If you are looking for the classic elegance of haute living in Boston combined with a modern expression of elegance, Maison Commonwealth is sure to deliver. The luxury boutique condo complex made of just five residences in two combined brownstones in Back Bay was designed with the intent of preserving the city's historic charm while offering prospective buyers a cutting-edge modern design unique to the city.

"Maison Commonwealth comes on the heels of the Maison Vernon development in Beacon Hill," said Marcel Safar, founding partner of developer Chevron Partners. "The concept was to be able to provide completed residences for even the most discerning buyers. It's a balance between intricate and European influence with modern design that has never been done in the Boston market."

Photo Credit: Maison Commonwealth

From custom heating vents, hand carved marble mantels, ornate fireplaces, imported oak flooring, sleek Italian kitchen cabinetry and doors from Italy with invisible hinges, the luxe grandeur found here is nearly impossible to find in Boston. The recently listed property offers spacious units ranging from $3,000 to $4,700 per square foot.

"One of the things that we are really proud of is we are able to have limited customization because we are only five residences," he said. "There are options for floor finishes and kitchen cabinetry finishes. Most of all materials are provided by ADIGE Design from the kitchen and closets to floor, doors and hardware, which makes the process a lot easier for buyers with one-stop shopping. Most importantly though, there is no loss of design vision. Our buyers know the specifics of the products and know what they want. They know the doors are magnetic and don't have hinges, and want a dual HVAC system that is perfectly silent."

Photo Credit: Maison Commonwealth

There are customizable garden floor units with direct access off Commonwealth Avenue available along with a sprawling penthouse unit.

"The penthouse unit is the first of its kind on Comm Ave," Safar added. "It's the only place in Boston with a full classic 2,700 sf apartment on one level and 1,600 sf penthouse on the roof with a motorized sliding glass system for full indoor and outdoor living. People really relish the historical elegance of Boston. We are targeting the buyer who is knowledgeable and values the details of the residences, its finishes and its services. They know what they want and what we are providing. Our buyers ask questions on every single finish being provided. It's an opportunity for us to show them the extraordinary finishes we are offering while building something special."

Photo Credit: Maison Commonwealth

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Earlier this week, visitors to Restoration Hardware's Boston Back Bay store were in for a treat. The company (now known as RH) took over a 150-year-old landmark building (formerly the site of the New England Museum of Natural History) and gave it a dramatic luxury makeover, highlighting the site's antique beauty by exposing elements such as the original vaulted ceiling. In addition, RH unveiled a magnificent 24-foot steel Eiffel Tower replica.

With many designers now choosing to renovate rather than remodel historic properties, this is a prime example of how a careful eye can make all the difference. For example, on the third floor RH installed a $1,895 trickling fountain, a $1,470 Provence wicker sofa, 1950s-style leather chairs that retail for $1,800 and the pièce de résistance, a glamorous $895 chandelier.

Restoration Hardware is opening galleries across the United States in California, Texas, and Arizona to help inspire luxury lifestyle designers. Carlos Alberini, the company's CEO, told the Boston Globe: “Going into a space like this is extraordinary…this gives us an opportunity to really enhance the experience the customer is going to have interacting with the brand and our products.”

Photos courtesy of the Boston Herald

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