Large traditional blue two-story wood gable roof idea with a shingle roof

The elegant Entry Hall to this apartment is lined with hand painted Gracie wall-paper. The metal railing was re-worked using the original metal pieces and more detail was added along with carved brass inserts. The border of the floor is embellished with an inlay Greek key. Interior design by Ashley Whittaker.

Huge transitional light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Houston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and medium tone wood cabinets

The children's bathroom has playful wallpaper and a custom designed vanity that integrates into the wainscot around the room. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.

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

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography
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Example of a classic two-story brick exterior home design in Denver with a hip roof

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The hall table is a custom made piece design by in collaboration with the interior designer, Ashley Whittaker. The floor has an inlay Greek key border, and the walls are covered hand painted Gracie paper.

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The butler's pantry is lined in deep blue cabinets with intricate details on the glass doors. The ceiling is also lined in wood panels to make the space and enclosed jewel. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.

New Rear Facade engages the pool and creates an intimate setting for entertaining. The bow window at the breakfast room and the Juliette Balcony in the master bedroom bring the outdoors in.

The upholstery of the banquette seating in this kitchen adds a splash of color to the white woodwork. The table is a custom design by our office in collaboration with the interior designer, Ashley Whitakker.

This room is lined with panels and integrated mill-work in a Transitional Deco style. The surfaces are lacquered in a high gloss chocolate brown. Interior design by Ashley Whittaker.

The cabinetry and details of the kitchen are integrated floor to ceiling. All the pieces are fit together like a puzzle to create this beautiful space. The white cabinets are accented by the teal and deep blue in the tile and upholstery. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.

The barn structure was converted into a guest house. The original sliding barn doors were kept and new pocketing glass doors were installed behind to allow for the kitchen and dining room to open to the front court.

The children's bathrooms are playful and colorful. The custom built vanity is integrated into the wainscot. Interior Design by Ashley Whitakker.
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