor terrace. The kitchen floor is covered with sandy-hued terra cotta tile. Ceramic tile covers the counters.

The doors and the window above the double sink let lots of natural light into the space. For storage convenience, there is a butcher block-topped island with drawers and shelves.

There’re also a dishwasher and microwave.

The appliances, including a white glass-top electric stove and side-by-side refrigerator are GE Profile.

Directly off the kitchen is a convenient half bath painted red, with a sink and toilet, as well as a pantry closet with many shelves for storage.

The kitchen is efficient and very light, with French doors leading to the deck.

The French doors leading to the deck – as well as all the windows in the home – are covered with Hunter-Douglas custom blinds that are included in the sale. These are smart blinds in that they let in the light even when blocking in privacy.

The deck off the kitchen is large enough for a table and chairs. It overlooks the rooftops of Charlestown as well as the Bunker Hill Monument.

Constructed of composite material, it will not show age or wear very quickly.

The deck could be a lovely place to dine in warm weather and is spacious enough for lounging in the sunshine.

Up the stairs are two bedrooms – or a study and master bedroom with an en suite bath.

The upper level is awash in sunlight from three skylights.

The master bedroom has a skylight and windows as well as an en suite full bath.

The smaller room, now being used as a baby’s room, is particularly appealing with two skylights illuminating the eave.

This room also has two windows and built-in shelving. The master bedroom, painted a soothing green, is large and light, with three windows, a big skylight, gleaming hardwood floors, recessed lighting and a spacious walk-in closet. A storage cupboard is built in above the closet. The tiled master bath has a tub and shower.

But wait, there’s more. For a house that appears compact on the outside, 1 Wall St. has a surprising amount of space.

An entirely refurbished lower level is convenient for hanging out and for storage.

You really can’t call this a basement because it is not below ground level and it looks entirely part of the living space of the house.

This level could also be used as an au pair apartment because it has its own entrance and full bath with tub and shower.

The downstairs level room has a terra cotta tile floor and lots of space. With its own entrance and adjacent full bath, this could be used as an au pair suite.

Directly outside is the car port.

This room could be a large third bedroom, a commodious man cave or a family room, with recessed lighting, terra cotta tile floor and room enough for a large couch, a wide flat screen and other necessities.

There are two full closets on this level so storage space in this Charlestown house is not a problem. Another room on this level is currently used for a full-sized laundry and for storage of bicycles for easy in and out.

Living in the city can be cramped and expensive. Yet, 1 Wall St. offers an affordable single house with pleasing amenities such as parking space, outdoor terrace, many windows, three floors and lots of storage space.

A composite-constructed deck off the kitchen is a great place to dine outdoors.

Also, this house, which was gutted to the studs in 2000, has a contemporary, sparkling feel as contained in a Colonial building that has stood the test of time and history. Here’s a piece of Boston – under one roof.

DETAILS

Address: 1 Wall St., Charlestown

BR/BA: Three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths

Size:  1,400 square feet

Age: 1850; 2000

Price: $649,000

Taxes: $3,994 (FY 2010 with residential exemption)

Parking: One outdoor space

Features of home: Three-bedroom clapboard Colonial-era home, with window boxes facing front; living room with crown molding and wood-burning fireplace; hardwood floors; kitchen with GE Profile appliances and tile counters, butcher block island and terra cotta floor; French doors leading to a composite deck for outdoor dining; half bath on kitchen level; two upstairs bedrooms with three skylights and a full bath; the lower level could also be used as a bedroom or an au pair suite; separate full bath and many closets; door on ground level leads to parking space.

Close by: Numerous Charlestown restaurants, including Paolos Trattoria and Olive’s, the Warren Tavern and Tavern on the Water, and historic Bunker Hill Monument and Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Constitution and the USS Constitution Museum; easy access to MBTA Orange Line at Bunker Hill Community College and Route 93.

Contact: Jennifer M. Schneider, Century 21 Elite Realty, 253 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129. Phones: 617-241-5566 (office) or 617-733-8211 (cell).

Website: www.c21elite.com

This property may be seen by appointment.