Light and airy guest bedroom with a soothing moss green accent wall. Styled with a custom gallery wall with black and white art, acrylic console, and DWR mantis wall sconce.

Timeless and classic elegance were the inspiration for this master bathroom renovation project. The designer used a Cararra porcelain tile with mosaic accents and traditionally styled plumbing fixtures from the Kohler Artifacts collection to achieve the look. The vanity is custom from Mouser Cabinetry. The cabinet style is plaza inset in the polar glacier elect finish with black accents. The tub surround and vanity countertop are Viatera Minuet quartz. Kyle J Caldwell Photography Inc

Inspiration for a large farmhouse single-wall medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, an island, shaker cabinets, soapstone countertops, stainless steel appliances and black countertops

Collections have the most impact when displayed in a group. photo: Rikki Snyder

Inspiration for a large timeless open concept travertine floor living room remodel in Houston with yellow walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped ceramic tile open concept kitchen idea in Edmonton with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Matthew Millman
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in San Francisco with beige backsplash, an island and limestone backsplash

Example of a mid-sized classic l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, glass tile backsplash, an island and gray countertops

Gridley+Graves Photographers
Example of a mid-sized country single-wall brick floor and red floor eat-in kitchen design in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, concrete countertops, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

Large tuscan backyard rectangular pool photo in Miami

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

Example of a trendy galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Heading into the primary bedroom, we intended to design a space that felt both fresh and clean yet warm and inviting. We created a touch of drama and depth with a deep blue accent wall behind the bed and nightstands.

Julie Florio Photography
Mid-sized trendy open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room photo in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a media wall

Troy Theis
Inspiration for a craftsman l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls and an island

Michael Alan Kaskel
Eat-in kitchen - traditional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and orange floor eat-in kitchen idea in Chicago with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo Credit: Nicole Leone
Bedroom - mediterranean master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Meg Messina Photography
Patio - mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete paver patio idea in San Francisco with a pergola

Brad Taylor
Inspiration for a large country dark wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls and a wood stove