A little nook where Blake can work on his homework, art, or LEGO designs. An added seat allows a friend or mom and dad to join in the fun! A custom bulletin board can hold all of his ideas and pictures of friends. Photography by John Woodcock

Bedroom - mid-sized country master carpeted and beige floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with beige walls and no fireplace

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

Example of a transitional boy carpeted and gray floor kids' bedroom design in New York with white walls

Two Birds Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional boy light wood floor nursery design in Chicago with blue walls

Kids' room - mid-sized contemporary gender-neutral dark wood floor kids' room idea in New York with white walls

Designer: Sherri DuPont Photographer: Lori Hamilton
Study room - tropical built-in desk dark wood floor study room idea in Miami

Jeff Herr
Mid-sized transitional gender-neutral dark wood floor kids' room photo in Atlanta with white walls

The goal for this space was to provide the older son a quiet place to study and hang out with his friends. It had to be something he wouldn’t outgrow and it had to transition well from the rest of the house while projecting a “cool” vibe he would like. The horizontal-paneled walnut headboard takes its inspiration from the free-standing wall in the foyer. It adds warmth to the room while providing a nice contrast to the light flooring and dark blue wall.

Kids bedroom study area in a Dallas home featuring a blue accent wall, modern desk, and bold red chair, creating a functional, playful workspace with personality and smart storage.

Colorful Coastal Bedroom The boy who lives in this room is a Star Wars fanatic. Yet, infusing the space with a Star Wars theme would have kept the décor from feeling fresh for years to come since the boy would eventually outgrow his current obsession. Since it was still important to add something that nods to his affinity, We had the walls between the bookshelves covered with a Cole & Son wall covering in a star motif. The room is awash in tones of blue, yet We felt it was important to incorporate a couple unexpected elements that would add a bit of fun. A desk was custom made and painted a vibrant orange, which is repeated in the Lulu & Georgia lamp on the bedside table. Photo Credit: Amy Bartlam

Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary boy dark wood floor kids' room remodel in New York with blue walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy boy carpeted kids' room design in New York with white walls

In this the sweet nursery, the designer specified a blue gray paneled wall as the focal point behind the white and acrylic crib. A comfortable cotton and linen glider and ottoman provide the perfect spot to rock baby to sleep. A dresser with a changing table topper provides additional function, while adorable car artwork, a woven mirror, and a sheepskin rug add finishing touches and additional texture.

Tim Krueger
Inspiration for a farmhouse freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and beige floor study room remodel in Orange County with white walls

Children's study nook
Inspiration for a country carpeted and blue floor kids' room remodel in DC Metro with multicolored walls

Large elegant boy kids' room photo in New York with purple walls

Kids' study room - contemporary gender-neutral kids' study room idea in San Luis Obispo with blue walls

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photographer: Sam Angel Photography Design Challenge: This 8 year-old boy and girl were outgrowing their existing setup and needed to update their rooms with a plan that would carry them forward into middle school and beyond. In addition to gaining storage and study areas, could these twins show off their big personalities? Absolutely, we said! MOTIV Interiors tackled the rooms of these youngsters living in Nashville's 12th South Neighborhood and created an environment where the dynamic duo can learn, create, and grow together for years to come. Design Solution: In her room, we wanted to create a fun-filled space that supports softball, sleepovers, science, and anything else a girl might want to get into. The star of the show is a beautiful hand-printed wallpaper by Brooklyn designer Aimee Wilder, whose FSC-certified papers contain no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). That means that in addition to packing a powerful visual punch, they meet our standard for excellent indoor air quality. We also love this wallpaper because it is composed of so many different neutral colors - this room can organically evolve over time without necessarily replacing the paper (which was installed with a no-VOC adhesive). We refreshed the remaining walls with a scrubbable no-VOC paint from Sherwin Williams (7008 Alabaster) and gave the carpets in both of the twins’ rooms a good cleaning and simple stretch as opposed to replacing them. In order to provide more functional light in her room, we incorporated a corner floor lamp for reading, a telescoping desk lamp for studying, and an eye-catching LED flower pendant on a dimmer switch sourced from Lightology. Custom window treatments in a linen/cotton blend emphasize the height of the room and bring in a little “bling” with antiqued gold hardware. Before we even thought about aesthetics, however, MOTIV Interiors got to work right away on increasing functionality. We added a spacious storage unit with plenty of baskets for all of our young client’s animal friends, and we made sure to include ample shelf space for books and hobbies as she finds new passions to explore down the road. We always prefer eco-friendly furnishings that are manufactured responsibly, made with sustainably harvested wood (FSC Certified), and use no glue or non-toxic glues and paints. The bedding in this project is 100% cotton and contains no synthetic fibers. When purchasing bedding, check for the GOTS Certification (Global Organic Textile Standard). The introduction of a desk and drawer unit created a calming space to study and reflect, or write a letter to a friend. Gold accents add a bit of warmth to the workspace, where she can display her memories, goals, and game plans for a bright future. We hope you enjoyed this project as much as we did! Each design challenge is an opportunity to push the envelope, by creating a new and exciting aesthetic or finding creative ways to incorporate sustainable design principles.