Step inside this period townhouse in Boston that's an explosion of modern colour and print

published 4 March 21

THE PROPERTY

A four-storey 19th-century period townhouse in Boston, USA. The modern home (opens in new tab) in the suburb of Brookline hash ground floor has a large hall, living room (opens in new tab), kitchen (opens in new tab), dining room (opens in new tab) and WC. The lower-ground floor comprises a family room, play area, gym, mud/flower room, utility room, bathroom and patio. On the first floor is the main en-suite bedroom, plus another en-suite bedroom, a study and laundry room. The top floor has two further bedrooms and a bathroom.

KITCHEN

The gaze-grabbing extractor hood (pictured above) took its cue from the Lacanche range cooker and was hand-forged in Ohio.The brass handles are not your average off-the-peg variety, but a bespoke version, fine-tuned to suit the kitchen (opens in new tab) of this Boston home.

DINING ROOM

On the ground floor, a study was transformed into a bright, companionable dining space. It strikes an elegant but informal note, thanks to a Palm Springs palette and rosewood dining table.

LIVING ROOM

The living room feels contemporary, with a scattering of gilded frames glowing against gloss-blue shelves and a sprawling sofa, which accommodates 10 without overwhelming the space.

This home feels welcoming and punchy, particularly in the spring when sunlight throws slanting shadows across knotty floors. Restored panelling sits comfortably with ocean-blue hues and fronded wallpapers in a setting reconfigured to meet the needs of a modern family.

HALLWAY

In this once drab basement, neutrals were ditched for a floral wallpaper (opens in new tab) and hexagonal flooring resulting in a bright family space.

MASTER BEDROOM

Inherited and bespoke pieces combine with a mirror left by the previous owners, which was repainted a more dashing colour.

UTILITY ROOM

The house is full of resourceful tricks. There’s an Ikea cabinet in the utility room (opens in new tab), upscaled with a reclaimed marble top, which sits next to the hefty sink, lugged back from a salvage shop.

CLOAKROOM

A former cupboard on the ground floor has become a chic WC, where hand-printed wallpaper sits with bespoke lighting.

Victoriana gets a look in too, with crinolined ladies parading across the wall courtesy of a paper by Katie Deedy.

To see more of the designers work, visit ceciliacasagrande.com (opens in new tab)

Photography ⁄ Sean Litchfield

Livingetc

Shining a spotlight on the now and the next in home design and decor, Livingetc is the UK's best selling high end and contemporary home design magazine. As a brand, Livingetc showcases the world's very best homes, breaks and makes the trends, and has access to leading international designers for insight and ideas. It was first published in 1998, and is currently edited by Pip Rich.