Example of a beach style kitchen design in New York

Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large transitional freestanding desk light wood floor, beige floor and coffered ceiling home office library design in Phoenix with purple walls

I used a patterned tile on the floor, warm wood on the vanity, and dark molding on the walls to give this small bathroom a ton of character.
Example of a small farmhouse 3/4 porcelain tile cement tile floor, single-sink and shiplap wall bathroom design in Boise with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Example of a large farmhouse enclosed light wood floor and brown floor family room design in Detroit with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary freestanding desk light wood floor and beige floor home office remodel in Orange County with white walls and a corner fireplace

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

Connie Anderson
Huge transitional master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Houston with blue walls

This gorgeous modern farmhouse features hardie board board and batten siding with stunning black framed Pella windows. The soffit lighting accents each gable perfectly and creates the perfect farmhouse.

Wallpaper: York 63356 Lounge Leather Paint: Egret White Sw 7570, Cove Lighting Paint: Network Gray Sw 7073 Photographer: Steve Chenn
Bedroom - large contemporary master porcelain tile and beige floor bedroom idea in Austin with beige walls and no fireplace

Large trendy master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in New York with white walls and no fireplace

True Spaces Photography
Transitional master gray tile and metal tile marble floor and gray floor bathroom photo in Detroit with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

Example of a mountain style pool design in Other

Primary Bathroom Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography; Interior Design: Kristin Try Interiors; Builder: Harry Braswell, Inc.
Example of a beach style blue tile and subway tile white floor bathroom design in DC Metro with medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Sunroom with casement windows and different shades of grey furniture.
Inspiration for a large farmhouse gray floor and dark wood floor sunroom remodel in New York with a standard ceiling

Example of a transitional powder room design in New York

Dawn Burkhart
Example of a mid-sized country medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Boise with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large minimalist white three-story mixed siding exterior home design in Houston with a metal roof

Who lives there: Asha Mevlana and her Havanese dog named Bali Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas Size: Main house (400 sq ft), Trailer (160 sq ft.), 1 loft bedroom, 1 bath What sets your home apart: The home was designed specifically for my lifestyle. My inspiration: After reading the book, "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying," I got inspired to just live with things that bring me joy which meant scaling down on everything and getting rid of most of my possessions and all of the things that I had accumulated over the years. I also travel quite a bit and wanted to live with just what I needed. About the house: The L-shaped house consists of two separate structures joined by a deck. The main house (400 sq ft), which rests on a solid foundation, features the kitchen, living room, bathroom and loft bedroom. To make the small area feel more spacious, it was designed with high ceilings, windows and two custom garage doors to let in more light. The L-shape of the deck mirrors the house and allows for the two separate structures to blend seamlessly together. The smaller "amplified" structure (160 sq ft) is built on wheels to allow for touring and transportation. This studio is soundproof using recycled denim, and acts as a recording studio/guest bedroom/practice area. But it doesn't just look like an amp, it actually is one -- just plug in your instrument and sound comes through the front marine speakers onto the expansive deck designed for concerts. My favorite part of the home is the large kitchen and the expansive deck that makes the home feel even bigger. The deck also acts as a way to bring the community together where local musicians perform. I love having a the amp trailer as a separate space to practice music. But I especially love all the light with windows and garage doors throughout. Design team: Brian Crabb (designer), Zack Giffin (builder, custom furniture) Vickery Construction (builder) 3 Volve Construction (builder) Design dilemmas: Because the city wasn’t used to having tiny houses there were certain rules that didn’t quite make sense for a tiny house. I wasn’t allowed to have stairs leading up to the loft, only ladders were allowed. Since it was built, the city is beginning to revisit some of the old rules and hopefully things will be changing. Photo cred: Don Shreve