Names: Alexandra Grenham, her husband, John, and their two daughters
Location: North End — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 1,336 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; owned
When I saw Alexandra's House Call last month, I was excited to get the job of shooting the full tour. Like you, I couldn't wait to see more of the beautiful brick and beam loft peppered with bursts of color.
When the majority of your space is one open room, decorating can be a challenge, but Alexandra has it mastered. Contemporary practical pieces — like the large outdoor table converted for indoor use — serve as anchors, while color pops up in accessories. John's love of minimalism keeps it all in check. Which I can imagine is a tough job, because as Creative Director for Erie Drive, Alexandra often goes on buying trips, and some of the inventory comes home with her. Since most of the cool stuff in the space (transit signs, robots, typography prints, etc.) originated on such trips, it seems to work out just fine.
Their daughters' room is a girly explosion of pink and pattern. Bright Marimekko prints are how Alexandra's mom decorated her childhood space, and she's done the same. Also a nod to tradition, framed over the crib is a tiny yellow dress, which Alexandra and then her two girls wore home from the hospital.
The girls' room is in the home's master bedroom, but Alexandra hasn't given over the walk-in closet. Since they reclaimed the largely wasted hall closet as usable space and a home for their books, this closet and the one in their bedroom are enough for their needs.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Contemporary, fun, playful, sometimes colorful, and relatively practical. I put things together that I love, but I really like items to be functional or meaningful.
Inspiration: There is great composition and design organically happening all around us. I spend a lot of time walking around cities (not just the one I live in), and I am inspired by the composition of everyday things, like all of the dots and streaks of yellow cabs going up and down the streets of New York. I also think the cereal aisle at the grocery store is a cool and crazy explosion of color.
Favorite Element: The windows, beams, and brick are in a tie. I love them all!
Biggest Challenge: We all share one bathroom! Our biggest design challenge is
balancing John's need for minimalism with my love of clusters and collections.
What Friends Say: People are usually taken aback by the bright and open feel of the space. We hear "Wow!" quite a lot.
Biggest Embarrassment: The kitchen. It is next on the list to be renovated. In the meantime, I enjoy designing the new one in my head.
Proudest DIY: The mobile over my daughter's bed. It started as just paper
butterflies, but it keeps evolving. The latest additions are the paper lanterns.
Biggest Indulgence: The Arco light in the living room. I love it and knew that we
could pull it off with the height of our ceiling.
Best Advice: Live in your space for a little before you furnish it. Get to know how you function in the space and organize your home around your lifestyle.
Dream Sources: Etsy, Brimfield Antique Market, Hive Modern, YLighting
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Living Room: Benjamin Moore Natura — Cloud White
• Bedroom: Benjamin Moore Natura — Silver Mink
• Bathroom Ceiling: Benjamin Moore Natura — Thunderbird
• Bathroom Walls: Benjamin Moore Natura — Black and Cloud White
ENTRY
- • S&H Construction (John Ellis and Addy) worked with Alexandra to design
and build the wall, bench, custom doors, and custom metal doors. The wood
used on the wall and bookshelf is African mahogany.
• Vintage Boston Map: eBay
• Transportation Train Sign: Etsy
• Painting/Collage: Artist Kirby Scudder
• Chair: Hive Modern
• Hardware: Raybern Builders Specialty Hardware
LIVING ROOM
- • Credenza: CB2
• Leather Sofa: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
• Pillows: Erie Drive
• Green Leather Chair: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
• Red Fire Truck Spot Light: Brimfield Antique Market
• Drift Wood: Brimfield Antique Market
• Arco Floor Lamp: YLighting
• Accent Tables: Design Within Reach
DINING ROOM
- • Table: Design Within Reach
• Chairs: Design Within Reach
• High Chair: Amazon
• Light: YLighting
• Ladder: Erie Drive
KITCHEN
- • Lights: Interior Deluxe
• Subway Sign: Ward Maps
• Trolley Sign (5514): Erie Drive
• Arrow Print: Erie Drive
• Robot: Erie Drive
BEDROOM
- • Chair: Design Within Reach
• Desk: CB2
• Bed: IKEA
• Duvet and Pillows: Erie Drive
• Painting: Artist June August
• Collage: John (husband DIY project)
BATHROOM
- • Mirror: Crate and Barrel
• Arrow Hooks: Erie Drive
• Shower Curtain: Erie Drive
GIRLS' BEDROOM
- • Crib: Target
• Bed: IKEA
• Fatboy Bean Bag: Marimekko
• Changing Table: Isis
• Table: Patrick Grenham
• Chairs: Found at various flea markets, painted by Alexandra
• Rugs: FLOR, Land of Nod
• Wall Hanging: Marimekko
• Alphabet Animal Flashcard Set (on wall): Erie Drive
• Framed Dress: Alexandra's own
• Central Park Print: Etsy
• Cloth Bins: Restoration Hardware
• Rubber Bins: Amazon
• Bedding: Land of Nod
• Comforter: The Company Store
• Lights: YLighting
OTHER
- • Light Installation: SM Dodge Electric Contractors
Thanks, Alexandra & John!
(Images: Tara Bellucci )
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Wow!
