Union Wharf townhouse boasts four decks overlooking harbor
The combined townhouse at 18 & 19 Union Wharf at 343 Commercial St. offers the ultimate in private seaside luxury in a generously sized home at the edge of Boston Harbor.
“The harbor isn’t part of the 4,600 square feet we have for sale, but the harbor is very much a part of our home,” says the current homeowner.
"The harbor is more than just a view. It’s a room we have every time we step out on the deck.”
The view has always been the main attraction, but creating a place as wonderful inside as it is outside took time.
These homeowners started out at TH 18 about 25 years ago and two years later bought the townhouse next door when it became available.
Then, they merged the two properties artfully, transforming them into a home that is all about the space, the light and the colors of water and sky.
Now, waterfront maven Carmela Laurella of CL Waterfront Properties has listed this home at $6.15 million.
“This is the first time there’s ever been a sale of two combined townhouses here,” Laurella says.
The home is so capacious that despite its fantastic skyscraper views, visitors might sense that they have entered a Cape Cod beach house or Marblehead mansion instead of a city townhouse.
The dining area is expansive. It is open to the living room with its wonderful views and the spacious kitchen.
The main kitchen, located in the front as you enter on the No. 18 side, is the home’s gathering spot. Its gorgeous, deep green marble island was selected from a now-closed Vermont quarry. Black granite countertops give a nice contrast.
A Sub-Zero refrigerator and Jenn-Air range help create memorable meals, while a smaller, equally well-equipped kitchen on the other side, with its own Sub-Zero, Jenn-Air range and Maytag dishwasher, is ideal for caterers and convenient for cleanup.
The entire first floor is completely conducive to entertaining. The kitchen opens into a long, welcoming dining area and a fireplaced living room with water views.
Distinctive ceiling treatments demarcate each area, culminating in overhead waves constructed from beams at the living room end.
Each section has its own lighting, and each wave can be individually lit. “We just turn out the lights and move to the next room,” the homeowner says.
Ultimately, the party can progress out to the deck to enjoy the sea breeze.
A comfortable, paneled media room with custom-built cabinetry on the second floor has a built-in wet bar.
Parallel to the living area is a huge artist’s studio with its own deck and wood-burning fireplace. Decorated with colorfully painted beams, the space could work well as a family room for new homeowners. A sea-green powder room and tons of hidden storage completes the first floor.
At the top of a solid, wooden staircase is a comfortable media room/den with a built-in bar. Next to it is a handsome study with a built-in desk and library shelves. Like every room in the home, it has a breathtaking view.
Storage is ample on this floor, with a giant walk-in closet and a dressing room with its own window and an IKEA closet covering a long wall.
Two brilliantly sunny pale yellow guest bedrooms overlook the pool and the ocean, embracing visitors with the comforts of a bed and breakfast inn.
The guest bathroom continues the coastal feeling with glass countertops and a vessel sink the color of seaglass.
Guests can relax in the whirlpool tub or in the walk-in shower with its three showerheads.
The master bedroom suite features a custom-built bed with a glass-block base. The hand-painted ceiling of clouds and sky seemingly expands this space.
The other bathroom on this level is a cute powder room that has complete laundry facilities.
The whimsical, double-wide master suite encompasses the entire third floor of the home. Ceilings are hand painted to look like the sky.
The bed is a platform, built of glass blocks and lit from underneath. A mini-kitchen with an under-counter refrigerator makes it easy to serve romantic breakfasts on the deck.
Multiple skylights, including one in the master bath’s shower, illuminate the rooms. The skylights have built-in shades; when it rains, the first touch of water automatically closes them.
The space has been designed with other luxurious touches, including two dressing rooms, one with a built-in vanity.
The sitting room adjacent to the bedroom has its own deck, which seems like a garden in the sky.
Two more walk-in closets provide plenty of room for wardrobes storage and attic storage presents space to store other items.
Next to the media room is a
handsome study with a many
library shelves and a built-in desk.
Union Wharf is an oasis of quiet in the city. The harbor views are spectacular, and the mature trees and well-kept gardens contribute to the feeling of a private retreat. The homeowner explains: “You can see rainbows over the water. You can see the Constitution turn around. New Year’s Eve, you can lie in bed and watch the fireworks.”
DETAILS
Address: 18 & 19 Townhouse, Union Wharf, Waterfront
BR/BA: Four-plus bedrooms, two full baths, two half baths
Size: 4,600 square feet
Age: 1985
Price: $ 6.15 million
Taxes: $40,755 (FY 2010 with residential tax exemption)
Condo fee: $2,846 per month.
Features of building: Harborside development at Union Wharf, with on-site manager and maintenance staff, heated swimming pool, gated parking, common roof deck and water shuttle to Logan Airport; marina rental slips are available.
Features of unit: Spacious combined townhouse with amazing harbor views; two wood-burning fireplaces, four private decks; custom finishes; marble and granite kitchen; master suite with skylights and hand-painted ceiling mural; aster bath with a skylit shower; a plethora of storage built-ins; in-unit laundry; two deeded parking spaces.
Close by: Boston Harbor, North End restaurants and shops, Downtown Boston, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, City Hall Plaza, Government Center, Faneuil Hall, New England Aquarium, and Logan Airport; easy access to MBTA Green Line and Blue Line, Storrow Drive, Routes 93 and 90.
Contact: Carmela Laurella, CL Waterfront Properties, LLC, 113 Lewis Wharf, Boston MA 02110. Phone 617-624-9700.
Websites: www.unionwharf18-19.com and www.wpboston.com.
This property may be seen by appointment.
