The South Boston-based Boston Design Center provided furniture from its showrooms for a 7,700-square-foot home in Medfield that is being built as part of Design Home 2002, an effort that will raise money for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

To most people, purchasing an almost 8,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms and five full bathrooms may be an unattainable dream. But next month, anyone willing to purchase a $20 ticket could make the dream a reality – at least temporarily.

Built by Unique Homes of Medfield, this fully furnished home is the centerpiece of Design Home 2002, a fund-raiser that will benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

This is the second time that Boston Magazine has initiated the fund-raiser, which involves the construction of a new home that is later furnished and decorated. Once the home is complete, the public is invited for paid tours, with all the money collected going to a designated charity.

The first Design Home was unveiled in 2000 in Weston and benefited the AIDS Action Committee. This year Unique Homes, which has built luxury custom homes in Norfolk County for two decades, was selected to construct a 7,700-square-foot home on a 10-acre wooded lot in Medfield.

With a wine cellar, custom cabinetry, state-of-the-art appliances, a complete home gym, au pair suite, pool and spa, the home could be splashed on the cover of any glossy magazine advertising upscale properties.

Every room in the home was designed and furnished by a lengthy list of sponsors – including local designers and furniture stores – who paid to advertise their wares.

Milan Furniture, a Newton store that specializes in fine European furnishings, for example, provided furniture for the master bedroom, study and dining room. Those rooms were designed by Mare Deyesso Designs of Newton.

Mare Deyesso, who was responsible for coordinating all the designers for the project, said the home includes classic furniture and more contemporary streamlined pieces.

Strong jewel-like colors were used along with softer complementary hues throughout the home, adding both drama and comfort, she said.

“The home was designed to feel comfortable and elegant with spaces that are warm and inviting,” explained Sharon Bartelloni, marketing director for Unique Homes.

No ‘Show House’

Construction on the home started last August. Before construction even began, Deyesso said she met with the builders to gather information about the project. Gradually, she created an image board with a collage of photos and paint chips, which she used as she consulted with the furniture stores and other companies that are Design Home sponsors. In some cases, the designer was able to select paint colors, while in other rooms, the designers had to work with paint selected by the builder.

The goal was to create a dream home that was comfortable and livable and a space that “will endure time,” said Deyesso.

“We try to create a home, not a show house,” said Deyesso.

The biggest challenge throughout the whole process was communication because there were so many different sponsors involved, said Deyesso. Any change that the builder made had to be communicated to the designers.

In addition to Milan Furniture, several other stores were involved with the project, including Crate & Barrel and Circle Furniture.

Some of the stores had designers on staff that they used for the project, while others selected specific designers. Belle Maison, a Newton company specializing in antique furnishings, designed the living room. Perwinkles of Medford designed a nursery, with hand-painted furniture and matching wooden window cornices. The South Boston-based Boston Design Center also provided furniture from its showrooms.

For the most part, the furniture displayed in the rooms can be purchased in stores, unlike other show houses.

“In our Design Home, you can take the dream home and scale it down to the smallest space,” said Deyesso.

The home will be kept and used by Unique Homes as a model to be shown to people who are interested in building their own custom-designed home.

The home is a good reflection of the type of projects that Unique Homes does, according to Bartelloni. The builders are known for such projects as The Preserve at Kingsbury Pond and Gristmill Estates in Medfield and are currently finishing The Meadows, an 18-home endeavor in Medway.

Design Home 2002 will be open from May 1 to May 24 for home tours and lectures and demonstrations. The home is located at 4 Woodridge Road. Tickets purchased in advance are $20 and $25 at the door.

Tours will run Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $5 discount is available to those who bring donations to the home. From May 1 to May 12, for example, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is accepting donations of children’s books.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.design-home.com or by calling MCH at (866) 205-1700, ext. 100 or (617) 423-9162, ext. 100.

Design Home 2002 Fund-Raiser To Benefit Homeless Coalition

by Banker & Tradesman time to read: 3 min
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