294 Watson Boulevard
A century-old, eight-unit apartment building originally occupied this site—and not very long ago, it fell apart. Two spacious townhouses now rest on the old foundation. From the outside, they look fairly standard, but on the inside, they feature breathtaking design and exquisite details. Glass railings, a corner fireplace, Italian-inspired archways, rounded wall corners, and 24-foot ceilings make this residence a modern marvel in the heart of Observatory Hill.
The Zajiceks replaced the laminate floors with Travertine marble, painted all the woodwork white, and had the ceilings and walls professionally painted in designer colors. In the entryway, they hung a stained glass fireplace screen for privacy and interest. The dining room features a bronzed, hammered chandelier and plantation shutters on two levels of the Palladian window.
In the kitchen, a new ceiling light (a personal creation) replaced the old pot-rack light, and the old stainless steel sink is gone too, replaced by a farm sink and smaller bar sink. But the most charming and customized detail of this kitchen may be the new concrete counter tops, which feature leaf impressions from ginkgo trees collected from Riverview Park.
The front room upstairs was intended as an eating space, but the Zajiceks have found that it works better as a cozy sitting room. In the master bath, they replaced a can light over the jetted tub with a crystal chandelier—a small change that makes a big difference!
Be sure to take a look at the gardens on your way out. The Zajiceks used to own a home on half an acre of land, and time-consuming gardening was something they thought they were finished with forever. But, once the gardening bug has bitten, the urge is permanent. Denise has removed or rearranged every original planting and added four trees, two rose bushes, a wisteria vine, and various perennials.