Dedicated laundry room - transitional single-wall multicolored floor dedicated laundry room idea in Charlotte with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Small elegant ceramic tile kitchen photo in Other with white cabinets

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.

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

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

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless women's medium tone wood floor walk-in closet remodel in Miami with open cabinets and white cabinets

This is a mid-sized galley style laundry room with custom paint grade cabinets. These cabinets feature a beaded inset construction method with a high gloss sheen on the painted finish. We also included a rolling ladder for easy access to upper level storage areas.

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Other with gray walls

Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized victorian master white tile and subway tile gray floor and marble floor bathroom remodel in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, quartz countertops and gray countertops

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.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless slate floor and gray floor entryway remodel in Nashville with a medium wood front door and white walls

Elegant kitchen pantry photo in Boston with white cabinets and open cabinets

Example of a huge country light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in New York with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Beach style u-shaped gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in Orange County with a side-by-side washer/dryer

This walk-in pantry with Dura Supreme cabinetry Hudson Heritage finish and Boos Butcher block countertop from Richelieu feels country fresh. The pipe shelving between cabinets with barnwood shelves supplied by KSI Designer give this space an industrial rustic feel. Photography by Beth Singer.

The Craftsman shiplap continues into the Living Room/Great room, providing a relaxed, yet finished look on the walls. The built-in's provide space for storage, display and additional seating, helping to make this space functional and flexible.

Spectrum Studio
Alcove shower - transitional white tile black floor alcove shower idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Example of a transitional kitchen pantry design in Chicago with gray cabinets

Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Detroit