ASPIREDESIGNAND H O M E . C O M 73 SCULPTURAL LINES, MUTED TONES AND ABUNDANT STONE UNITE BOSTON CHARM AND CONTEMPORARY COOL ORDER + INDUSTRY T here’s something quietly audacious about taking a 19th-century brownstone down to the studs in one of Boston’s most historic postcodes. But for designer Nicole Hirsch, that was precisely the point. “Our clients wanted to maintain the rich tradition of what this town house used to be,” she describes, “but infuse it with a modern sensibility.” And true to form, Hirsch reimagines the inside of this six-story Beacon Hill brownstone, proving that history and modernity can cohabitate beautifully. Hirsch, known for her warm, modern aesthetic and material-forward interiors, joined forces with High Street Development and architectural firm Embarc Design to reimagine the home for a young family with four children under six. “They were dream clients – kind, trusting and with great taste,” Hirsch recalls. “Because we were so aligned, we could move quickly and decisively, which allowed the design to feel cohesive from one room to the next.” That cohesion is anchored in stone, a material that, in Hirsch’s words, “became integral to the home’s design identity.” Each slab – from the veined marble vanities to the sculpted fireplace surrounds – was hand-selected and fabricated by A&S Luxury Stone, infusing quiet luxury throughout. “Every piece had to feel like it belonged,” she explains. “There’s an intimacy in that level of attention.” The interplay of historic charm and modern restraint runs throughout. Original crown moldings, chevron hardwoods and tall sash windows recall Beacon Hill’s pedigree, while clean-lined millwork and custom-made furnishings introduce contemporary rhythm. A floating walnut credenza in the dining room nods to midcentury craftsmanship, while a concealed TV lift in the primary bedroom merges innovation with understatement. BEACON HILL BOSTON, MA 1 P R I M A RY B E D R O OM SOFT NEUTRALS AND L AY E R E D T E X T U R ES DEFINE THE SERENE P R I M A RY S U I T E . T H E JP CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY B E D C O N C E A L S A HIDDEN TELEVISION IN I T S F O O T B O A R D , MAINTAINING THE ROOM’S C A L M S Y M M E T RY AND FOCUS ON FORM. 2 S I T T I N G A R E A F L ANKING THE FIREPLACE, C U S T O M C L O S E T DOORS WITH BESPOKE F R A N K A L L A RT H ARDWARE – EACH KNOB W E I G H I N G O V E R FOUR POUNDS – BRING S C U L P T U R A L H E F T TO THE SPACE, OFFSET BY A H A N D - K N O T T E D S TARK RUG THAT WHISPERS O F Q U I E T L U X U RY. 2 c. 1880