interior designer: Kathryn Smith
Staircase - mid-sized country wooden l-shaped mixed material railing staircase idea in Orange County with painted risers

Example of a beach style patio design in New York with a fire pit and no cover

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master gray tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor doorless shower remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls and quartz countertops

Kitchen - large cottage l-shaped kitchen idea in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an island and shaker cabinets

Two smaller bedrooms were combined to create a generous Master Suite with a dressing area and built-in closets. John Wilbanks Photography
Inspiration for a transitional master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Seattle with multicolored walls

Kitchen - transitional galley medium tone wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

Beach style subway tile bathroom photo in Grand Rapids with marble countertops

Eric Roth Photography
Example of a beach style open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Boston with white walls

Example of a transitional l-shaped brown floor laundry room design in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer, gray countertops and gray walls

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Nalley
Traditional stone exterior home idea in Atlanta

Bernard Andre
Inspiration for a large contemporary master white tile and mosaic tile porcelain tile and gray floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, quartz countertops and gray countertops

Glass Enclosed Conservatory
Sunroom - large modern gray floor sunroom idea in Minneapolis with a glass ceiling

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

Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in San Francisco

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Example of a transitional living room design in San Francisco with white walls

Every family home needs a bathtub and this one is clean and simple. It's faced with the same engineered quartz as the counter top and the hinged glass door allows for the beautiful glass tile and niche to be appreciated. Erika Bierman Photography

Tom Arban
Large trendy master gray tile and stone tile limestone floor freestanding bathtub photo in Toronto with a one-piece toilet and gray walls

Hello powder room! Photos by: Rod Foster
Inspiration for a small coastal beige tile, mosaic tile and gray tile light wood floor and beige floor powder room remodel in Orange County with a vessel sink, travertine countertops and gray walls

Michael J. Lee
Elegant slate floor and gray floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances