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

Alex Lukey Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Toronto

This project features Salinas White Granite, White Porcelain backsplash tile installed in a herringbone pattern, modification of cabinets to shorten a bar top creating a continuous island and creation of accent columns on the island. Photos by Amendolara Photography

The blue subway tile provides a focal point in the kids bathroom. The ceiling detail conceals an HVAC access panel. Blackstock Photography
Trendy kids' white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and white floor alcove bathtub photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a wall-mount toilet

Chip Riegel www.chipriegel.com
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Providence

Sacha Griffin
Large elegant u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls, an island, beige countertops and medium tone wood cabinets

Photography Alexander Vertikoff
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal dark wood floor living room remodel in Santa Barbara with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Design: Charlie & Co. Design | Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Interiors & Photo Styling: Lucy Interior Design | Susan Gilmore Photography
Example of a trendy ceramic tile and blue tile powder room design in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, a vessel sink and white countertops

Darby Kate Photography
Example of a farmhouse master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor double shower design in Dallas with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Houzz Kitchen of the Week April 8, 2016. Kitchen renovation for Victorian home north of Boston. Designed by north shore kitchen showroom Heartwood Kitchens. The white kitchen custom cabinetry is from Mouser Cabinetry. Butler's pantry cabinetry in QCCI quarter sawn oak cabinetry. The kitchen includes many furniture like features including a wood mantle hood, open shelving, bead board and inset cabinetry. Other details include: soapstone counter tops, Jenn-Air appliances, Elkay faucet, antique transfer ware tiles from EBay, pendant lights from Rejuvenation, quarter sawn oak floors, hardware from House of Antique Hardware and the homeowners antique runner. General Contracting: DM Construction. Photo credit: Eric Roth Photography.

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Boston

Kitchen - transitional u-shaped kitchen idea with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets and an island

Kitchen pantry - mid-sized traditional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry idea in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

TERRA ANTIC DATILE TILE FLOORING from Carpet One Floor & Home gives a modernly rustic feel to this space.
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized mediterranean ceramic tile eat-in kitchen idea in Manchester with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Designer Maria Beck of M.E. Designs expertly combines fun wallpaper patterns and sophisticated colors in this lovely Alamo Heights home. Kitchen painted a Farrow and Ball white

Powder room conversation starter. 2010 A-List Award for Best Home Remodel
Inspiration for a small rustic beige tile and pebble tile powder room remodel in New York with wood countertops, a wall-mount toilet, a trough sink and brown countertops

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom remodel in Miami with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and multicolored walls

The desk area was also done in the same grey stained oak, with a clean floating design to maximize seating space and create an open feel. The wallpaper takes a more prominent role here behind the woodwork. Cords were eliminated largely by going wireless wherever possible. The remaining cords are run through the wall. © emily gilbert