Two new Boston duplexes enjoy outdoor spaces

Overlooking Union Park, one of the first garden spaces created in the South End during the mid-1850s, is a handsome brick bow front townhouse at 11.5 Union Park, which has been completely renovated.

Mary Kelleher and Brian Perry of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty are marketing the three duplexes that lie within, and one of them already has been sold.

Unit 1, listed at $1.395 million, is a garden-level duplex with two bedrooms and 1,864 square feet of living space.

Unit 3, offered at $1.995 million, is the penthouse duplex with two bedrooms and a roof deck. It has 1,964 square feet of space.

The exterior of this Victorian row house features a high granite stoop with ornate cast iron railings and the original wide double door with etched glass insets. The lintels and sills are sandstone.

A low cast iron rail encloses a small garden with a hedge in front of the house, and beneath the stoop is the private entrance to Unit 1, which opens into a foyer and long hallway.

Sidelights and a transom draw in lots of light.

This home has a sidehall floor plan, maximizing the interior space.

A staircase beyond the kitchen with its marble counters rises to a roof deck, exclusive to Unit 3.

To the right is the living room, which has crown molding and a decorative fireplace. The red marble mantelpiece is original to the home, says Kelleher.

This is flexible space and could easily be a bedroom. It has two large bow windows and a large closet.

The hall leads to a great room with a gourmet kitchen. The recessed lighting is generous, and three pendant lights hang above the two-tiered breakfast bar topped with honed black granite.

The granite counter wraps around the C-shaped kitchen, interrupted by a six-burner Wolf gas range.

The backsplash is granite too and includes a convenient pot filler. Other high-end stainless steel appliances include a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a convection wall oven and a microwave along with a Bosch dishwasher.

The kitchen is Unit 1 features European cabinetry, honed granite counters and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances.

Between the refrigerator and ovens is a pullout pantry, and across from the kitchen is a huge walk-in pantry. The cabinets are European-style and have a birch-like finish.

On the other side of the breakfast bar, which can easily seat four, is an area for more formal dining. A glass door opens onto a small deck with stairs that lead to a large patio and crushed stone courtyard, edged by border gardens with myrtle and rhododendron.

Water, electricity and gas service are available on the patio.

The lower level of this unit has a large media room at the front of the house. The wall is curved, and the granite blocks of the foundation are exposed.

The stonework has been sealed and treated with a shiny finish. An added amenity is a tiny wet bar with a hammered copper bowl.

At the back of this level is the master bedroom suite and access to the brick patio.

An interesting feature is the exposed brick here. The space was once a fireplace and chimney; now it holds a built-in bureau beneath an arch.

There’s room for a plant, photographs and a jewelry box.

The living room of Unit 1 is on the street level and features a decorative fireplace with an original mantelpiece and crown molding.

The master bath is spa-like with a glass-enclosed shower lined with marble that matches the floor and a whirlpool tub set into a marble deck. The long vanity, topped with CaesarStone holds two large glass vessel sinks. Extras include radiant heat in the floor and a heated towel rack.

A big closet off the lower level hallway holds a stacked Bosch washer/dryer.

Unit 3 is a stunning duplex that is filled with light. The main living room on the top floor features a wall of glass created by two three-part doors topped by transoms. The retractable doors slide open onto a deck.

This area is located in the back of the home and was extended, much like adding a shed dormer. The result is an 11-foot ceiling.

The kitchen is similarly designed as that in Unit 1, but is slightly smaller.

The counters and backsplash are statuary marble, and the cabinet facing is darker, like the color of wenge wood.

To preserve the sense of openness, the second wall oven was eliminated, and the microwave is tucked under the counter next to the refrigerator.

A full-size hatch opens onto a spacious roof deck that belongs to Unit 3. The views are panoramic.

As a result, both sides of the kitchen are open to living areas.

Next to the kitchen is a powder room.

At the front of this level is another living area that boasts a raised gas fireplace with a honed granite surround. The three-window bay is wide and can hold a sofa.

Next to it is a skylight cut into the roof; a dining table and chairs are arranged in front of this window. The eaves provide extra storage.

Opposite the kitchen a wide staircase ascends to a large Plexiglas hatch that lifts up to the roof deck that offers expansive city views.

The master bedroom suite occupies the front of the home and has a lavish bath with a steam shower and soaking tub. The vessel sinks are a golden onyx that adds a touch of elegance.

The guest bedroom runs the width of the house in the back. It has a sitting area, two closets and access to another mahogany deck. Outside this room is a full bath with a glass-enclosed shower and marble-tiled floor.

These residences feature exquisite details and delightful private outdoor space, and Union Park with its enchanting fountains is right at the doorstep.

DETAILS

Address: 11.5 Union Park, South End

Age: Circa 1859; 2011

Unit 1:

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

Size: 1,864 square feet

Price: $1.395 million

Taxes: To be determined

Condo fee: $303 per month

Unit 3:

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

Size: 1,964 square feet

Price: $1.995 million

Taxes: To be determined

Condo fee: $406 per month

Features of building: Handsome Victorian brownstone, beautifully renovated, with three duplexes, each with outdoor space.

Feature of units: High ceilings, hardwood floors; open gourmet kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, including six-burner Wolf gas range with pot filler and breakfast bar; luxurious baths with vessel sinks; central air conditioning.

Close by: South End restaurants, shops and galleries; MBTA Silver Line on Washington Street and Orange Line and commuter rail at Back Bay Station; easy access to Routes 93 and 90.

Contact: Mary Kelleher or Brian Perry, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, 556 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118. Phones: 617-426-6900 or 617-821-8875 (Kelleher cell) or 617-413-8049 (Perry cell).

Website: www.gibsonsothebysrealty.com

An open house will be held at this property Sunday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.