Mark Bosclair
Inspiration for a large mediterranean enclosed medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Sunroom - mid-sized traditional medium tone wood floor sunroom idea in Boston with a standard ceiling

Open concept kitchen - country galley concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen idea in Providence with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a large modern multicolored two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Seattle with a shed roof and a metal roof

Bathroom - large transitional master gray tile and marble tile ceramic tile, multicolored floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a floating vanity

Tom Zikas
Entryway - mid-sized rustic medium tone wood floor entryway idea in Sacramento with beige walls and a dark wood front door

Example of a large transitional u-shaped light wood floor, beige floor and tray ceiling eat-in kitchen design with flat-panel cabinets, beige backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, an undermount sink, mosaic tile backsplash, black countertops and medium tone wood cabinets

Mountain style dark wood floor living room photo in Denver with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Huge beach style light wood floor sunroom photo in Miami with a standard fireplace and a standard 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

Contemporary and Eclectic Kitchen with Wooden Ceiling and Moooi Lighting, Photo by David Lauer Photography
Example of a huge trendy u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Other with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, marble countertops and white backsplash

Matthew Millman
Inspiration for a country u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, an island and stainless steel appliances

Artist Eye Photography- Wes Stearns
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized traditional dark wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Charlotte with blue walls and no fireplace

Patio - mid-sized craftsman backyard stone patio idea in Chicago with a roof extension

Inspiration for a large rustic master carpeted and gray floor bedroom remodel in Salt Lake City with white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Corner shower - large transitional master white tile and subway tile gray floor and marble floor corner shower idea in New York with a two-piece toilet, white walls, a pedestal sink, gray cabinets and marble countertops

Modern Farmhouse Design With Oiled Texas Post Oak Hardwood Floors. Marbled Bathroom With Separate Vanities And Free Standing Tub. Open floor Plan Living Room With White Wooden Gabled Ceiling.

©Finished Basement Company
Inspiration for a huge contemporary look-out dark wood floor and brown floor basement remodel in Denver with gray walls and a tile fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless screened-in back porch remodel in DC Metro with decking and a roof extension