19th-century charm abounds in this Back Bay condo for under $1 million

103 Beacon St. Unit 1, Back Bay

$995,000

Style Condo

Year built 1855

Square feet 845

Bedrooms 1

Baths 1 full

Sewer/Water Public

Fee $461 monthly

Pets Allowed with restrictions

Taxes $9,825 (without residential exemption)

In the mid 1850s, Boston’s Back Bay was being transformed from a tidal flat into the “physical manifestation of Boston in her intellectual and economic maturation,” as one city historian wrote.

One of those pioneering structures, built in 1855 according to city records, still stands near the intersection of Beacon and Arlington streets, opposite the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge and the Esplanade on the other side of Storrow Drive.

The building transformed into seven condos in the 1970s. Much of what was then remains intact today.

Unit 1 occupies parts of two floors inside the brownstone.

The door to Unit 1 is on the left of the lobby, parlor level. One enters into the 98-square-foot dining area with hardwood flooring. The right- wall is exposed red brick, and an arched walkway leads to the living room. A black corkscrew stairwell leads down to the private spaces.

By turning to the left, the view is of the updated galley-style kitchen. It’s 57 square feet, and the right side has white subway tile framing Shaker-style white cabinets. A microwave is built in above the gas range. The sink is adjacent and surrounded by granite countertop. Underneath is the dishwasher and opposite it the refrigerator — all appliances are stainless steel. Flooring is black and white marble.

Moving past the dining area and through the arched doorway leads to the 163-square-foot living room. Here, the ceiling rises to 11 feet, and decorative details of its 19th-century origin fully emerge. The ceiling is framed by multitiered crown molding, and amid a plaster medallion is a chandelier with candle-style lights and dripping glass pendants. The walls are lined with white wainscoting, and an accent wall has a decorative arch painted white.

On the opposite side of the room is a decorative fireplace with a white mantle, checkerboard apron, and glass doors. To the right and left are arched niches with built-in shelves. The exterior wall is occupied by a long narrow window and a transom window. There is a Juliet balcony.

From the front hallway, the corkscrew stairwell leads to a 113-square-foot hall and the unit’s private spaces. The hall has a closet and three doorways with white trim and six panel doors.

Off the entryway is the 57-square-foot bathroom. It features marble flooring and a white single vanity with a marble top with a large mirror above. The walk-in shower has frameless glass panels set on a marble curb. The backsplash is Carrara marble subway tile. There is a rain-shower head and shower wand and two corner shelves. The flooring in the shower is mosaic tile.

The remaining two doors lead to the bedrooms. The 228-square-foot primary is on the right and has hardwood flooring, recessed lighting, and a double window with shutters at garden level. A key feature is the decorative fireplace with a white mantle and black glass doors with a checkboard apron. The primary has a 66-square-foot walk-in closet with built-in shelving.

The final door leads to a room that has been used as a study and a den. It’s compact at 117 square feet with hardwood flooring and domed lights, one of which has a fan. One wall is brick painted white. There are no windows.

The condo has a shared patio in front of the building, free common laundry, and a new building boiler and hot water tank. Heat and hot water is by steam. The unit does not include a parking space.

Jeanine Cort of Cort LaBonte Coldren Coopersmith Compass has the listing. An open house is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to Cort.

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