Michael Ferzoco is the principle of Eleven interiors, the Interior design firm he founded in 2005. Michael’s post below starts a work in progress in the North End. Enjoy. Michael @ElevenInteriors.com.
We recently began working with a client in Boston’s North End neighborhood. Over the past 18 months he’s had a number of issues with water leaks and this past summer he began noticing mold on the walls and baseboards. Our client realized that he needed to bite the bullet and completely renovate the space to guarantee that it was sealed from the elements. The space is quasi-free standing in that it only shares a fire wall with a mirror image space. These two units each have their own private entrance from the street. They are part of a condo association that includes a multi-unit building with 8 condos. It is the mirror image of my client’s space. The unobstructed views of Boston Harbor from my client’s home are magical. The space has the potential to be a sweet, little oasis in one of the most ethnically European neighborhoods in the city.
The space feels small at 750 square feet because it’s a duplex. Yes, that’s right, just about 350 square feet of livable space on each floor in order to accommodate the stair case and entry area. The space is also awkwardly shaped with two fairly long exterior walls that actually follow the curve of the sidewalk/street. The client has lived in the space for more than 10 years without making any changes. It was originally developed in the late 1990’s. The space is so poorly laid out that whoever did it originally should have their license revoked. WOW! Talk about bad flow, bad energy, a poor use of limited space and mediocre, at best, materials. This place had everything wrong with it. See for yourself…
The big question is, how do you take a space like this and create something that’s actually wonderful to live in? Check back here from time to time to follow the transformation.