From a 19th century church to a chic, modern penthouse, exploring 140 Shawmut Avenue is truly a religious experience.
The Belfry Room, named after its former life as a church belfry, offers sweeping views of the city through gothic windows.
Oak and stone belfries, once used as siege shelters during the Middle Ages, now serve a different purpose at this South End penthouse. Now, it’s a contemporary eighth-floor condo at The Lucas—although it still acts as a safe haven away from Boston’s bustling streets. Located in the former German Trinity Church, the 2,589-square-foot home features three outdoor areas (including a rooftop terrace), three beds and three full and one half baths—and is on the market for a swift $4.975 million.
In 2017, the former homeowners purchased the abode as a shell after Metric Construction Corp. (metriccorp.com) completed its work, and immediately called upon Miami’s Mike Stake Studio to design the blank canvas with stunning, bespoke elements. Today, future homeowners can step into the result: a modern, transitional condo with European white oak floors by Natural Wood Floor Studio (naturalwoodfloorstudio.com). The space is almost entirely enclosed in curtain wall glass, offering a bright, airy atmosphere and expansive views. “My vision for the house was really to celebrate the light,” says one of the homeowners.
Upon entering, spend a moment in the day room, affectionately dubbed the Belfry Room, which blends historic architecture with contemporary style. Set against cobalt blue walls, six gothic windows provide sweeping vistas of Boston’s skyline, from South End to Back Bay and the Financial District. However, the most enviable element is the original stone archway, creating a striking juxtaposition between the old and the new. Thankfully, the owners stopped the contractors from plastering over this one-of-a-kind detail. “It takes people’s breath away when they see the stone that was put in place in 1868,” the homeowner notes.
The spa bathroom features marble from Casabona Mármoles in Spain.
Passing a balcony, the open-concept living room dazzles. Light streams through 10-foot windows, while a natural color palette complements the views, bringing the outside in. “There’s a lot of blue, gray, creamy white and blue green, and that was really to celebrate what you see when you look outside the apartment,” explains one of the owners. “Right in front of us are acres of trees and the blue sky beyond.”
In the stylish kitchen, find custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode (wood-mode.com) and a gray-brown Zaragoza leathered marble island from Casabona Mármoles (casabonamarmoles.com) wrapped in Schumacher’s Wyoming Sidewall (fschumacher.com). The room is outfitted for any chef thanks to a Wolf cooktop, Sub-Zero refrigerator (subzero-wolf.com) and a Miele (mieleusa.com) coffee maker, double ovens and wine fridge. For chic, sophisticated meals, choose between a breakfast nook, complete with a velvet banquette, or an adjoining formal dining area adorned with ombre blue Calico (calicowallpaper.com) wallcovering.
The open-concept living room flows into a kitchen and dining area, all adorned with custom touches.
Down a long gallery, residents can unwind and recharge in the primary suite. Begin every morning sipping coffee on the private terrace for a breath of fresh air. The neutral room’s floor-to-ceiling curtain wall windows invite sunshine, highlighting details like tan Fibra Viva linen wallpaper by Italreflexes (italreflexes.it), custom white oak built-ins and vintage ceiling pendants by Staff Leuchten (galleryl7inc.com) from the 1970s.
A chic breakfast nook is complete with a velvet banquette
Just outside the suite, through pocket doors, a walk-in closet and dressing area’s clean, white oak cabinets with leather and brass handles open to reveal specialty shoe and belt compartments. Adjacent, the primary bath resembles a serene spa. White Arabescato marble honed with a border of Portoro gold (casabonamarmoles.com) dresses the floor, and swirled wallcovering from Schumacher’s Celerie Kemble Collection adds an artistic touch. Soak in the silver cast-iron tub, or rinse off in the walk-in glass shower while overlooking the neighborhood.
After exploring the interiors, climb a limestone staircase wrapped in white oak to the 800-square-foot terrace: an entertainer’s dream. Nine floors up, 180-degree views wow, placing each visitor high above the treetops with an unobstructed picture of Boston. Gas and water hookups allow for a kitchen, but simply sitting on the rooftop is a rare treat for city dwellers. Watching the city sparkle in the evening is one of the owners’ dearest delights. “I’ve lived in the South End since I moved here in 1984, so I love seeing all the rooftops and Fenway lit up at night.” $4.975 million, 140 Shawmut Ave., Unit PH8B, Alan Duggan, 617.943.3450, compass.com
Photography by: Sabrina Baloun
