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.

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it! A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

This project in Wayne, NJ, certainly is a custom one-of-a-kind space... Virtual design consultation: Call or Text 973.729.2125 #Nj #Ny #Ct The homeowners wanted an enclosed space that incorporated their antique stained glass. We purposely positioned the stained glass to ensure that when the sun sets that it shines through the glass, giving a beautiful glow to the enclosed room. The gorgeous tigerwood ceiling gives the screened room (12' wide retractable Phantom screen door) an elegant feel, complimenting the stained glass feature. The room features wolf decking, see-through fireplace, circular lounge and black standing seam metal roof. All elements work beautifully together, giving this space that visual “wow”. A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it! A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

This project in Wayne, NJ, certainly is a custom one-of-a-kind space... Virtual design consultation: Call or Text 973.729.2125 #Nj #Ny #Ct The homeowners wanted an enclosed space that incorporated their antique stained glass. We purposely positioned the stained glass to ensure that when the sun sets that it shines through the glass, giving a beautiful glow to the enclosed room. The gorgeous tigerwood ceiling gives the screened room (12' wide retractable Phantom screen door) an elegant feel, complimenting the stained glass feature. The room features wolf decking, see-through fireplace, circular lounge and black standing seam metal roof. All elements work beautifully together, giving this space that visual “wow”. A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it! A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

This project in Wayne, NJ, certainly is a custom one-of-a-kind space... Virtual design consultation: Call or Text 973.729.2125 #Nj #Ny #Ct The homeowners wanted an enclosed space that incorporated their antique stained glass. We purposely positioned the stained glass to ensure that when the sun sets that it shines through the glass, giving a beautiful glow to the enclosed room. The gorgeous tigerwood ceiling gives the screened room (12' wide retractable Phantom screen door) an elegant feel, complimenting the stained glass feature. The room features wolf decking, see-through fireplace, circular lounge and black standing seam metal roof. All elements work beautifully together, giving this space that visual “wow”. A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

Challenges with your backyard space? Yeah, that's no problem for us. In this space, the deck could not be attached to the house because of the way this turn-of-the-century home was built. The house is 100 years old and the basement door is right in the middle of the back of the house, preventing an attached deck. Another big challenge on this space was that the lot sloped up the hill and away from the house. So what did we do? We excavated and put in retaining walls and build it into the side of the hill, while maintaining integrity of the backyard space and driveway. The homeowners wanted their outdoor space on the same level as the play area with swingset so that they could watch the kids while they relax. Nailed it! A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

This project in Wayne, NJ, certainly is a custom one-of-a-kind space... Virtual design consultation: Call or Text 973.729.2125 #Nj #Ny #Ct The homeowners wanted an enclosed space that incorporated their antique stained glass. We purposely positioned the stained glass to ensure that when the sun sets that it shines through the glass, giving a beautiful glow to the enclosed room. The gorgeous tigerwood ceiling gives the screened room (12' wide retractable Phantom screen door) an elegant feel, complimenting the stained glass feature. The room features wolf decking, see-through fireplace, circular lounge and black standing seam metal roof. All elements work beautifully together, giving this space that visual “wow”. A little bit about us… Deck Remodeler’s Founder and President, Sean McAleer, grew up in his father’s architectural woodworking shop and mastered his craft as a third-generation carpenter and cabinet maker organically. While others adopted the craft, Sean was born in to it. Building a business using the skills he learned and perfected over the years…it’s in his DNA. With 30+ years of experience, he adapted and developed a palette of materials and methods for outdoor living that few can match, though many have tried to copy. Bringing his love of designing and building beautiful things inside the home to the outside spaces with all the challenges that presents has been his passion for decades. While Sean is certainly the visionary of Deck Remodelers, his talented and dedicated team ensures every project, big or small, is designed and built seamlessly. Our team includes in-house certified designers, architects, project management team, operations director, and of course, our highly skilled craftsmen in the field that bring it all to life. What also sets Deck Remodeler’s apart is the experience of working with a full team of passionate professionals. All communication between customers, office staff and workers in the field is done through the real time system, allowing us to stream-line our projects. Customers are kept up to date through our system, and never have to wonder the status of their project – stream-lined communication is a huge priority for us. With 60+ National Design Awards, there’s a reason Deck Remodelers is the MOST awarded deck builder in North America. Regardless of the deck and features, when Deck Remodelers builds your outdoor dream space, it is far from ordinary. Large or small, full features or basic, the design, quality and craftmanship is second to none. You not only get beautiful results, but a company that stands behind its work. We believe it is critical to use quality materials and employ highly trained and certified crew members that assure that quality in every aspect is second to none for our discerning clients. Serving NJ, NY, & CT we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for a modern, traditional, or transitional custom builder to design& build you your perfect backyard space , call the experts at Deck Remodelers for your free virtual consultation! 973.729.2125

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

Peter Aaron
Coastal exterior home idea in New York

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows new 12 x 24 tile installed vertically with offset layout pattern on wall and floor. Includes shower box with linear glass accent tile back and vertical glass accent band. Tile edges are finished with Schluter Jolly satin aluminum profile edge trim.

Ace and Whim Photography Design and Staging by Fallon Liles
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized traditional l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Solid Apollo LED. In this stairwell lighting installation, the owners wanted to add modern indirect lighting for a amazing custom effect. Here warm white LED strip lights were placed under the lip of each individual step and waterproof LED strip lighting was added under the railing for added lighting and protection for the strip light. The entire installation was connected to two Gecko Wireless One Zone Dimmers (one at the top of the steps, and one at the bottom) for a completely wireless installation as the Gecko acts like a remote control but looks like a modern wall dimmer.

Shellye Bonhamj
Example of a classic home design design in Chicago

Budget Blinds blackout roller shades, photo credit installer Adam Brannick
Example of a mid-sized transitional guest bedroom design in Cedar Rapids with gray walls and no fireplace

© Anthony Crisafulli 2014
Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in New York.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional front door remodel in Orange County with a blue front door