This Modern Boston Carriage House Has the Dreamiest Sunroom Ever

updated Apr 30, 2019

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Home Type

House

Location

Harrison Hill, Boston, Massachusetts

Style

N/A

Bedrooms

N/A

Square feet

2400

Sq ft

2400

Name: Melissa Miranda and Ulises Serret, their son Alex, and cats Tammy and Siddharta
Location: Harrison Hill — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 2,400 square feet
Years lived in: 7 years; Owned

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Nearly a decade ago, interior designer Melissa Miranda moved into her now-husband’s home in the Harrison Hill area of Dorchester in Boston. Ulises Serret, a builder and developer, originally purchased and renovated the single-family home that has since undergone numerous makeovers to reflect this dynamic duo’s combined aesthetic. So, what do you get when an interior designer and her builder husband take on renovating a grand Victorian carriage house? An open plan layout with spacious rooms, soaring ceilings and plenty of natural light for their happy plants, all of which help the interior feel like a retreat from the bustling city of Boston that is just outside the home’s doorstep.

(Image credit: Emily Billings)

Ulises and Miranda’s home gives a nod to modern design, offering a crisp white backdrop that highlights elements inspired by the couple’s worldly sensibility. Melissa, a London native, adds her personal touch throughout the space, and the couple have incorporated aspects of their many travels in personal and meaningful ways. Influenced by time spent in Spain, the couple utilize timeless elements of design within their space. The couple chose a Moorish cement tile for their conservatory, while in their living room, an eye-catching gold mirror brought back from an antique shop in Barcelona serves as a physical reminder of their adventures abroad.

(Image credit: Emily Billings)

Their objects, furniture, and entire rooms are constantly being rearranged and re-contextualized. This, paired with their impressive green thumb, makes the space a dream. The conservatory has quickly become the most lived-in and loved space within the house, and it is easy to see why. Situated in New England, where winters can be grueling and seemingly never-ending, the sunroom offers a breath of fresh air and the feeling of warmth, attributed in part to the radiant floor heating, but also thanks to the dramatic plants Melissa—a horticulture aficionado—has lovingly cultivated throughout the home. The modern atmosphere, flooded with an abundance of natural light, quickly makes the couple forget they are still in the heart of Boston, truly transforming the carriage house into an oasis, an impressive example of Melissa’s encouragement to “make your home your retreat.”

(Image credit: Emily Billings)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Eclectic, modern, bohemian, classic, organic, and Scandinavian.

Inspiration: Comes from world travels. I am especially inspired by Middle Eastern, Moorish, and Mediterranean style.

Favorite Element: The natural light, plants, and high ceilings.

Biggest Challenge: Stopping myself from buying more plants.

Proudest DIY: The easy kitchen makeover—we painted the cabinets, added shiplap to the backsplash, and changed the hardware and light fixtures. It transformed the look!

Biggest Indulgence: Radiant heat in the conservatory floor—pure luxury! And having fresh flowers and crisp white bed linens.

Best Advice: Make your home your retreat.

Dream Sources: The markets of Marrakesh and antique shops of Provence.