Peter Bennetts
Living room - large contemporary formal and open concept carpeted and gray floor living room idea in Melbourne with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Living room - large 1950s open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace and no tv

Example of a large minimalist formal and enclosed concrete floor and gray floor living room design in Austin with white walls, no fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Photo- Lisa Romerein
Tuscan open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Photo: Lisa Petrole
Example of a huge trendy formal porcelain tile and gray floor living room design in San Francisco with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and a metal fireplace

Living room - transitional formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Other with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Burlington with a stone fireplace, beige walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Michael Partenio
Example of a mid-sized beach style open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Providence with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Trendy open concept multicolored floor and vaulted ceiling living room photo in Austin with a music area, white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors allow for a full lake view and connection to the screened porch
Inspiration for a large rustic open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in New York with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Example of a large transitional dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Los Angeles with a music area, white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

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. Eric Roth Photo

Living room - large transitional formal and open concept carpeted and beige floor living room idea in Other with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Example of a beach style formal living room design in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Eclectic formal concrete floor living room photo in Charlotte with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

This is a living room in an eclectic new construction home with 9' ceilings and beautiful light. Drapery by Urban Loft Window Treatments
Example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room library design in Philadelphia with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Living room - transitional formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor, brown floor and exposed beam living room idea in Denver with beige walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Other with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv

Transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in New York with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv