S+H Construction and Taylor Interior Design created a masterpiece of modernity in the Millennium Tower.
When a city like Boston beckons—with its exceptional theater, restaurants, nightlife and sports venues—having a place downtown is heaven. Especially if that place resides inside the 60-story Millennium Tower (millenniumtowerboston.com). A couple who own a home in the Boston suburbs wanted a downtown lair to hang out with their four children and take advantage of downtown fun. Sarah Lawson, owner of Cambridge-based S+H Construction (shconstruction.com), and Courtney Taylor of Taylor Interior Design (taylorinteriordesign.com), were tapped to completely revitalize the 2,000-square-foot condo.
“The project was an entire retrofit without tearing down walls,” says Lawson. “Instead, our work consisted of millwork modifications, all-new casework, over-the-top lighting design with custom lighting fixtures, replacement of all plumbing fixtures—some custom fabricated— new custom door and cabinet hardware, carpet, automated shades and a top-of-the-line audiovisual system. This was all in collaboration with the exquisite work of Courtney.”
Designer Courtney Taylor created rooms with monochromatic colors to establish a serene atmosphere.
The Providence, R.I.-based designer had worked with the clients on four other occasions. “The condo was basically a blank slate,” says Taylor. “The design aesthetic was to create a cool, high-end modern, luxury city home with character.”
Many high-rise interior projects bring a range of challenges and limitations, says Lawson, and this one was no different—especially the lighting design and its call for exceptional fixtures. “With the addition of these surface-mounted light fixtures draping from the ceiling, we were required to drop the ceiling depth to accommodate their electric wiring,” she says. “We encountered the same issue with their impressive audiovisual systems, but we managed to install this wiring without interrupting or encroaching into the windows and fire-suppression system. We also added dropped soffit ceilings at specific locations to frame the lighting and add dimension to the space.”
Each bedroom features vibrant wallpaper behind the headboards to add depth and color to the space—each wall is framed to give the appearance of artwork.
Millennium Tower features countless selling points, but the views, without a doubt, are why investments are made here. Taylor designed the most striking spaces—master bedroom, living and dining rooms—with the Boston skyline in mind. She used monochromatic colors in each room, establishing a serene atmosphere since the view itself plays such a significant role in each room’s aesthetic. Taylor also custom designed the zebra wood and nickel bar in the living room-dining area. In other spaces, like the hallways, guest bedrooms (especially the wallpaper behind headboards) and bath, the designer applied generous splashes of color. Nanz (nanz.com) hardware is used throughout the home, and Taylor made sure to switch the styles in every room.
Taylor custom designed the zebra wood and nickel bar in the living room-dining area.
Art also plays a big part in the condo, as the family has an extensive collection. Taylor says the family owns a collection of antique Czech case-glass bottles and vessels from Manhattan’s End of History (@theendofhistory). This glass collection now sits on custom-designed glass shelves suspended from the ceiling; the pieces are illuminated by lighting from Roll & Hill (rollandhill.com).
“This lively family of six loves to entertain,” says Taylor, who, along with the team at S+H Construction, created a city getaway that might make it hard to leave after the weekend ends.
A Roll & Hill light fixture amps the hallway’s design.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Condo
LOCATION
Millennium Tower
BUILDER & CONTRACTOR
S+H Construction
shconstruction.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Taylor Interior Design
taylorinteriordesign.com
RESOURCES
A. RUDIN
Custom sectional, living room
arudin.com
ANEES FURNITURE
Dining chairs, island stools, master bed
aneesupholstery.com
ATELIER ALAIN ELLOUZ
Light fixture, living room
atelier-alain-ellouz.com
THE END OF HISTORY
Czech cased-glass bottles
@theendofhistory
PHILIPPE HUREL
Hourglass table, living room
philippe-hurel.com
ROLL & HILL
Light fixture, hallway
rollandhill.com
THE RUG COMPANY
Rugs throughout condo
therugcompany.com
Photography by: Nat Rea
