Four Rooms in One
With a good floor plan and an illusionist's touch, John DeBastiani created space for living, dining, working, and sleeping under one grand 14-foot-high ceiling.
To relax, eat, work, and sleep. These are basic needs satisfied by a home with multiple rooms. "Someone who wants to live in Boston on a medium-sized budget can just forget about that," says interior designer John DeBastiani. "Unless you spend thousands on rent, you'll be lucky to find an apartment with two rooms, let alone five." That's why, after an exhaustive hunt for an affordable apartment two years ago, DeBastiani fell for a room in the Back Bay.
"I wanted a beautiful place, and everything in my price range was ugly," says the 34-year-old designer. "After looking all over the city, I finally stumbled on this apartment." Among its many attractions, the key to its functional success was its separate kitchen and bath. That freed up the main room for DeBastiani's vision of a unified space that could serve four separate functions.
At 20 feet by 20 feet, with a 14-foot ceiling, the room is big, with stunning details, including huge sunny windows, a working marble fireplace, and handsome moldings. DeBastiani was ready to start anew and make a statement that would showcase his sense of style and his ingenuity. "Because the apartment is so small," he says, "every piece of furniture has to be just the right size, shape, and style. None of my old things were right. When everything works together, it feels and looks well-balanced."
DeBastiani's decorating theme began simply. "I was captivated by an unusual modern fabric with a ring-and-diamond pattern," he says. "It feels sophisticated and a bit retro. When I chose that fabric to upholster the new headboard, it became the basis for the entire apartment." Everything else in the design scheme relates in color and form to that fabric.
And an eclectic scheme it is. The assemblage mixes some pricey pieces with less expensive finds and a smattering of important, practical items. A handsome 1820s Biedermeier bedroom chest stands proudly, but not ostentatiously, near the bed. Above the chest, a Louis XIV gold-leaf mirror reflects the light between a pair of black table lamps. "There are two ingredients," says DeBastiani, "that I love to put in almost any room: a touch of gold and a bit of black."
The walls and ceiling are painted a soothing khaki color. He added floor-length ivory cotton-duck curtains that hang on painted wooden poles. A simple cream rug enhances the subtle tones and textures. "I wanted a soft palette of muted colors. They have a calming effect after a hectic day," he says. "This place is an oasis."
Four dining chairs, which have a beautiful distressed finish, were chosen for the delicate ring-and-diamond pattern along their backs. Upholstered in a cream-colored fabric, the chairs easily double as living room seating. The dining table is an illusion of opulence. The top is a 48-inch plywood round on an inexpensive wood frame, but the piece is draped with luxurious beige velvet with bullion fringe. As a practical touch, DeBastiani places a square white linen cloth, which can be easily washed, on top.
The living space includes a clean-lined sofa and chair. They face a white-leather Parsons table that DeBastiani says is surprisingly durable. Tucked in a corner is the "home office" — a desk DeBastiani found at a flea market and then painted creamy white. Finally, beside the fireplace, in a darker corner, a fabric-covered screen offers a place to hide things.
While the flourishes make the apartment inviting, the true genius of DeBastiani's design lies in his floor plan. It is what makes 400 square feet not only look good but function without feeling crowded or awkward. When he hosts a dinner party, his guests chat at the dining table, his dresser serving as a sideboard. For dessert, they retire to the living room, and his home office fades into the background. It is all according to plan, says DeBastiani. "I wanted everything to be subtle and to just melt." 