I love your apartment but how do you watch TV? If you are sitting on your sofa, you have to look over your right shoulder to see the TV.
this might be one of my favorite tours on apartment therapy! love the marimekko print in the baby's room!
What a fantastic living space! Even the kid's toys are uber-cool!
i agree; the space itself is great - and then you've added terrific pieces (love the copley library sign, the huge bookshelves and rocking chair, all the art, the green chair and footstool ...) and lots of colors. looks like a very happy home. thank you for sharing your home with us.
a question, too - would you please share the source on that long green, dotted runner in the kitchen? thanks again.
agree witht the rest, love the house and everything in it.
So much light, so much color without adding paint, so much space for such a smaller layout - I truly love it all. And the color of the floors is fantastic. Awesome tour!
Also interested in the green dot runner in kitchen - and I think the kitchen looks great - would take it off the reno list! Thanks for sharing your tremendously nifty home.
Cute place.
Where is that mini file cabinet from?
Too much fun! I'm trying to figure out why you consider your kitchen an embarassment...
I love everything about your place! I have major home envy right now... I was just in Boston on Friday and between that and your house, I want to move there badly.
I can see why you think the kitchen isn't quite up to par, but I wouldn't say it's an embarrassment. Please post some after pictures once it's done!
@einnac - You sit sideways on the couch with your feet up on the couch and your arm propped on the back (that's how I always watch TV). Or you sit in that comfy green chair.
My favorites are the T sign in the kitchen and the girls' bedroom. This is a delightful home -- I think I would be in a perpetual good mood if I lived here.
I agree with you - my favourite elements are also the beams, brickwork and windows. Good bones. Why are you embarrassed by the kitchen, though?
Terrific home. It's really beautiful.
Beautiful home...even more stunning in person. Love the children's room, signs, lights, and color combinations. Beautiful! Alexandra is truly talented!!!
Such a great happy space.
the only thing i dont like is the shiny sofa!
I'll have to join your friends: Wow!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring place, I can see both of you balance each other well -- minimalist meets cereal aisle lover! I can imagine your joint effort throughout the house, as in how you balanced the spaciousness of the loft with the little corners of thoughtful clutter; or in how well distributed the brick/wood/plastic elements are. Truly lovely! I had to go back and forth to "get" the layout (didn't know where the children's area was in relation to your bedroom, for example.)
And, about the bathroom - after living 10 years in our cottage we just now added a 1/2 bathroom - four of us and one bathroom has been challenging, yet doable. I'd focus my remodeling energy/resoureces on adding a 1/2 bathroom rather than updating the kitchen -- your cabinets are neutral and have simple lines, they really blend in with the rest of the house quite nicely!
Would you be able to share where the rocking chair (by the book shelf) is from, please. Is it the chair you got at Hive Modern?
Forgive my style faux pas, but where is that elephant figure in the living room from??
And can I ask where the yellow fruit bowl is from? Also, is that a red step stool hanging in the dining room? I'm on the hunt so a source would be much appreciated. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous home!
Love this tour !!!
@art is necessary - The rug is Vera One from Pappelina. It's Scandinavian and made from recycled plastic - super durable and kid friendly!
@celesterogelia - The mini file cabinet is from CB2.
@movetoinbox - The rocking chair is the Blu Dot Buttercup Rocker - purchased at Hive Modern.
@melissa82 - Hattie the Elephant is fully movable and available at Erie Drive!
@rsowers - The fruit bowl is actually a repurposed golf ball basket! Both this and the red step ladder are available at Erie Drive.
Loft dweller family living compadre, I love this because my family of 4 lives in a 3 BR 2 ba 1150 sq ft loft in Downtown LA. It is nice to see how you guys work with you space. Very inspiring! You are lucky to have brick walls, beams, metal doors etc. and did I see wood floors? Nice! In LA most buildings have brushed concrete floors in the lofts. I prefer the wood. You have a lot on your side with the elements your space provides but you did a beautiful job with it. Question, where is your daughter's play crib from? I love it.
Loft dweller family living compadre, I love this because my family of 4 lives in a 3 BR 2 ba 1150 sq ft loft in Downtown LA. It is nice to see how you guys work with you space. Very inspiring! You are lucky to have brick walls, beams, metal doors etc. and did I see wood floors? Nice! In LA most buildings have brushed concrete floors in the lofts. I prefer the wood. You have a lot on your side with the elements your space provides but you did a beautiful job with it. Question, where is your daughter's play crib from? I love it.
alexandra -
thanks much for the source information on that kitchen runner. love when people share their sources for stuff (we need to keep businesses going! besides, i live nowhere near you and my family and friends won't see the same rug in your place as in mine. ha.)
kathy
Love it! So excited to see the CB2 credenza under your flat screen TV. We bought it and used it the same way! Such a versatile piece!
Definitely one of my favorite tours! Incredibly chic yet minimalistic city living! Especially love the pops of color in the girls' room and the personal touches that make it unique!
Love how you used the bottom of the bookshelves to line and organize your shoes--clever!
I love this home! So inspiring. I've never seen a house that's so colorful and at the same time so clean and white. The kids room with the KURA bed for example - clean, crisp white walls, yet still colorful and cheerful. Superb.
Thanks for the source info!! Methinks I may order a Hattie of my own soon :)