Home of the Week

From every angle, this $1.175m Boxborough contemporary shines

This 4-bedroom, 2½-bath home has windows from top to bottom to welcome the sun.

Something to treasure during a winter like this: Separate garages for two vehicles. Madore Photography

By John R. Ellement

4 minutes to read

79 Old Orchard Lane, Boxborough

$1.175 million

Style Contemporary

Year built 1970

Square feet 3,388

Bedrooms 4

Baths 2 full, 1 half

Sewer/Water Private

Taxes $12,559 (2025)

At a glance from the sidewalk, it might seem like architectural chaos — a jumble of geometric shapes. But once inside this contemporary home 35 miles northwest of Boston, there is calming order created by 13-foot ceilings, clear glass walls, and white oak flooring that redirects natural light around the rooms.

The front entry is a dark mahogany-toned double door with intersecting circles and frosted glass. The 129-square-foot foyer has two stairwells, one leading to the lower level and the secondary bedrooms, and one traveling to the first floor, which includes the primary suite.

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A wall of windows brightens the living room. – Madore Photography

The open concept that shares space on the main floor encompasses the kitchen, dining, and living areas. The area is under 13-foot cathedral white ceilings and mahogany-toned support beams. A central chimney is clad in vertical tongue-and-groove planks for the wood-burning fireplace, and wide-planked white oak flooring adds to the light. A direct connection to natural surroundings is made through a bank of three clear glass sliders to a rear deck. A second set of sliders, topped by polygon-shaped windows, is on the right exterior wall.

The 261-square-foot kitchen has a long island with white cabinetry, a granite countertop, and overhangs on two sides. White pendant lights hover over the island. Opposite is the working area of the kitchen that starts with a double-sized stainless steel refrigerator, followed by two rows of cabinets with granite countertops. The gas stove, with stainless steel oven vent, and the sink are embedded in the cabinetry.

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The kitchen has a long island with white cabinetry, a granite countertop, and overhangs on two sides. – Madore Photography

The kitchen flows seamlessly into the dining area and then to the living space, which together total 546 square feet. The sliders connect to the 386-square-foot deck that overlooks the rear yard, surrounded by mature trees and the bulk of the 1.15-acre lot.

The home has both a large deck and a screened-in porch to take in the natural view. – Madore Photography

A 53-square-foot half-bath with a white vanity, quartz counter, and ceramic tile flooring is positioned between the foyer and the kitchen.

The remainder of this level is set aside for the primary suite that is sealed off from the public spaces by a privacy-enforcing door. The suite has a short hallway with the bedroom on the right and the 110-square-foot bath on the left.

The 231-square-foot bedroom has two large closets with sliding doors on the right. There are five windows on two exterior walls, another design choice that draws the nature outside into the bedroom. Flooring is white oak, and the ceiling is an angled cathedral-style with cross beams.

Above: The peaked ceiling and wood beams continue in the primary bedroom. Below: The accompanying bathroom has a set of unique windows. – Madore Photography

– Madore Photography

The full bath features a grey double vanity with Shaker-style doors below a quartz counter, undermount sinks, and a frameless mirror running the length of the vanity. A five-bulb light bar hangs above. Just past the vanity are windows, stacked so they run nearly floor to ceiling. There is a heated towel rack, ceramic tile flooring, and a cathedral ceiling.

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The shower is behind frameless glass and has mosaic tile flooring and a shelf inset into the quartz backsplash. There is a dual shower system with a rainfall showerhead and a handheld wand.

The lower level is above ground, and that means the 462-square-foot family room is as contemporary as the main floor. The rear wall is composed of triangular windows with thick framing. Even more natural light flows in from a large skylight, and the vaulted ceiling has a line of rectangular windows. The white oak flooring continues on this level, which opens to a 193-square-foot screened-in porch.

The family room is on the lower level, but still has vaulted ceilings and a skylight. – Madore Photography

The three secondary bedrooms range in size from 187 square feet to 112 square feet. The 81-square-foot full bath has a mahogany-toned double vanity with two inset sinks and a quartz counter. A five-bulb vanity light bar is above a frameless mirror. There is a shower/bath combination with a dual shower system and a quartz backsplash. The bathroom flooring is ceramic tile.

The final room — an irregular polygon — is atop one of the two attached garages. It’s 472 square feet, has a large skylight, and a series of windows that continuously brighten the space with natural light.

This home has a ductless heating/cooling system by forced air, two cooling zones and three heat zones, and 200 amp electricity. Located on a cul-de-sac, it has separate garages for two cars plus additional parking in the driveway.

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The home’s lot is over an acre off a quiet cul-de-sac. – Madore Photography

Kristin Hilberg of Keller Williams Boston Northwest has the listing. As of press time, an offer had been accepted on the property.

John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Send listings to [email protected]. Please note: We may not respond to submissions we won’t pursue. Subscribe to our newsletter at Boston.com/address-newsletter.

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