Fire Dance Parade of Homes Texas Hill Country Powder Bath https://www.hillcountrylight.com

Michael J. Lee
Elegant kitchen photo in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Open Kitchen with expansive views to open meadow below home. 3 level Island with multiple areas for storage and baking center. Counters are Fireslate and Granite. David Patterson Photography

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 Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Tricia Shay Photography
Example of a large trendy courtyard concrete patio design in Milwaukee with no cover

The plank tile floors are set over an infloor heating system. The tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern and dark grout was used to bring in a feeling of history to this space. Then by playing with the dividers in the built in bookcases and keeping very clean lines on the windows they style of the basement feels like a modern update on a classic style. Architecture & Design by Meriwether Felt. Photos by Susan Gilmore

Photo: HomeServices of Illinois, LLC
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized contemporary light wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Chicago with gray walls and no fireplace

Large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room library photo in New York with blue walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Eat-in kitchen - small transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white appliances and quartz countertops

A potting bench turned dining table--The walls are an earth plaster finish..Published in NH Home--Interiors and styling, Lisa Teague Designs
Farmhouse medium tone wood floor dining room photo in Boston with beige walls

Despite its Old World finishes, the kitchen has every convenience a modern chef could hope for, including a Wolf range and a built-in Miele espresso machine. Custom hood is made from stainless steel and hammered copper. Photography Alain Jaramillo

Elegant living room photo in Denver with a bar

Inspiration for a cottage galley light wood floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

stephani buchman
Inspiration for a contemporary freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and beige floor study room remodel in Toronto with brown walls

© Steve Freihon/ Tungsten LLC
Inspiration for a small contemporary master white tile and stone slab bamboo floor bathroom remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount sink, a wall-mount toilet, marble countertops and white walls

Peter Molick Photography
Kitchen - contemporary single-wall kitchen idea in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Deana Jorgenson
Kitchen - large tropical l-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor kitchen idea in Miami with light wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

Werner Segarra
Large tuscan bathroom photo in Phoenix with an undermount sink, white walls and marble countertops