This project was not only full of many bathrooms but also many different aesthetics. The goals were fourfold, create a new master suite, update the basement bath, add a new powder bath and my favorite, make them all completely different aesthetics. Primary Bath-This was originally a small 60SF full bath sandwiched in between closets and walls of built-in cabinetry that blossomed into a 130SF, five-piece primary suite. This room was to be focused on a transitional aesthetic that would be adorned with Calcutta gold marble, gold fixtures and matte black geometric tile arrangements. Powder Bath-A new addition to the home leans more on the traditional side of the transitional movement using moody blues and greens accented with brass. A fun play was the asymmetry of the 3-light sconce brings the aesthetic more to the modern side of transitional. My favorite element in the space, however, is the green, pink black and white deco tile on the floor whose colors are reflected in the details of the Australian wallpaper. Hall Bath-Looking to touch on the home's 70's roots, we went for a mid-mod fresh update. Black Calcutta floors, linear-stacked porcelain tile, mixed woods and strong black and white accents. The green tile may be the star but the matte white ribbed tiles in the shower and behind the vanity are the true unsung heroes.

Inspiration for a transitional mosaic tile shower bench remodel in New York

This project was not only full of many bathrooms but also many different aesthetics. The goals were fourfold, create a new master suite, update the basement bath, add a new powder bath and my favorite, make them all completely different aesthetics. Primary Bath-This was originally a small 60SF full bath sandwiched in between closets and walls of built-in cabinetry that blossomed into a 130SF, five-piece primary suite. This room was to be focused on a transitional aesthetic that would be adorned with Calcutta gold marble, gold fixtures and matte black geometric tile arrangements. Powder Bath-A new addition to the home leans more on the traditional side of the transitional movement using moody blues and greens accented with brass. A fun play was the asymmetry of the 3-light sconce brings the aesthetic more to the modern side of transitional. My favorite element in the space, however, is the green, pink black and white deco tile on the floor whose colors are reflected in the details of the Australian wallpaper. Hall Bath-Looking to touch on the home's 70's roots, we went for a mid-mod fresh update. Black Calcutta floors, linear-stacked porcelain tile, mixed woods and strong black and white accents. The green tile may be the star but the matte white ribbed tiles in the shower and behind the vanity are the true unsung heroes.

Country light wood floor entryway photo in Minneapolis with white walls and a glass front door

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

Farmhouse white two-story exterior home idea in Charleston with a mixed material roof

Photos by Susan Gilmore
Example of a classic kitchen design in Minneapolis with open cabinets, blue cabinets and black countertops

Architect: Sarah Susanka, FAIA. Photography by Barry Rustin
Bathroom - traditional bathroom idea in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets and white cabinets

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

Photo © Bruce Damonte
Living room - eclectic dark wood floor living room idea in San Francisco with white walls

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in DC Metro

Example of a minimalist gender-neutral medium tone wood floor kids' room design in Miami with white walls

This pre-war studio was fully renovated by our team and then staged.
Example of a small trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in New York with gray walls

Example of a transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile bathroom design in Other with gray walls and a pedestal sink

The Home Aesthetic
Inspiration for a large farmhouse medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Indianapolis with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in New York with white walls

Photo: Rachel Loewen © 2018 Houzz
Beach style bedroom photo in Chicago with white walls and no fireplace

Design ideas for a transitional drought-tolerant backyard stone landscaping in San Diego.

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2017 Houzz
Example of a trendy medium tone wood floor bedroom design in New York with yellow walls and no fireplace