BY JUNE ALBRITTONCORRESPONDENT

The home at 44 Appleton St. in theSouth End must be one of the mostversatile in the city. It was built as a

single-family home around 1868. Later itwas used as a bed-and-breakfast. The pre-sent owner reverted it to a single-familyhome, but its possibilities seem almost limit-less. The 3,437-square-foot home containsfour bedrooms, four baths, beautiful well-proportioned rooms and magnificent views.Geraldine Scotti of Gibson Sotheby’s Inter-national Realty has listed the home for $1.6million.

Appleton Street is convenient to both theSouth End and to the Back Bay. The one-way street runs from West Canton Street toBerkeley and to Tremont Street. It’s in the“Golden Triangle” of the South End, saysScotti, and No. 44 is just around the corner

from the Clarendon Street building that Gra-ham Gund designed in 1991 for the BostonBallet.

The red brick rowhouse with its tan stonesills and lintels and mansard roof presents alovely Victorian image. Wooden exteriorshutters enhance the windows, which aresash types until the top floor where case-ment windows are just inside the wroughtiron cornice.

A period light fixture illuminates the darkdouble front doors that are just a few stepsup from the wide sidewalk. A brass plaquebeside the doors is engraved with the num-ber and street, and brass hardware, kickplates and the mail slot embellish the doors.A gas street light and a tall, leafy tree are infront of the house, which has an angular bay.

The tile floor of the entry at 44 Appleton iscolorful and skillfully arranged. It quite pos-sibly is from the company in England that

BY MARILYN JACKSONSTAFF WRITER

Overall median sale prices in July in the11 neighborhoods covered by BostonHomes increased from those of a year

ago, but the number of sales increased in justsix areas. In a month-to-month comparison,the median sale prices were higher in fiveneighborhoods, but the number of salesincreased in only three areas, according to theListing Information Network.

The data from The Warren Group, whichcollects data from all the registries of deedsacross the state, and the Massachusetts Associ-ation of Realtors, which compiles data from itsmembers, show slightly different numbers.

Suffolk County condo sales increased year-over-year, but median prices slipped; for sin-gle-family statistics, the numbers dipped inboth categories, according to Banker &Tradesman, published by The Warren Group.The MAR reported this week that the mediansale prices for condos and single-family homesrose between July 2006 and 2007, but fell bysmall percentage points in a month-to-monthcomparison. Sales numbers, however, droppedin July from those in June. More single-familyhomes were sold in July than a year ago, andjust two fewer condo sales were recorded forthe same time period.

What does all this mean? That real estate iscyclical and that a one-month snapshot cannotportray a complete picture of the activity in thereal estate market. Where is the property locat-ed? How many sales transpired? Did a number

THE COMPLETE GUIDE

BOSTONHOMESBOSTONHOMESO P E N H O U S E S L I S T E D I N S I D EA L L O P E N H O U S E S L I S T E D I N S I D EA L L

AUGUST 25 - 31, 2007 SERVING BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, FENWAY, SOUTH END, JAMAICA PLAIN, CHARLESTOWN, NORTH END/WATERFRONT, DOWNTOWN, SOUTH BOSTON, DORCHESTER & EAST BOSTON 50¢

I N S I D E :I N D E X ,PA G E 6

BY PENELOPE LANECORRESPONDENT

In the North End, two wonderful con-dominiums may share space in a his-toric building, but each displays a

distinct and individual style One, a sleekcontemporary duplex penthouse withextraordinary views of Boston Harborfrom both the living space and huge roofdeck, offers loft living at its best. Theother, an elegant floor-through home,features lovely finishes and built-ins, andmost of its furniture is included in thesale.

Housed in the former Gandolfo OliveOil Company’s warehouse at 500 Com-mercial St., both properties are beingoffered for sale. The penthouse is pricedat $3.9 million, and Unit D at $1.95 mil-lion. Carmela Laurella of Otis & AhearnReal Estate is marketing both.

The small brick building, constructedin the 1890s, was converted to condo-miniums in 1999 and contains only fiveunits, all of them owner-occupied. Thepenthouse is two combined units, and itsprimary living space is on the top floor.There is direct elevator access to it andalso to the lower bedroom level and toUnit D as well. The penthouse spaceitself is big and bright and open. In addi-tion to being a splendid place for enter-

taining, it is wonderfully suited for mod-ern family life. Twelve-foot beamed ceil-ings, white painted brick walls and anexpanse of pale ash flooring create anappealing room with distinct living anddining areas. Windows on two wallsserve to frame views of the harbor andsurrounding parkland that are trulypanoramic and really become a featureof the interior décor. There are two Julietbalconies at the front and a much largerbalcony on the side.

The living area features a massivemarble and limestone wood-burningfireplace The dining area is adjacent tothe open chef’s kitchen, separated by ahuge mahogany island with honed gran-ite counters and an industrial Vikingfour-burner gas range with both grill andgriddle. Other appliances include a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Bosch dishwasher.Glass-fronted mahogany cabinets are onthe back wall, and a mirrored backsplashreflects the light from the front of theroom.

Behind the kitchen is a study/homeoffice that could also serve as a fourthbedroom. There is a full bath with hand-some Italian tile across the hall. A largefamily room/media center completes thislevel.

Two waterfront condos are spectacular

Continued on page 22

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A new brick entrance to the condominiums at 500 Com-mercial St. in the North End is recessed and features anelegant doorway. A third-floor condominium and apenthouse duplex are on the market for $1.95 millionand $3.9 million, respectively.

