A new lakefront home exudes a flare for elegance clad in brick and ornate details. Photo : Benjamin Benschneider
Example of a large classic red two-story brick gable roof design in Seattle with a shingle roof

6" SoCal Black Powder Coated Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, matte black powder coat finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

Exterior makeover of this Lake Michigan cottage complete with siding in gray cedar shake and vertical batten. Flagstone patio with stone pillars and cedar columns. New landscaping. Rejuvenation Carsen lights and modern address numbers. New thicker Craftsman window trim and stained custom door by Dallas Door Designs.

Land2c photos Entry is now crisply defined with a surround of fenced walls with an arched metal door repeating the home's architecture, The old porch support columns were reclad to create a grander entry. A lit address light was added, smooth new concrete walk, and welcoming plantings greet guests. The old maple tree has been well-pruned to allow more light into the entry. Plants are bright and have four seasons interest. The red fence will be painted matching black soon. The new entry was poured to meet the angle of the stair risers and the city sidewalk. The existing exposed aggregate concrete retaining walls were skimmed and painted to mimic the stucco finish of the house. The iron fencing will be all black. All now appears to be original to the home's era.

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

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in San Diego

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

Amelia B Lima
Inspiration for a mediterranean full sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in San Diego.

6" SoHo aluminum Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, brushed finish with a high quality clear coat and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

6" Palm Springs Black Powder Coat Modern House Numbers (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. Recycled aluminum numbers are 3/8" thick, black powder coated finish and a 1/2" standoff providing a subtle shadow.

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Calgary.

Cottage entryway photo in Charlotte

8" Palm Springs Modern House Numbers and upper case letters (modernhousenumbers.com) available in 4", 6", 8", 12" or 15" high. numbers are 3/8" thick, with durable powder coat finish and a 1/2" standoffs providing a subtle shadow effect. other finishes available.

Ran Artzi
Example of a mid-century modern entryway design in Los Angeles