Located at 395 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, USA, this is one of the last remaining houses in the world designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany - an Art Nouveau artist and son of the founder of the jewelry brand Tiffany & Co.
Louis Comfort Tiffany as painted by artist Joaquin Sorolla
Inaugurated in 1902, the five-story mansion covers an area of 1,449 square meters.2with 6 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 10 fireplaces and a terrace along with other luxurious amenities. The design of the mansion was inspired by ancient Greece, the Far East and the Chicago World's Fair. Tiffany used ideas gleaned from his travels to Japan and India to design the front door along with the bold color and pattern of the mosaic tiles he crafted himself.
The building's facade stands out despite its location on Boston's most prestigious thoroughfare. The left-hand entrance maximizes the living space. An extension to Marlborough Street in the rear provides an additional entrance.
The lobby staircase area is made of white marble combined with Tiffany mosaic tiles. Passing through the lobby is a Greek temple decorated with Greek motifs.trompe l'œil, a technique that uses realistic images to create optical illusions.
The main floor living room features original plasterwork and stained glass windows. The interior of this area is modern and minimalist, allowing the ornate details to stand out in the space.
Another living room on the upper floor uses wood as the main material in the design. The wooden items are meticulously carved, detailed such as bookshelves, tiled fireplace. The decoration above has unique carvings of armor badges, horses and other medieval-inspired images. This area also uses stained glass windows but has a relatively light shade.
Located at the rear of the house is the dining room, which has less decorative details. The highlight is the elegant wood paneling and a simple, elegant white brick fireplace.
“The house’s unique character lies in the fusion of modernity and Back Bay-inspired construction,” said David J. Hacin, creative director of Hacin + Associates, the architectural firm tasked with restoring the residence.
Tiffany's love of ancient Greek and Roman culture is also evident in every design. His passion for lighting is evident in the exquisite glasswork throughout the house, whether it's plated or stained glass.
The house was originally owned by businessman Frederick Ayer and his wife Ellen, who commissioned Tiffany to design it. He handpicked the exterior, furnishings, and wallpaper.
The sellers and developers of the property, Charles Reed of CNW Capital Partners and Jean Abouhamad of Sea-Dar Real Estate, had intended to redevelop the property into apartments, but changed their minds after seeing all the historic beauty of the property.
“The mansion is truly a work of art,” Mr. Abouhamad told The Wall Street Journal. In 2005, the site was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
