Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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says Thomson. (The Real Housewives gang had its share of fun there, too, over a weekend during the show's most recent season.) The design of the house ref lects that of an out- building, appropriate for a farm-inspired Berkshires compound, but with industrial elements and luxe detailing that render it thoroughly of-the-moment, a s t hough spr ung f rom t he t rendy desig n site Remodelista (remodelista.com). Rather than employ conventional construction methods, Holben hired Acorn Deck House Company (852 Main St., Acton, 800-727-3325; deckhouse.com) to turn his design into a precut k it , which a cont ractor t hen a ssembled on-site. This allowed for an upgrade in materials: W hile the exposed cedar ceiling and mahogany w indow f ra mes, for exa mple, a re st a nda rd for Acorn, they would have otherwise pushed the proj- ect way over budget. The main living space is open and airy, with a cathedral ceiling and a double stor y of windows facing the mountains, which makes for spectacular sunsets. The poured concrete slab f loor is stained warm gray, and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Murmur, a pale g ray with a g reen tinge. "Its character changes with the light throughout the day," Holben says. A black leather Chesterfield sofa, a wood slat bench used as a coffee table, and an Arco lamp by Achille Castiglioni sit atop a russet- colored area rug. A skinny, asymmetric fireplace, clad in pa le g ray cement boa rd t hat is nor ma lly used as a base for tilework, anchors the space. The home's pièce de résistance—a three-foot-wide steel-grate catwalk inspired by an old train bridge in Great Barrington—hovers above. It overlooks the living room and is accessed by a f loating staircase made from mahogany, steel beams, and stainless steel cables. The interior, like the exterior, is simple but exciting, industrial yet warm. "We broke the modern architecture rule: It's lived in," Thomson says. "You can lie on the couch and pull a blanket over you, but look up and be wowed by the lines." Although there are no plans now to build the remaining structures, there will be. "It really is the beginning of the story," she adds. "We're a team, and we'll be together to the end." BC The living room (left and below) features a catwalk inspired by an old train bridge and a skinny, asymmetric fireplace. Thomson (right) hopes to build additional structures on the rustic 26-acre Berkshires property. continued fRoM pAge 125... a little bit country Find bucolic-chic getaways in Western Mass. the Berkshires region boasts stunning landscapes and a lively cultural scene, mixing Beethoven at tanglewood with avant-garde art at Mass MocA. the real estate market refects that spirit, says Berkshires property's Selina Lamb. "there's an incredibly eclectic architectural mix, from classic new england farmhouses to grand mansions." Here are the details on a few prime properties. 927 Boardman Street, Sheffield Square feet: 3,700. Acres: 13. Rooms: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Price: $1.75 million this modernized barn, built in 1960, offers wood-slat cathedral ceilings and exposed beams. the home overlooks a pond, a swimming pool, and grassy tennis courts. Listing agent: Maureen White, 271 Main St., great Barrington, 413-446-5634; barnbrookrealty.com 250 long Pond road, great Barrington Square feet: 13,000. Acres: 116.98. Rooms: 9 bedrooms, 7.5 baths. Price: $5,750,000 this jewel has sleek architecture, a guest house, and 1,000 feet of frontage on the Williams River, plus a gourmet kitchen, media room, game room, and lap pool. Listing agent: John Borden, William pitt Sotheby's international Realty, 346 Main St., Lakeville, ct, 212-920-4896; williampitt.com 126 bostoncommon-magazine.com haute property