Condo living blends past and present in historic Portsmouth

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a city of historic charm, with tempting shops and restaurants nestled along its waterfront streets. Overlooking the Piscataqua River and the iconic Memorial Bridge is a handsome brick and granite multi-story building in the classic Early American style. Located in the historic district, it could easily be a structure from an earlier time, except this one was built in 2008. It offers a mix of retail space on the first floor and residential space on the upper floors. The third and fourth floors are the elegant condominium residence of Peggy Lamb and her husband, Steve. Peggy also operates Botanica, the shop on the ground floor, and rents the second floor condo unit.

“We raised our four children in a large 1750 Colonial in Exeter, New Hampshire,” Peggy says. “Once they were grown, the house was too big for us. We decided to look for a small building in downtown Portsmouth, somewhere where we could live up above, and I could have my shop down below. When the previous wooden structure was torn down, and we saw the plans for the building taking its place, we knew this would be a great location. We bought the building, and it has definitely been the right move. It’s quiet but near everything. We can walk to shops and restaurants, Prescott Park—even stroll across the bridge to Kittery.”

Peggy and Steve worked with developer Stephen Kelm of Portsmouth and architect Jennifer Ramsey of Somma Studios to design the structure. Peggy also turned to Jennifer for guidance on the look of the interior. While the outside has a Colonial feel, the inside is decidedly present day, offering a mix both eclectic and sophisticated.

An elevator brings you to the third floor and the unit’s striking foyer. You immediately notice the flooring, dramatic diamonds of black and pine. The black squares are actually pine stained black so the design has the same texture throughout. “The wood floors are all wide pine with a pumpkin stain,” Peggy says. “We got them from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors and have this wonderful wood throughout the unit.” The walls are creamy beige with ivory wainscoting, a striking contrast to the dark floors. These colors, combined with a large mirror framed by two clusters of black-shaded sconces, give the entry a light and airy atmosphere. Below the mirror rests a narrow Hannah Wingate table, adorned with photos, a dish for keys and small pieces of African art. A tall white-bloomed orchid also graces the table and echoes the botanical prints which line the hallway walls.

Peggy chose a neutral palette because she liked its restful quality. She used lighter tones to help keep the unit from seeming too dark, since the windows are only at the front and back.

The living room is spacious yet cozy with bookcases in rich cherry filling one entire wall. Extensive cabinets below the bookcases provide convenient storage. To one side, a gas fireplace has the same cherry framing the mantle, surround and coordinating wall paneling. Eric Bessemer of Stratham, New Hampshire, and James Rowe of Portsmouth did all the woodwork in the house. Peggy created an inviting space for conversation, watching television or simply relaxing, by delineating the living area with furniture. A curved sofa in a herringbone fabric is flanked by a loveseat in deep green with brown overtones on one side and a red plush chair in a cheery red print on the other. For a touch of fun, she added a double ottoman in a subtle leopard print. In the center, a huge wooden coffee table with legs carved into massive swirls is a handy repository for books, flowers or memorabilia. On the floor, an Oriental rug in rich reds and blues adds a splash of color.

The room’s cool beige tones and white trim are a perfect counterpoint to the heavy furniture. Peggy also opted for a coffered ceiling with recessed lights hidden within the framing. “It provides great light, and the beautiful workmanship makes it an element of interest,” she explains.

At the other end of the room, a grand piano rests against a brick-walled backdrop. Opposite is a small bar area.  From here, French doors let in light and lead to a deck.

The living room flows into the kitchen, which is done in bold black and cream with accents of red from two Oriental rugs. The cabinets are cherry but stained to look like black walnut; custom laminates allow the refrigerator and dishwasher to blend with the cabinetry. Even the stove hood continues the look. Also picking up the color scheme are Peggy’s striking pagoda-shaped canisters in red and black with tops molded to look like roosters. The extensive counter is a soft-beige granite flecked with black, white and rust. The same granite appears on the island separating the kitchen from the breakfast nook. High-backed chairs with rush seats provide seating at the island and make an informal dining space.

The nook is highlighted with a red brick wall and fitted with a small table, chess set and graceful antique Swedish Mora clock. In one corner rests a double broom from upstate New York. “The broom was a gift and is supposed to bring good luck,” notes Peggy.

In the center of the kitchen, a butcher-block island provides extra workspace; it is outfitted with electrical outlets so Peggy can use appliances here as well as on the counters. While the color scheme is sophisticated, the kitchen’s overall feeling is warm and cheerful. Sunlight pours in from a large window over the sink and numerous plants fill the sill. Just outside the kitchen windows, tall trees rise up from plantings around the condominium. “When the trees are leafed out, it’s like being in a tree house,” she says. “We also have flowering trees nearby, and when they are in bloom, it’s just gorgeous.”

The long, narrow, formal dining room has one wall that is all windows. Done in soft sage green and cream, it immediately conveys a restful ambiance. An unknown craftsman in Bow, New Hampshire, crafted the simple, Early American style table and chairs from maple. The table has unusual curved ends, and Peggy opted for Colonial style chairs on one side, and a three-seat bench with a back on the other. Several intriguing items, including the brass chandelier, highlight the room. The chandelier, made by Architects & Heroes of Austin, Texas, has three linked lamps suspended from a brass bar. The bar has gears that allow you to raise and lower it to adjust the lighting. Also drawing notice is the immense Japanese breakfront, which fills the entire back wall. Dating from 1880, it is an antique Tansu storage chest with intricate sets of drawers and sliding doors. Asian ceramics adorn the top, along with an old bread bowl, circa 1890. In the far corner, Peggy positioned an old-fashioned writer’s chair with its little attached table and drawer for pens and writing tablet. The room’s clean lines allow the minimal and diverse furnishings to command the attention they deserve.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is decorated in muted tones of putty, cream, and soft blue with white trim and accents. An elegant spool bed, done in crisp white, is the frequent lounging spot of George, Peggy’s Rag Doll cat. It faces a small, built-in gas fireplace, set into the curve of the wall. Glass cabinets with treasured mementos frame the fireplace. The master bedroom also opens onto its own private deck, which Peggy and Steve enjoy on warm evenings and early summer mornings.

Although Peggy and her husband previously lived in the country, they now find that they don’t miss it, and instead enjoy outdoor living on their large deck. The deck is lush with plants and furnished with wrought-iron furniture, which complements the curving wrought-iron staircases leading up to the master bedroom and down to the driveway. Wind chimes tinkle in the breeze, and in summer Peggy and Steve enjoy the music from Prescott Park, just down the street.

“We love this location,” says Peggy, whose kitchen is on the 2011 Music Hall Kitchen Tour. “It really is the best of all worlds.”