Design Diary: Leah Fish Does Up Her Brother’s Bachelor Pad

Photographer Dan Cutrona pitched this place to me for a local magazine’s “Men’s” issue, but since said man was transferred to the Midwest, we weren’t able to do it. It’s a great place in the South End, furnished by Boston area designer Leah Fish for her brother Ed Fish. Ed, 30, purchased  the two bedroom condo when he was getting his MBA at MIT. He asked his sister to keep it modern and clean, with nice furniture and unique artwork. The condo was to epitomize his life’s next phase—although a student, he was more grownup than frat boy. Leah did a superb job putting together the perfect environment for a single guy who likes to entertain, and doesn’t need the hassle of high maintenance. Let’s have a look.

dan-cutrona-leah-fish-ed-fish

Ed on his new Eames lounge. Definitely a splurge, but Leah knew he’d have it forever. The vintage floor lamp is from Reside in Cambridge.

DanCutronaPhotography©-9902

The living room needed to function as a place for watching sports on TV, but also socializing with friends.

DanCutronaPhotography©-9927

Chair by Gus* Modern from Addo Novo in the South End.

DanCutronaPhotography©-9990

The sleek credenza, also from Addo Novo, is a nice counterpoint to some of the more organic and vintage pieces. A terrarium by Lynzariums sits on top and an Alex Katz print (a forever investment), from Beth Urdang Gallery on Newbury Street, hangs above.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0123

The coffee table is a gigantic piece of teak that Leah found at Hudson in the South End, for which she had a piece of glass cut for the top. The antique kilim rug is also from Hudson.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0051

The vintage dining table and chairs are from Reside. They like the industrial feel of the chairs, which they Leah had reupholstered in black leather.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0047

It wasn’t in the budget to do anything to the kitchen, but the dark wood cabinets were fine, and the appliances high quality.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0086

Ed spent a summer interning in Japan with a famous ceramicist. The photo, taken by their mom’s friend, is of Ise, a sacred shrine.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0131

The metal staircases add an industrial vibe. They didn’t need to refinishe the dark brown floors.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0117

The half bath’s wall-mounted sink is space-conscious. A large window lets in a blast of light.

DanCutronaPhotography©-0056

This staircase leads up to the roof deck. The abstract artwork, from the Howard Yerzertsky Gallery in SoWa, is by Brian Zink, who works in Plexiglass. It was a big purchase, and Leah points out that the photo doesn’t do it justice. She says, “It’s very crisp and contemporary. The thick panels of Plexiglass are very precisely cut, and give off a shine that makes it interesting.”

DanCutronaPhotography©-0110

The roof deck has the ultimate Boston guy touch—two chairs from Fenway Park.

Photography by Dan Cutrona

*           *           *