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

Be green, and be organized, too, with our four-bin recycling unit. Stowed out of sight, you can keep your kitchen looking clean.
Kitchen - kitchen idea in Other

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

How cool is this? We designed a pull-out tower, in three sections, beside "her" sink, to give the homeowner handy access for her make-up and hair care routine. We even installed the mirror exactly for her height! The sides of the pull-out were done in metal, to maximize the interior width of the shelves, and we even customized it so that the widest items she wanted to store in here would fit on these shelves!

Angle Eye Photography
Eat-in kitchen - huge cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Modern Office that doubles as a craft room with chalkboard wall, floating shelves and storage bins.
Example of a mid-sized minimalist gender-neutral carpeted kids' room design in Dallas with white walls

Sunset Construction and Design specializes in creating residential patio retreats, outdoor kitchens with fireplaces and luxurious outdoor living rooms. Our design-build service can turn an ordinary back yard into a natural extension of your home giving you a whole new dimension for entertaining or simply unwinding at the end of the day. Today, almost any activity you enjoy inside your home you can bring to the outside. Depending on your budget, your outdoor room can be simple, with a stamped concrete patio, a grill and a table for dining, or more elaborate with a fully functional outdoor kitchen complete with concrete countertops for preparing and serving food, a sink and a refrigerator. You can take the concept even further by adding such amenities as a concrete pizza oven, a fireplace or fire-pit, a concrete bar-top for serving cocktails, an architectural concrete fountain, landscape lighting and concrete statuary. Cooking Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bar-tops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options. Hearth Wood-burning or gas fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas and portable patio heaters extend the enjoyment of outdoor living well into the evening while creating a cozy conversation area for people to gather around. If you’re interested in converting a boring back yard or starting from scratch in a new home, look us up! A great patio and outdoor living area can easily be yours. Greg, Sunset Construction & Design in Fresno, CA.

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

This is our new, industrial style vanity base! The vanity base is constructed from solid steel and the doors have been treated with a chemical patina to give the piece a charming weathered, distressed appearance. It is handmade by us and can be customized in nearly any way imaginable. However, this listing is for one with overall dimensions of 61” W x 18.5” D x 31″ high. This piece is made without the marble top and we encourage our customers to source their own. This vanity base could also be built with a reclaimed wood top and sides if you prefer. We have built this one with four doors, but it could be made with more or less and with any patina or finish you see on any of our other pieces. We also often build these with drawers (inquire for details and pricing.). As shown, it is intended to have two vessel style sinks that would sit on top. For those using it in this configuration, your plumber would simply need to drill holes in the top. Or, if you’d like the cabinet to be taller for use with under mount sinks, let us know your exact specifications and we’d be happy to price it (including cutting out the holes for the sinks). This addition to your bathroom or powder room incorporates two distinct styles without either stealing the show. This piece of furniture could also be used as a buffet for the centerpiece of your next party, an eye-catching media console or aquarium stand. This truly unique and one of a kind piece could be customized in nearly any configuration you can imagine to suit the décor of your home. Be sure to contact us with any changes you desire to completely make it your own piece of *living furniture. Price (without marble top): $1,550.00. Please inquire for pricing on any changes you would like. Model: The Venus * Note: In humid environments, the steel finish can change a little over time. We do put a sealer on it, but over time it may still change slightly. **EACH PIECE IS HANDMADE. Therefore, no two pieces will be the same. The patina will vary from piece to piece, and the lighter more splotchy pieces will vary greatly. --- **TURNAROUND IS ABOUT 3 1/2 WEEKS, but varies from time to time so please feel free to contact me for a more accurate time frame. --- **Shipping will be quoted for "Standard Delivery" If you would like a quote on inside delivery, be sure to indicate that choice when requesting a quote. ___________________________________________ ABOUT US: We create custom, unique furniture unlike anything you will find. Our intention is to give you a piece of furniture that you will admire and enjoy for years to come and that will leave your house-guests envious! Our work is 100% hand crafted in the United States and made to last a lifetime. These unique pieces fit perfectly with any urban/modern, mid-century, or rustic décor. All of our pieces can be made in many configurations and sizes to suit your specific style and needs. There are many options available as each piece is designed just for you, so, if you have any thoughts, please contact us and we would be happy to let you know what your options are. * All rights reserved; Combine 9 Design, LLC

This outdoor patio and fireplace added much needed outdoor entertainment space to this South Hills residence. Unit masonry walls were used to carve out more space on this hillside lot. An exposed aggregate patio is now the location of a seating area, unit masonry fireplace and outdoor kitchen.

