A special way to keep dog dishes out from underfoot. Dogbone drawers hold treats, leashes and other supplies. Pullout cabinet on left of island holds bulk dogfood.

Large mountain style l-shaped brown floor and dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Charleston with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, dark wood cabinets, a farmhouse sink, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Darren Sinnett
Inspiration for a large contemporary light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in Cleveland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white backsplash, an island, quartz countertops, stone slab backsplash and paneled appliances

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

Bathroom - large contemporary master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, a two-piece toilet and white walls

This light and airy kitchen is the definition of elegance. It has white shaker cabinets with satin gold pulls topped with white quartz counters. The matching white quartz backsplash provides a clean look. The center piece of the room is the large island! With seating for four, the deep blue island is loaded with storage and has a drawer microwave. For a special touch on the white quartz counter, we used an extra thick quartz slab. The striking gold pendants are from Ferguson Lighting. Sleek and contemporary, this beautiful home is located in Villanova, PA. Blue, white and gold are the palette of this transitional design. With custom touches and an emphasis on flow and an open floor plan, the renovation included the kitchen, family room, butler’s pantry, mudroom, two powder rooms and floors. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

The lovely primary bedroom feels modern, yet cozy. The custom octagon wall panels create a sophisticated atmosphere, while the chandelier and modern bedding add a punch of personality to the space. The lush landscape draws the eye to the expansive windows overlooking the backyard. The homeowner's favorite shade of aubergine adds depth to the mostly white space.

Sean Costello
Example of a beach style dark wood floor kitchen design in Raleigh with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This timber column porch replaced a small portico. It features a 7.5' x 24' premium quality pressure treated porch floor. Porch beam wraps, fascia, trim are all cedar. A shed-style, standing seam metal roof is featured in a burnished slate color. The porch also includes a ceiling fan and recessed lighting.

Kitchen - traditional dark wood floor kitchen idea in Detroit with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, green backsplash, a single-bowl sink, granite countertops, porcelain backsplash and stainless steel appliances

This home was featured in the January 2016 edition of HOME & DESIGN Magazine. To see the rest of the home tour as well as other luxury homes featured, visit http://www.homeanddesign.net/dream-house-prato-in-talis-park/

Inspiration for a farmhouse black floor entryway remodel in Minneapolis with gray walls and a glass front door

Large trendy master white tile and marble tile marble floor and gray floor bathroom photo in Cleveland with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an undermount tub, beige walls, a vessel sink and marble countertops

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

Entryway - cottage entryway idea in Phoenix

Scott Amundson Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional stone back porch remodel in Minneapolis with a fire pit and a roof extension

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

A modern yet welcoming master bathroom with . Photographed by Thomas Kuoh Photography.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and stone tile marble floor and white floor bathroom idea in San Francisco with medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and flat-panel cabinets

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in Portland