Renovated Back Bay co-op offers spacious, elegant lifestyle
There was a time not so long ago when apartment buildings were built to last – insulated from the elements by brick walls that stood the test of time while decorative embellishments were a triumph of style over function.
One of the first co-operative buildings in the city of Boston, designed grandly in 1923 to last well into the next century, sits splendidly at 301 Berkeley St., at the corner of Marlborough Street – a brick building with restored Juliet balconies and masonry, ornamental black iron fencing, colorful plantings out front and many windows.
One of nine homes within this elegant building, Residence 3 occupies the entire third floor with 10-foot ceilings, three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.
Richard Hollander of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has listed this residence at $3.2 million.
The shareholders at 301 Berkeley began a renovation project in 2005 that ended last year. The stone work and exterior of the building as well as the common areas were refurbished.
A new cherry wood and brass cab was installed in the paneled lift. And when you ascend in that elevator to Residence 3, it opens right into the large entry hall of this floor-through urban living space – put the emphasis on “space.”
Vintage well-built places like this with so much square footage – 3,550 square feet – in the middle of the city are precious and rare.
A large eight-over-eight paned window facing Berkeley Street defines the formal living room as does a working fireplace. COURTESY PHOTOS / ELEVIN STUDIOS
There are many in New York City’s Park Avenue and Upper West Side. Ah, but the Back Bay is not part of Gotham.
The rooms off the foyer flow nicely. The formal living room has four windows at two exposures. One window is very large, with eight-over-eight panes. A working fireplace is the focal point of the room, which has crown moldings and window frames well designed for perching.
There are new hardwood floors in shiny shape and a new central air conditioning system for when the fireplace is not necessary. Upgraded electricity and recessed lighting make everything sparkle. So does the new white paint.
Off the living room is the formal dining room, which has two big south-facing windows, another fireplace, a chandelier and charming glass cabinets with arched fronts for displaying china and curios.
The formal dining area is large enough for a seating of eight. “When you live here you know who you are,” says Hollander, and his words ring true.
The formal dining room is large enough for seating for eight, and the chandelier, the large windows and the built-in china cabinets add elegance to the room.
Residence 3 has a solid feel. Very little about the co-op seems contrived; even the appointments added recently, such as the kitchen and wet bar behind French doors off the dining room.
The wet bar has cherry cabinets, a sink and a stainless wine cooler and is cordoned off from the kitchen by half a wall.
The kitchen itself dazzles with brand new white cabinets, light beveled granite on the counters and an island breakfast bar framing the stainless steel appliances.
The centerpiece is a Thermador six-burner stove topped by a stainless range hood to delight all chefs and the gourmands who love them.
There is also a Thermador dishwasher and Sub-Zero refrigerator.
A walk-in butler’s pantry is right off the kitchen as well as an area large enough for a desk cum computer.
The kitchen, with its muted gray speckled granite, white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, is a light oasis. The island doubles as a breakfast bar.
A service elevator opens up on this work hallway to allow the building’s superintendent to collect the refuse directly from the unit each day. Near this work area is a separate laundry room and large linen closet.
Across the foyer hallway is the family room, a casual living area with built-in bookcases to be used for a library and media space. This has a non-working fireplace and three big windows. What easily impresses about the vast expanse of Residence 3 is the light. This apartment boasts 26 windows, a staggering amount of transparency.
The master bedroom is down the hallway from the family room. This is generous, as you might imagine, with two windows and a commodious sitting area.
Two big built-in closets mean that living partners will have enough room to spread out their belongings.
In fact, closets are a hallmark of Residence 3 at 301 Berkeley St.
There are eight closets to stow stuff, in addition to a basement storage room that’s 10 feet by 10 feet.
The refurbished brass and cherry elevator cab opens into a grand foyer, dividing the spacious co-op into entertaining and living space.
Not only does every bedroom boast a walk-in closet but also there are generously sized en suite baths.
These baths have crisp white honeycomb tile and pedestal sinks. Two have tubs while the master suite has a frameless glass shower with a rain showerhead.
There is another room that could be used for sleeping or working. The current owner uses the room as a home office and it certainly is a convenient workspace, with its own large closet. It is conveniently located near the half bath.
When you have walked through all the rooms of Residence 3, you feel as if you’ve just examined a very large house – on one solid, varied, sun-splashed floor in the middle of the city.
DETAILS
Address: 301 Berkeley St., Residence 3, Back Bay
BR/BA: Three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths
Size: 3,550 square feet
Age: 1923; 2009
Price: $3.2 million
Taxes and co-op fees: $5,390 per month (includes real estate taxes, heat, hot water, maintenance, and all building amenities, including live-in superintendent)
Parking: Rental parking available for $275 per month
Features of building: Elegant, recently refurbished, full-service co-op building with nine residences; doorman and live-in superintendent, pet friendly.
Features of home: Stunning, light-filled nine-room residence occupying entire third floor; 10-foot ceilings; newly renovated kitchen with granite counters, high-end appliances, including six-burner Thermador gas range; hardwood floors; three bedrooms with en suite baths; study which could be fourth bedroom; separate laundry room; opulent finishes; one of the few co-ops in Boston with a New York aura.
Close by: Restaurants, shops and galleries; Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall and Charles River Esplanade; Mass. General Hospital; easy access to MBTA Green Line at Arlington Street, Red Line at Park Street.
Contact: Richard Hollander, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 84 Chestnut St., Boston, MA 02114. Phones: 617-723-2737 (office) or 617-416-1546 (cell).
Website: www.NewEnglandMoves.com.
This property may be seen by appointment.
