Pierre Galant Photography
Open concept kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Orange County with an island, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Carolyn Watson
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped marble floor and white floor eat-in kitchen remodel in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, quartz countertops and turquoise countertops

Kitchen with Cobsa White Crackle Back Splash with Brick Pattern Inset, White Cabinetry by Showcase Kitchens Inc, Taccoa Sandpoint Wood Flooring, Granite by The Granite Company

GC: Osborne Construction Architect: C2 Architecture Design: Kole Made. Custom Woodwork + Cabinetry: Loubier Design. http://www.kolemade.com/ http://www.c2-architecture.com/ http://kirk-loubier.squarespace.com/ Photo Credit: http://www.samoberter.com/

Large trendy l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Light and bright contemporary kitchen featuring white custom cabinetry, large island, dual-tone gray subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and a matching laundry room.

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

This kitchen proves small East sac bungalows can have high function and all the storage of a larger kitchen. A large peninsula overlooks the dining and living room for an open concept. A lower countertop areas gives prep surface for baking and use of small appliances. Geometric hexite tiles by fireclay are finished with pale blue grout, which complements the upper cabinets. The same hexite pattern was recreated by a local artist on the refrigerator panes. A textured striped linen fabric by Ralph Lauren was selected for the interior clerestory windows of the wall cabinets.

Example of a large trendy l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

photos by Kaity
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white appliances, an island, black cabinets, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and flat-panel cabinets

Kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped beige floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

vaulted ceiling, black faucet, black hood, high ceilings, indoor herb garden, open kitchen,
Trendy l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Eat-in kitchen - huge contemporary l-shaped concrete floor and white floor eat-in kitchen idea in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Photographer: Kevin Colquhoun
Open concept kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen design in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, white countertops and solid surface countertops

Trendy l-shaped gray floor kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Kitchen with Island
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped porcelain tile and gray floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops