Example of a mid-sized country open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design with white walls and no fireplace

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

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped kitchen remodel in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Beatrice Renae Lillie
Small mountain style concrete floor kitchen photo in Jackson with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel countertops and an island

Tracy Taha Photography
Large farmhouse u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Austin with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, an undermount sink, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, soapstone countertops and an island

Tatum Brown Custom Homes {Architect: Mark Hoesterey at Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro} {Photo Credit: Shoot 2 Sell}
Transitional white brick exterior home photo in Dallas

Photographer: Jason Dewey
Inspiration for a bedroom rustic gender-neutral bedroom remodel in Houston with blue walls

SILVER LINING A city retreat in shades of silver and stone. DESIGN DESCRIPTION High above the city, this condo is a calm retreat dressed in dove grey, ivory and gleaming silver. In the living room, a charcoal velvet sofa sits beneath a textural framed artwork, paired with an acrylic-and-glass coffee table that keeps the space feeling open and airy. A tufted wingback with nailhead trim, a silver-leaf stump table and frosted glass sconces add warmth and dimension. The dining area gathers cream upholstered chairs around a glass table beneath a striking multi-arm rod chandelier, steps from a sleek white kitchen with black glass backsplash. In the bedroom, a tall upholstered headboard, a plush fur throw and delicate butterfly art create a soft, restful mood. The bathroom is a jewel box of onyx-look tile, with a cut-crystal vessel sink, a lacquered black vanity and nickel fretwork mirrors. Calm, luminous and beautifully considered, it is a true urban sanctuary.

Trendy carpeted and beige floor home theater photo in Vancouver with white walls and a projector screen

Inspiration for a small modern gray two-story wood exterior home remodel in Boston

This unique Old Hampshire Designs timber frame home has a rustic look with rough-cut beams and tongue and groove ceilings, and is finished with hard wood floors through out. The centerpiece fireplace is of all locally quarried granite, built by local master craftsmen. This Lake Sunapee area home features a drop down bed set on a breezeway perfect for those cool summer nights. Built by Old Hampshire Designs in the Lake Sunapee/Hanover NH area Timber Frame by Timberpeg Photography by William N. Fish

Living room - mid-sized farmhouse living room idea in Birmingham

Jonathan Ivy Photography
Example of a large country master light wood floor bedroom design in Houston with white walls and no fireplace

Matthew Millman
Example of a mountain style white tile and subway tile freestanding bathtub design

Welcome to the essential refined mountain rustic home: warm, homey, and sturdy. The house’s structure is genuine heavy timber framing, skillfully constructed with mortise and tenon joinery. Distressed beams and posts have been reclaimed from old American barns to enjoy a second life as they define varied, inviting spaces. Traditional carpentry is at its best in the great room’s exquisitely crafted wood trusses. Rugged Lodge is a retreat that’s hard to return from.

Bathroom - rustic dark wood floor bathroom idea with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an undermount tub and beige walls

DIY Network
Urban exterior home photo in Seattle

One of the highlights of this space is the custom dog dishes inset into a small slab of Super White quartzite. Cabinet above has a tilt-out tray for dog treats and other pet items. This kitchen was awarded first place in the 2014 NKBA Northern New England kitchen design competition (large kitchen remodel). Range by Viking. Cabinetry by Pennville Custom Cabinetry. Pottery by MacKenzie-Childs. Photo by Joseph St. Pierre

Our goal on this project was to create a live-able and open feeling space in a 690 square foot modern farmhouse. We planned for an open feeling space by installing tall windows and doors, utilizing pocket doors and building a vaulted ceiling. An efficient layout with hidden kitchen appliances and a concealed laundry space, built in tv and work desk, carefully selected furniture pieces and a bright and white colour palette combine to make this tiny house feel like a home. We achieved our goal of building a functionally beautiful space where we comfortably host a few friends and spend time together as a family. John McManus