Family room - transitional dark wood floor family room idea in Detroit with white walls and a media wall

Janis Nicolay
Trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Vancouver

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped ceramic tile open concept kitchen remodel in Vancouver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Induction cooking transforms your cookware into the heat source for a cooler, efficient, and energy saving method of cooking. The Power Management induction system speeds boil times for those favorite dishes as well as providing a quick simmer for sauces. Viking Induction cooktops are compatible with all Viking cookware as well as most other high-end brands of stainless steel and enamel cookware. Features: Induction Glass Ceramic Surface: Spend more time creating and less time cleaning with our easy-to-clean glass ceramic top and removable knobs. Wear-resistant glass ceramic surface is extremely durable for easy cleanup. Power Management System: Speeds boil time for your favorite dishes as well as providing a quick simmer for sauces. MagneQuick™ Induction Elements: Cook quickly and efficiently with induction heat generated by the exceptionally responsive MagneQuick(TM) power generators. MagneQuick(TM) induction elements utilize magnetic energy for superior power, responsiveness and efficiency.

Leger Wanaselja Architecture, Kiera Marie Condrey
Example of an eclectic dining room design in San Francisco

Take your entertainment area to a higher level with this luxurious wall panel with TV base. Contemporary European design & quality is shown in every detail of this unit, while functional and ergonomic construction allows to organize your devices and collectibles. futonstorenyc.com/product/granada-contemporary-tv-panel-base

This beautiful bar cabinet with burnt oak adjustable shelves is part of our Loft Shelving System. Our Loft posts in blackened gunmetal and fully machined brass fittings in our buffed brass finish mount from the top of our cabinet and tie back to the wall to support 8 shelves. Amuneal’s proprietary machined hardware clamps onto the posts so that the shelves can be easily adjusted at any time. The burnt oak shelves are milled in house from solid white oak to a thickness of 1.5” before being hand-finished using the traditional Shou Sugi Ban process of burning the wood. Once completed, the shelves are sealed with a protective coating that keeps that burnt finish from rubbing off. The combination of blackened steel posts, machined and patinated brass hardware and the charred oak shelves make this a stunning and sculptural shelving option for any space. Integrated bronze bottle stops and wine glass holders add detail and purpose. The lower portion of this bar system is a tall credenza in one of Amuneal’s new finishes, cerused chestnut. The credenza storage highlights the system’s flexibility with drawers, cabinets and glass fronted doors, all with Amuneal fully machined and full width drawer pulls. Behind the glass doors, are a series of pull-out wine trays, carved from solid oak, allowing both display and storage in this unit. This unit is fabricated in our Philadelphia-based furniture studio and can be customized with different metal and wood finishes as well as different shelf widths, sizes and configurations.

Example of a small minimalist galley ceramic tile and white floor eat-in kitchen design in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, paneled appliances, no island and white countertops

Design, Fabrication, Install & Photography By MacLaren Kitchen and Bath Designer: Mary Skurecki Wet Bar: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Reno door/drawer style with Carbide paint. Caesarstone Pebble Quartz Countertops with eased edge detail (By MacLaren). TV Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Orleans door style with Carbide paint. Shelving, drawers, and wood top to match the cabinetry with custom crown and base moulding. Guest Room/Bath: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with flush inset, Reno Style doors with Maple wood in Bedrock Stain. Custom vanity base in Full Overlay, Reno Style Drawer in Matching Maple with Bedrock Stain. Vanity Countertop is Everest Quartzite. Bench Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with flush inset, Reno Style doors/drawers with Carbide paint. Custom wood top to match base moulding and benches. Toy Storage Area: Mouser/Centra Cabinetry with full overlay, Reno door style with Carbide paint. Open drawer storage with roll-out trays and custom floating shelves and base moulding.