A child's bedroom simply and sweetly designed for transitional living. Unpretentious and inviting, this space was designed for a toddler boy until he will grow up and move to another room within the home. This light filled, dusty rose nursery was curated for a long awaited baby girl. The room was designed with warm wood tones, soft neutral textiles, and specially curated artwork. Featured soft sage paint, earth-gray carpet and black and white framed prints. A sweet built-in bookshelf, houses favorite toys and books.

A child's bedroom simply and sweetly designed for transitional living. Unpretentious and inviting, this space was designed for a toddler boy until he will grow up and move to another room within the home. This light filled, dusty rose nursery was curated for a long awaited baby girl. The room was designed with warm wood tones, soft neutral textiles, and specially curated artwork. Featured soft sage paint, earth-gray carpet and black and white framed prints. A sweet built-in bookshelf, houses favorite toys and books.

A child's bedroom simply and sweetly designed for transitional living. Unpretentious and inviting, this space was designed for a toddler boy until he will grow up and move to another room within the home. This light filled, dusty rose nursery was curated for a long awaited baby girl. The room was designed with warm wood tones, soft neutral textiles, and specially curated artwork. Featured soft sage paint, earth-gray carpet and black and white framed prints. A sweet built-in bookshelf, houses favorite toys and books.

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

THEME Inspired by the Magic Tree House series of children’s books, this indoor tree house provides entertainment, fun and a place for children to read about or imagine adventures through time. A blue sky, green meadows, and distant matching beech trees recreate the magic of Jack and Annie’s Frog Creek, and help bring the characters from the series to life. FOCUS A floor armoire, ceiling swing and climbing rope give the structure a true tree house look and feel. A drop-down drawing and writing table, wheeled work table and recessed ceiling lights ensure the room can be used for more than play. The tree house has electric interior lighting, a window to the outdoors and a playful sliding shutter over a window to the room. The armoire forms a raised, nine-foot-wide play area, while a TV within one of the wall’s floor-to-ceiling cabinets — with a delightful sliding ladder — transforms the room into a family theater perfect for watching movies and holding Wii competitions. STORAGE The bottom of the drawing table is a magnetic chalk board that doubles as a display for children’s art works. The tree’s small niches are for parents’ shoes; the larger compartment stores children’s shoes and school bags. Books, games, toys, DVDs, Wii and other computer accessories are stored in the wall cabinets. The armoire contains two spacious drawers and four nifty hinged storage bins. A rack of handy “vegetable buckets” above the armoire stores crayons, scissors and other useful items. GROWTH The room easily adapts from playroom, to party room, to study room and even to bedroom, as the tree house easily accommodates a twin-size mattress. SAFETY The rungs and rails of the ladder, as well as the grab bars beside the tree house door are wrapped with easy-grip rope for safe climbing. The drawing table has spring-loaded hinges to help prevent it from dropping dangerously from the wall, and the table door has double sets of locks up top to ensure safety. The interior of each storage compartment is carpeted like the tree house floor to provide extra padding.

Single Wall Design Solution: Problem: 650 sq. ft. 1 bedroom apartment needed to be redesigned to allow the new child to take the bedroom, and the parents to live, work, and entertain in the former living room. Solution: Prototype 1.0 is the Single Wall Design Solution, designed to optimize space along a wall, 18" deep, to be used in a single room and provide a bedroom, office, living room, bar, and storage. It allows for the family's daily needs for 24 hours in their small apartment. Fully integrated and changeable, things are made available when they are needed and hidden when they are not. Results: We used the least amount of square footage to maximize the arrangement of the family's home, which resulted in less time wasted, performing activities, or looking for things as there is a place for everything. Our prototype is financially savvy because it allows the living room to do more in a 24-hour span, showing that we only need our bed and night tables for 8 hours of the day, and the other hours of the day we pay for square footage not used. These pieces were designed to be standard sizes so they could be interchangeable, providing a custom layout per client. Life is dynamic, and so space should be too. Our prototype 1.0 introduces a new lifestyle to its users, encouraging wellbeing by design.

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

Living room - traditional formal dark wood floor living room idea in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a media wall

Gorgeous master bath finished with Dal-Tile's Fabrique porcelain tile in the color Noir Linen polished. Tile size is 12"x24" installed in a brick joint pattern. The floor boasts underfloor heating on a timed thermostat.

