Categories: Design

A Beacon Hill Bookshop Owner Invites Us Inside Her Late-1800s Townhouse

Author Thomas Wolfe famously wrote, “You can never go home again” in his 1940 novel, You Can’t Go Home Again, but as bookshop owner Melissa Fetter‘s 20-year odyssey back to Boston’s beloved Beacon Hill proves, sometimes, you can go home again. “I have always loved Beacon Hill. In fact, I lived here in a tiny little apartment when I was in my 20s in the mid 1980s,” she says. “So it was very fun to come back to Boston, specifically Beacon Hill, just before the pandemic started.”

Though her current 19th-century five-story brick structure that spreads across thousands of square feet is hardly similar to her post-grad home 40 years ago, Fetter will admit that there’s a charm to Beacon Hill that radiates from every block in the neighborhood, and returning here was a happy homecoming. And luckily, it wasn’t too much work. “We bought this townhouse, which had been lovingly renovated by the previous owner, but I’ve had a lot of fun adding layers and extra flourishes that I think make the space more welcoming.”

Ahead, discover what makes this centuries-old spot a timeless classic.

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Watch the full episode here.

A Living Room With Twin Fireplaces

You’d never guess from this angle, but once you enter the living room, just opposite the foyer, you’d notice two fireplaces, and Fetter uses both. “I think it’s because it was just so darn cold, you know, you needed as many fireplaces as possible for people to gather around,” she admits. She, with her friend and interior designer Cathy Kincaid, designed ample seating around both, making this the main hangout haunt of the home.

The other half of her living room sits just behind the portion by the front door. This side, however, is a bit smaller, but still very much prioritizing the fireplace, which is identical to the other one. This, Fetter notes, is where so much of the charm of the home comes into play, and Kincaid was a major helping hand in that. The amount of texture, pattern, and color makes this room feel abundantly welcoming.

A Workhorse Kitchen

Though Fetter didn’t have to perform any major renovations, she definitely added her personal touch in the kitchen, including the lantern, the beautiful interiors of the cabinets flanking the range, and the wallpaper. The best part, though, is something that came with the house, and that’s the sheer amount of natural light. “Instead of the townhouse going directly against the buildings on both sides, we have an open portion at the kitchen, so it brings in light,” she explains. At all hours the sun is up, the kitchen is light.

A “Small and Cozy” Bedroom

When it comes to the primary bedroom, some people think bigger is better, but Fetter is all about the coziness that comes with a smaller space. “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that primary bedrooms will often be enormous, and they don’t need to be,” she insists. “They can be small and cozy and just be wonderfully comforting at the end of the day.” Of course, the canopy bed gives the room a grander feel, and that was the point. “I’m very keen on canopies. I think it’s like a little fort that one would build as a small child.”

A Spa-Like Retreat

More often than not, the smallest changes make the biggest difference, and nowhere is that clearer than in the primary bathroom, where Fetter painted over the flat white paint on the walls with a grayish-blue high-gloss alternative. “It really makes a difference to give the space a little more pizzazz,” she says. She has a point.

A Productive Work-From-Home Setup

Another room that benefits from the natural light is the library-office space on the main floor of the home. Of course, its main draw is the books, but the plush seating and collection of antiques make the room feel more finished. “I just think this is a cozy room, complete with a pretty fireplace that is original to the house,” Fetter acknowledges. “And it’s really a beautiful room at all times of the year.”

Top Floor Magic

Though barely visible in a photo, the custom Sister Parish wallpaper is one of Fetter’s favorite elements on the top floor of her townhouse. She says, “I just never tire of it,” and that’s probably because it pairs so well with the rest of the space, which is, in large part, inspired by a Moroccan souk.