The kitchen, butler’s pantry, and laundry room uses Arbor Mills cabinetry and quartz counter tops. Wide plank flooring is installed to bring in an early world feel. Encaustic tiles and black iron hardware were used throughout. The butler’s pantry has polished brass latches and cup pulls which shine brightly on black painted cabinets. Across from the laundry room the fully custom mudroom wall was built around a salvaged 4” thick seat stained to match the laundry room cabinets.

Large transitional single-wall light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, quartz countertops, matchstick tile backsplash and recessed-panel cabinets

Matte black DOCA kitchen cabinets with black Dekton counters and backsplash.
Example of a large minimalist galley light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Newark with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black backsplash, black appliances, an island and black countertops

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DESIGN BY Martins Grehl Architects A 3,700 sf ground-up single-family residence located on a waterfront lot in Easton, MD, this home features beautiful views of the surrounding landscape and celebrates the gathering of family and friends through a large, open living and dining area. It was designed with natural materials meant to evolve with its inhabitants and reflect the passage of time.

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Coffee bar cabinet with retractable doors in open position. Internal lighting & wall-mounted pot filler. Countertop within cabinet detailed to include concealed drain. Microwave built-in below countertop without the use of a trim kit. View through kitchen pass-through to living room beyond. Leathered-quartzite countertops and distressed wood beams.

Large elegant l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry photo in Houston with open cabinets and gray cabinets

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

Cabinets: Centerpoint Black splash: Savannah Surfaces Perimeter: Caesarstone Island Countertop: Precision Granite & Marble- Cygnus Leather Appliances: Ferguson, Kitchenaid

Example of a transitional gray floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, an island, white countertops and brown backsplash

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

We gave this rather dated farmhouse some dramatic upgrades that brought together the feminine with the masculine, combining rustic wood with softer elements. In terms of style her tastes leaned toward traditional and elegant and his toward the rustic and outdoorsy. The result was the perfect fit for this family of 4 plus 2 dogs and their very special farmhouse in Ipswich, MA. Character details create a visual statement, showcasing the melding of both rustic and traditional elements without too much formality. The new master suite is one of the most potent examples of the blending of styles. The bath, with white carrara honed marble countertops and backsplash, beaded wainscoting, matching pale green vanities with make-up table offset by the black center cabinet expand function of the space exquisitely while the salvaged rustic beams create an eye-catching contrast that picks up on the earthy tones of the wood. The luxurious walk-in shower drenched in white carrara floor and wall tile replaced the obsolete Jacuzzi tub. Wardrobe care and organization is a joy in the massive walk-in closet complete with custom gliding library ladder to access the additional storage above. The space serves double duty as a peaceful laundry room complete with roll-out ironing center. The cozy reading nook now graces the bay-window-with-a-view and storage abounds with a surplus of built-ins including bookcases and in-home entertainment center. You can’t help but feel pampered the moment you step into this ensuite. The pantry, with its painted barn door, slate floor, custom shelving and black walnut countertop provide much needed storage designed to fit the family’s needs precisely, including a pull out bin for dog food. During this phase of the project, the powder room was relocated and treated to a reclaimed wood vanity with reclaimed white oak countertop along with custom vessel soapstone sink and wide board paneling. Design elements effectively married rustic and traditional styles and the home now has the character to match the country setting and the improved layout and storage the family so desperately needed. And did you see the barn? Photo credit: Eric Roth

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Small elegant ceramic tile kitchen photo in Other with white cabinets

Elegant kitchen photo in Columbus with recessed-panel cabinets and black cabinets