Listed: A former carriage house in Brookline for $5.298 million – Buying

Megan Johnson — Globe correspondent

June 18, 2022 9:51 am

The days of horse-drawn carriages may be over, but the real estate is still thriving.

120 Rawson Road in Brookline’s Aspinwall Hill neighborhood is a  four-bed, four-bath home measuring 6,896 square feet, including the finished lower level.

Designed by famed architects Hartwell & Richardson and completed in 1891, the property was originally built as the carriage house and coachman’s residence for the neighboring Otis A. Shepard House, which has since been torn down.

Converted into a single-family dwelling in 1985, it’s now the perfect blend of modern luxury and vintage charm, and it’s listed at $5.298 million.

“What’s very special about this house is you come down a private driveway that only has 3 houses on it, and it’s like going to camp in New Hampshire,” says Deborah M. Gordon of Coldwell Banker Realty Brookline, who has the listing with Luan White. “It’s a stone driveway, and you have no idea you can walk to the T and Washington Square. It’s hard to believe it’s Brookline.”

Enter the grand foyer with the sweeping coachman’s staircase that was originally used for horse-drawn carriages. You’ll find the two-story fireplaced living room, and an open-concept kitchen and dining room that opens to a sunroom, and continues to the spacious and private backyard patio.

On the same floor, there are two bedrooms and a bath. Another historic touch is the old stables, which function as the laundry room and storage.

If you walk in on the main level, you’ll find a beautiful circular mahogany study. There’s also a bedroom and full bath, as well as a big family room.

The upper level could easily be transformed into a beautiful master suite by eliminating the second kitchen. An open-concept space with two private decks and tree top views, it has a dual-sided gas fireplace, skylight and turret. Filled with natural light, it features a renovated bath with a deep soaking tub and a large walk-in shower.

Located on a half-acre of land,  the home perfectly embraces its private outdoor space, taking advantage of several decks and patios. The property has a two-car detached garage and four parking spaces in the circular drive.