Name: Chris and Rebecca
Location: Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts
Size: Just under 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; owned
Chris and Rebecca have founded two thriving businesses, InfraRed5 and Brass Monkey, and were recently listed as one of Boston's power couples. But even with their intense focus on growing their businesses, they still have the passion to create a beautiful home. Located in the centre of Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, their home is lovely and welcoming.
This colonial style home, and the many similar ones that surround it, are what makes Jamaica Plain so special. Chris and Rebecca are fortunate enough to live in a house that's in the central part of Jamaica Plain, but is tucked away along a dead-end side street. Their office is also in the neighborhood, within walking distance from their house, so they've made their home a pleasant and comfortable escape from the stresses of running two businesses.
The home was renovated prior to their move in date in 2008. The space is clean and fresh, with loads of natural light reflecting off the soft, neutral colors on the walls. The first level is an open floor layout with the big, white kitchen, which leads out to the patio, as an anchor.
Chris and Rebecca love to find hidden gems at flea markets, and it shows, with several unique pieces scattered throughout their home. Those flea market finds add a rustic flair, which is balanced by contemporary pieces from retailers like CB2, Room 68, and Restoration Hardware. Goes to show that even with a crazy busy professional life, it's possible to make time to create a home that's charming, comfortable, and expressive.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Favorite Element: Architecturally speaking, the open floor plan downstairs. We like to entertain and Chris loves to cook, so it is great to be able to chat with guests and him while he works.
As far as favorite element in the house, this is a tough question. We really love so much. There are meaningful items handed down from my grandmother, artwork made by Chris' mom, artwork given to us by friends for our wedding and as gifts over the years, items purchased on trips. I guess I couldn't say particularly.
Biggest Challenge: At this point, space for artwork. We love to support emerging artists and we are running low on wall space! I would like to have them all hung up.
Proudest DIY: Covering the bottom of the couch cushions with my friend Susana (makegoodstudio.com). The light colored couch is not good with pets in the house, so covering them with something a little more durable was a great choice!
Biggest Indulgence: The Restoration Hardware 1950s Copenhagen Chair. It took about 6 months to pick out the perfect chair for that area of the living room. We wanted something that brought the whole space together and also created a great reading nook.
Best Advice: If you love it, incorporate it. Don't worry about styles competing with each other. Working on a budget? Buy floor samples and at flea markets. It is amazing the deals you can find it you poke around for a while.
Dream Sources: A flea market where you have no idea what is around the corner!
Resources of Note:
Thanks, Chris and Rebecca!
(Images: Nick Siemaska)
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so many neat little touches! thanks for sharing!
kelly of www.twentysixeast.com
greyhound!
I'm interested in information on the backsplash. Is it scored concrete or tile? Thanks!
I'm so happy this is the second greyhound I've seen on a House Tour!
Gorgeous home! Love the sofa w/ the covered cushions....and the beautiful greyhound!
Great job on the sofa cushions... it looks durable but still inviting.
Further proof that greyhounds are fantastic apartment dogs! Love seeing them in tours :)
that copenhagen chair is stunning! nice substitute for a jacobsen egg
Yay greyhound! Looks like my Ollie:)
Before clicking through the full set of pictures, I was thinking this would just be another house filled with Restoration Hardware items and lacking in personality, but I was wrong - this home has many quirky personal touches, punches of color, and warmth. Thanks for sharing.
Shame on you, AT! Not enough pictures of the greyhound!
Nice job! Thanks for sharing.
Love the painting behind the egg chair. Any resource info on the painter, where it is from? Also, thank you for a house tour with a stack of mail/ junk papers. Real people in a real house. Nice for a change.
The house is lovely! In my opinion, any house with a Greyhound is great house.
It's very rare that I see a house on these tours that I just want to move in and not change a thing but this is definitely one of those. It's hard to pick a favorite thing but the feed sack bench and the red cabinet in the dining room really caught my eye. I love the way all the different styles are mixed together.
The slipcovers on the couch (linen perhaps?) look great and that color seems quite practical. Thanks for sharing your lovely home.
It is marble. It does look look like concrete in the photo though!
The painting behind the chair is by a Cape Cod artist that I grew up with - his name is Chris Malatesta - here is a link about him. http://www.wickedlocal.com/eastham/newsnow/x2028122515/Comeback-kid#axzz2913AV2VY
Guess I'm the only voice of dissent here, but it seems like this house can't decide what it wants to be. Rustic? Industrial? Contemporary? These styles can be mixed well together, but I just see distinct elements of each of those without a cohesive vein.
Does a home have to be in a catagory? Rustic, Industrial etc? Why can't a home be filled with things the owner loves? Does an entire home have to have a theme?
I like this home a lot dispite not having a "cohesive vein"
What S.J.P. said. Why every thread at AT has to get tainted by some internet troll diva out there is really annoying.
This house is lovely.
Wow, first off, chill out with the name calling. That type of comment just reflects more on the commenter than the target. In any case, no, a house doesn't need to fit into any category. Think I said that already in my original comment. But in my humble opinion (emphasis on the humble), there should still be an eye to making distinct components work together, i.e., the Gestault factor of the whole being the sum of the parts. Not everyone needs to *love* every house tour on AT, and when someone voices a critical opinion, I would hope that it is taken in stride rather than attacked obnoxiously behind the anonymity of cyberspace.
Wow, first off, chill out with the name calling. That type of comment just reflects more on the commenter than the target. In any case, no, a house doesn't need to fit into any category. Think I said that already in my original comment. But in my humble opinion (emphasis on the humble), there should still be an eye to making distinct components work together, i.e., the Gestault factor of the whole being the sum of the parts. Not everyone needs to *love* every house tour on AT, and when someone voices a critical opinion, I would hope that it is taken in stride rather than attacked obnoxiously behind the anonymity of cyberspace.
What a great Home! These must be two very creative people to turn what looks like a very ordinary suburban house interior into such a warm, interesting expression of their lives. Love many of the details, especially that stunning red cabinet (?) in the dining room. Thanks for this one.
Lovely Home...may I ask what color paint you used on the accent wall in your dining room? I can't distinguish if it's a charcoal or deep brown?