Bruce Damonte
Mid-century modern porcelain tile dining room photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash and stone slab backsplash

Scott Amundson Photography
Great room - contemporary medium tone wood floor great room idea with white walls

Bella Vita Photography
Inspiration for a large country medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances and beige countertops

Kitchen/dining room combo - contemporary dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Austin with white walls

Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen photo with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, an island and quartz countertops

Dining room - transitional dark wood floor dining room idea in New York with white walls

Transitional dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Austin

Example of a classic kitchen design in Minneapolis

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

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Large trendy dark wood floor dining room photo in Boston with white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Transitional dining room photo in Los Angeles

This kitchen contains a mixture of traditional southern charm and contemporary selections, with the design of the doorways and the built in antique hutches, paired with the built-in breakfast bench and cabinetry.

Inspiration for a timeless dining room remodel in Dallas

Transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, glass sheet backsplash, beige walls and an island

Inspiration for a large tropical l-shaped limestone floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Baltimore with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, white appliances, an island and white countertops

We were so honored to be hired by our first clients outside of San Diego! This particular family lives in Los Altos Hills, CA, in Northern California. They hired us to decorate their grand-children's play room and guest rooms (see other album). Enjoy! Emily Scott

Example of a transitional light wood floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash and an island

Virtuance
Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in San Diego with white walls