Photo credit: www.parkscreative.com
Example of a large classic backyard stone patio design in Seattle with a fire pit and no cover

Ansel Olson
Staircase - mid-sized modern wooden l-shaped staircase idea in Richmond with wooden risers

Mid-sized trendy light wood floor family room photo in Miami with white walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Transitional gender-neutral playroom photo in Dallas with white walls

Professionally measured blackout cellular shades installed by Rick and Cole of Bloomin' Blinds North Charlotte.
Inspiration for a timeless nursery remodel in Charlotte

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

No strings attached helps keep kids safe.
Kids' bedroom - bedroom gender-neutral carpeted kids' bedroom idea with yellow walls

Cordless blackout cellular shades offer child-safe operation and superior room-darkening performance.
Elegant nursery photo in Charlotte

Example of a classic nursery design in Charlotte

Cordless Roman shades offer a safe & stylish option for your children's windows.
Kids' bedroom - bedroom boy medium tone wood floor kids' bedroom idea with beige walls

Photo by Ryann Ford
Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

A retro 1950’s kitchen featuring green custom colored cabinets with glass door mounts, under cabinet lighting, pull-out drawers, and Lazy Susans. To contrast with the green we added in red window treatments, a toaster oven, and other small red polka dot accessories. A few final touches we made include a retro fridge, retro oven, retro dishwasher, an apron sink, light quartz countertops, a white subway tile backsplash, and retro tile flooring. Home located in Humboldt Park Chicago. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who also serve the Chicagoland area and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/1950s-retro-humboldt-park-kitchen/

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.

This lIttle Girls Room Gets Roman Shade Savvy with the addition of Child-Safe Roman Shades.

A cute and contemporary kids bedroom done in shades of blue and grey. The theme was keeping it animal friendly with lots of layers and storage. Photo by Jerson Marques Photography.