- Status: Listed
- Price: $2,995,000
- Presented by: LandVest, an exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in Maine and New Hampshire and select areas of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island
- Contact: Catherine Marcus Bassick – cbassick@landvest.com
In 2014, architect and interior designer Susan set out to take on a new project. “I’d been making houses professionally for other people for years and years, so I decided to switch things around a bit by making a house that spoke to me,” she says. Not wanting a traditional colonial, she searched for a property that was uniquely connected to nature and that was “cozy enough for one person, yet big enough to accommodate family.” She soon found what she was looking for at 23 Chestnut Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
“I loved its old-world details like leaded glass windows, chestnut handrails, and unusual shapes,” says Susan. She built upon such details in her redesign of the property, bringing it into the 21st century by creating a modern kitchen and contemporary bathrooms. As part of the kitchen recreation, she opened a south facing wall with a large bay window, adding seating and capturing sunlight while fitting seamlessly into the 1920 vintage home. The window looks out to the backyard where Susan added an outdoor grill, expanded the terrace, and curated low-maintenance gardens made private by tall hedges.
In addition to enhancing the home’s aesthetics, Susan optimized its layout. For example, she designed a posh master suite connected to a luxurious master bath with heated marble floors as well as a proper dressing room. Additionally, she added a butler’s pantry between the kitchen and the dining room to facilitate easy entertaining and she repurposed the third-floor loft from a den to her home office and design studio. “When you’re up there, you really feel like you’re in the treetops, hence the name of the house – ‘Treetops’,” she explains. Despite its wooded neighborhood, 23 Chestnut Street is proximate to city conveniences. “In addition to the Commuter Rail, that takes you to Boston in 25 minutes, you can walk to the post office, bank, coffee shop, bakery, and hardware store all within five minutes,” says Susan.
“I was able to use all of my design experience to update this elegant house into a something that has all the conveniences of new construction with the heart and warmth of a vintage property. It was a challenge,” says Susan. Susan is selling Treetops, as she is ready to take on a new challenge. Undoubtedly, she will rise to the occasion by again making not only a house, but also a home marked by her “casual, yet elegant” style. To whomever next calls 23 Chestnut Street home, Susan says, “It is just a happy, cheery house, so enjoy it!”
As edited by Mom and Susan. Thanks!
