Corner shower - mid-sized coastal master blue tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile corner shower idea in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, white walls and an undermount tub

Mid-sized elegant open concept and formal dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Small trendy backyard stone patio photo in New York with a pergola

Dedicated laundry room - coastal gray floor dedicated laundry room idea in Boston with white cabinets, gray walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer, white countertops and shaker cabinets

An industrial modern design + build project placed among the trees at the top of a hill. More projects at www.IversonSignatureHomes.com 2012 KaDa Photography

Elegant sunroom photo in DC Metro

Jeff Herr
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized traditional galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Atlanta with gray cabinets, an undermount sink, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photographer: John Sutton
Example of a classic bathroom design in San Francisco with marble countertops

Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © 2017 Houzz
Example of an eclectic enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Nashville with pink walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mountain style family room design in Sacramento with a stone fireplace

Vanity area in the master bathroom. "Curved elliptical beams divide the ceilings in the his and her master bathrooms to define the smaller spaces, and built-ins maximize storage space. Radiant heating in the floor is topped by custom ceramic tiles" KJ Fields

Trendy bathroom photo in San Francisco with a trough sink

Eric Rorer Photography
Elegant white tile and subway tile bathroom photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and beige countertops

Photo byAngie Seckinger Small walk-in designed for maximum use of space. Custom accessory storage includes double-decker jewelry drawer with velvet inserts, Maple pull-outs behind door for necklaces & scarves, vanity area with mirror, slanted shoe shelves, valet rods & hooks.

Huge trendy master white tile and marble tile marble floor bathroom photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an undermount tub and gray walls

This beautiful kitchen built by Peppertree Kitchen and Bath with cabinets of architectural-grade, rift-sawn white oak veneer. It has a wire-brushed texture with a custom satin and glaze.

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

Kitchen - coastal u-shaped kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Santa Monica Beach House, Evens Architects - Master Bedroom Photo by Manolo Langis
Example of a beach style bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls