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

Home design - contemporary home design idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in San Francisco

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in New York

Example of a trendy home design design in San Francisco

Inspiration for a large coastal medium tone wood floor mudroom remodel with beige walls

Inspiration for a rustic medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Philadelphia with stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Kevin Meechan Photographer
Inspiration for a farmhouse dark wood floor kitchen pantry remodel with wood countertops, open cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Holland Photography
Transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Seattle with shaker cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Jack Michaud Photography
Example of a transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home studio design in Portland Maine with gray walls

Beautiful kitchen begins with a well thought out design, quality cabinetry and a kitchen design that will serve you every day of your life. In Michigan, MI Kitchen Design is committed to assisting homeowners to design kitchens that are stylish, efficient and long lasting. From new kitchen cabinets to a one-of-a-kind kitchen design, to a contemporary countertop, a practical island, and innovative storage solutions, we help you realize your kitchen dreams. Our 3D kitchen design service allows you to see your kitchen in 3D before it's fitted, to help you to visualise your kitchen design before your kitchen is actually installed. Our team works with you from the start of your consultation to design and professionally install your cabinets, whether you are looking to remode your entire kitchen or just a cabinet update. So why is MI Kitchen Design the best kitchen design company? Quality Kitchen Cabinets and beautiful finishes. One-of-a-kind creations designed to fit your room and your needs. Home Storage Solutions and Kitchen Designs A wide range of countertops and islands for matching your style.A variety of countertops and islands to suit your design. Advice from planning to installation from professionals Planning a kitchen that is both functional and tasteful is what you need when you're searching for high quality kitchens in Michigan MI Kitchen Design is here to help. ? Visit us at 30948 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135 ? Call: (734) 717-8616 ? Website: https://mikitchendesign.com/ Elevating Everyday Living Through Better Cabinetry is the motto for MI Kitchen Design. #HighQualityKitchens #KitchenDesignMichigan #KitchenRemodelingMichigan #KitchenCabinets #CustomKitchenDesign #MIKitchenDesign

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Example of a classic living room design in New York

A rustic modern patio blends natural stone pavers, warm wood accents, and seamless mountain views, crafting an inviting and sustainable outdoor living space in this organic mountain home.

Closet design in collaboration with Transform Closets
Small trendy gender-neutral light wood floor reach-in closet photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

Elegant gender-neutral gray floor walk-in closet photo with recessed-panel cabinets and beige cabinets

outdoor living space, outdoor kitchen, outdoor cookstation, bluestone hardscaping, pergolas, arbors, ambiance lighting, outdoor lighting
Patio - contemporary patio idea in Portland

Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

What makes a bathroom accessible depends on the needs of the person using it, which is why we offer many custom options. In this case, a difficult to enter drop-in tub and a tiny separate shower stall were replaced with a walk-in shower complete with multiple grab bars, shower seat, and an adjustable hand shower. For every challenge, we found an elegant solution, like placing the shower controls within easy reach of the seat. Along with modern updates to the rest of the bathroom, we created an inviting space that's easy and enjoyable for everyone.