COURTESY PHOTO / OTIS & AHEARN REAL ESTATE

This single-family home at 44 Appleton St. in theSouth End, a one-time bed-and-breakfast, hasfour bedrooms and four baths and is listed at$1.6 million. PHOTO BY JUNE ALBRITTON7 98238 10017 2

3 4

South End home lies in ‘Golden Triangle’

Boston prices,sales are up

from July 2006

Week of August 25 - 31, 2007 BOSTON HOMES: THE COMPLETE GUIDE • www.bostonhomeslink.com Page 39

The angular custom staircase, asculptural composition of steel andglass, descends to the bedroomlevel. At the front is the master bed-room, which has another balconyand enjoys the same views as theliving room upstairs. It also has alarge fireplace. An ample dressingarea with a walk-in closet leads tothe master bath, a large room, sim-ply tiled in marble, with two vani-ties and a walk-in shower.

A second bedroom and full bathalso are found on the level and, atthe back is a huge children’s bed-room with lots of play area.

The private roof deck is enor-mous and offers one of the bestspots anywhere for watching theTall Ships when they return toBoston in a couple of years.

One floor below the penthouse isUnit D, a beautifully decoratedhome that features the same high,beamed ceilings, exposed brickwalls and large windows as thepenthouse, but it also has more tra-ditionally finished touches. Faux-painted walls in lovely soft colorsadd a soft sheen to the rooms, andthere are elegant window treat-ments throughout. This home,

which has a Juliet balcony, is beingsold furnished, and its new ownercan literally move right in.

The living room is at the front ofthe unit and flanking its large gasfireplace are custom built-in book-cases. To one side, there is a nicebar area with a wine cooler. On theother side, a small seating areatakes advantage of the water views.The dining area is formally fur-

nished with a long table, a side-board and a crystal chandelier.

Glass-fronted cherry cabinetsline the kitchen wall. The room fea-tures a long breakfast bar with a granite top. The stainless steel appliances include a Thermadorfive-burner gas range, Sub-Zerorefrigerator and Bosch dishwasher.

A good-sized den is behind thekitchen. It would make an excellent

home office or, in a pinch, a guestroom.

The master bedroom is tuckedaway at the quiet rear of the unit, andit is quite large. On one side of theroom is a big California-style walk-incloset. Next door is the master bath,which features a double vanity, walk-in shower and linen closet. The guest bedroom is next door, andthere is a full marble bath in the

hall just outside.Amazingly, the condo fees for both

homes include heat, hot water, airconditioning and gas for cooking.Both have excellent closet space andin-unit laundries. Both also havedeeded parking in the undergroundgarage; the penthouse has threespaces and Unit D, one. This bou-tique building is professionally man-aged and pet friendly.

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Address: 500 Commercial St.,Waterfront/North End

Penthouse: Four-plus bed-rooms, three baths, 3,500 +/-square feet, $3.9 million. Taxes,$28,410 (FY 2007), condo fee,$1,872 per month

Unit D: Two-plus bedrooms, twobaths, 1,962 +/- square feet, $1.95million. Taxes: $14,867 (FY 2007with residential exemption), condofee, $1,062 per month

Age: Circa 1890s, 1999.

Features of building: Nineteenth

century brick warehouse convert-ed to five condos with direct eleva-tor access, in-unit laundries, petfriendly.

Features of units: Penthouseduplex has enormous roof deck,open living space with exposedbrick walls, beamed ceiling, wood-burning fireplace, vast windowsand balcony; state-of-the-artkitchen with granite counters,stainless steel appliances,mahogany cabinets, media roomand fourth bedroom; master bed-room suite with fireplace and two

other bedrooms with full bath onlower level; three deeded garageparking spaces. Unit D is exquis-itely decorated floor-through withdirect harbor views; beautifulbuilt-ins and marble and lime-stone fireplace in living room,large dining area, chef’s kitchenwith breakfast bar, granite coun-ters, cherry cabinets and stain-less appliances; study/mediaroom; huge master bedroom andbath; guest bedroom with bath;deeded garage parking; most fur-niture and furnishings included insale;

Close by: North End restaurantsand shopping; easy walk to Down-town and Financial District; Puop-polo Playground; TD BanknorthGarden; MBTA Orange and GreenLines and commuter rail nearby;easy automobile access to Route93 and Logan Airport.

Contact: Carmela Laurella, Otis &Ahearn Real Estate Inc., 84Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02110.Phones: 617-227-6070 (office),617-796-2995 (voicemail). Websites: www.otisahearn.com orwww.carmelalaurella.com

D E T A I L SThese properties may be seen byappointment.

Two waterfront condos offer million-dollar viewsContinued from page 1

A large mahogany island topped with granite defines the penthouse kitchen,which is open to the dining area. Stainless steel appliances, glass-frontedmahogany cabinets and a mirrored backsplash add elegance to this space.

The living area of the penthouse is on the top floor and features a gorgeouswood-burning fireplace of marble and limestone, high, beamed ceilings andash flooring. COURTESY PHOTOS / OTIS & AHEARN REAL ESTATE

The kitchen boasts stainless steel appliances, a long breakfast bar with a granite topand cherry cabinetry, some with glass fronts. Exposed brick serves as the backsplashabove the counters, while a mirror has been placed above the sink.

The dining and living areas in Unit D include stunning views of Boston Harbor. A sitting area has been created nextto the fireplace and built-in bookcases.