It’s no surprise these Hanover clients reached out to Cathy and Ed of Renovisions for design and build services as they wanted a local professional bath specialist to turn their plain builder-grade bath into a luxurious handicapped accessible master bath. Renovisions had safety and universal design in mind while creating this customized two-person super shower and well-appointed master bath so their clients could escape to a special place to relax and energize their senses while also helping to conserve time and water as it is used simultaneously by them. This completely water proofed spacious 4’x8’ walk-in curb-less shower with lineal drain system and larger format porcelain tiles was a must have for our senior client –with larger tiles there are less grout lines, easier to clean and easier to maneuver using a walker to enter and exit the master bath. Renovisions collaborated with their clients to design a spa-like bath with several amenities and added conveniences with safety considerations. The bench seat that spans the width of the wall was a great addition to the shower. It’s a comfortable place to sit down and stretch out and also to keep warm as electric mesh warming materials were used along with a programmable thermostat to keep these homeowners toasty and cozy! Careful attention to all of the details in this master suite created a peaceful and elegant environment that, simply put, feels divine. Adding details such as the warming towel rack, mosaic tiled shower niche, shiny polished chrome decorative safety grab bars that also serve as towel racks and a towel rack inside the shower area added a measure of style. A stately framed mirror over the pedestal sink matches the warm white painted finish of the linen storage cabinetry that provides functionality and good looks to this space. Pull-down safety grab bars on either side of the comfort height high-efficiency toilet was essential to keep safety as a top priority. Water, water everywhere for this well deserving couple – multiple shower heads enhances the bathing experience for our client with mobility issues as 54 soft sprays from each wall jet provide a soothing and cleansing effect – a great choice because they do not require gripping and manipulating handles yet provide a sleek look with easy cleaning. The thermostatic valve maintains desired water temperature and volume controls allows the bather to utilize the adjustable hand-held shower on a slide-bar- an ideal fixture to shower and spray down shower area when done. A beautiful, frameless clear glass enclosure maintains a clean, open look without taking away from the stunning and richly grained marble-look tiles and decorative elements inside the shower. In addition to its therapeutic value, this shower is truly a design focal point of the master bath with striking tile work, beautiful chrome fixtures including several safety grab bars adding aesthetic value as well as safety benefits.

Bremer-Sellens
Eclectic home design photo in Portland

As true cooking instruments, Wolf drawer microwaves include many features that make fast meals better meals. Drawer microwaves can be installed undercounter, in a corner or in a wall of cabinetry which provides easy access to food from any angle. They are designed to match the trim style of Wolf E series ovens and can be installed in a standard or flush inset application. Design and Performance Features: Classic stainless steel Designed to match Wolf E series ovens. Design flexibility Can be installed in a standard or flush inset (accessory required) application. Increased capacity 20% larger interior capacity accommodates 9" x 13" pans and cups up to 7" in height. Easy to operate 10 power levels and sensor cooking make cooking easy. Keep warm setting Allows food to be kept warm for up to 99 minutes. Kitchen timer Can be set for up to 99 minutes and 99 seconds. Control panel lock Can be locked for child safety or to prevent unwanted use. Technical Features: Interior capacity - 1.2 cu. ft. Power - 950 watts

This bedroom and full bathroom are part of an adventuresome project my wife and I embarked upon to create a complete apartment in the basement of our townhouse. We designed a floor plan that creatively and efficiently used all of the 385-square-foot-space, without sacrificing beauty, comfort or function – and all without breaking the bank! To maximize our budget, we did the work ourselves and added everything from thrift store finds to DIY wall art to bring it all together. A partial double closet bar adds a little extra space while still leaving room for longer hanging clothes.

Exterior, brick, lime, limewash, painted brick, architectural finish

Chicology Cordless Honeycomb Cellular Shades are efficient. Efficient in function. Efficient in performance. Efficient in style. Efficient in design. Efficient in energy. By combining function with stylish design, Chicology Honeycomb Cellular modern shades highlight any room in need while helping against penetrating summer heat or winter air. The cordless honeycomb cellular shade hexagon unique structure cells design has been mastered to become a premium draft and heat barrier. Chicology Cordless honeycomb cellular shade's marvelous design does an excelent job at being the most energy efficient shades in the market. The honeycomb design does a marvelous job at trapping air keeping your home cool in the summer heat and a great insulator in the winter; saving you money on summer/heating energy bills year round. 9/18-inch single cells creates the best functional eco-friendly shades while maintaining the Chic look you want. The unique honeycomb cellular fabric is timeless yet durable. The honeycomb cells open and close in an accordion fashion, with the simple child and pet safe cordless hassle free lift or pull of a hand. Our cordless lift system provides a fresh look by removing the need for operating cords. Simply cordless, the easy to use cellular shade stays exactly where you want, with no cords attached. Styled in UV protection, energy saver fabrics that filter the natural light beautifully – our window coverings create gentle sun-cover and protection during the day and valued complete privacy at night. The rich crisp fabric is available in a range of stunning beautiful array of colors, from Morning Mist (White), Morning Croissant (Beige), Morning Pebble (Grey), Morning Fog (Dark Grey), Morning Ocean (Blue), Evening Mist (White with Blackout). All colors come with fabric matching head rail and bottom rail color coordinated to match your shade – for a complete and finished look. Installation is quick and easy. Just install the brackets to the wall or ceiling and clip the head rail on. Capable of both inside and outside mount, the width you purchase is exactly the width you get – there is no deduction. It is available in 3 different lengths: 48, 64, and 84.

Inspiration for a transitional home design remodel in Minneapolis

With the pending arrival of a beautiful baby girl, the homeowners of this 1928 Minneapolis Tudor wanted a basement that was conducive to a young child, but would still allow a place for family to gather and the occasional house guest. The original basement was typical; cold, lacking natural light with tiny, uncomfortably confined rooms and that “unique” basement smell. The goal was to reverse all of the ill effects of a rarely unappreciated space while increasing the performance of the older home. The frigid temperatures and wet, mildew odor was remedied by demolishing the entire slab floor and excavating to gain an extra six inches in ceiling height. It also allowed us to insulate to R-15, moisture proof under the new slab, install a drain tile and sump pump. Within the concrete slab is a hydronic, in-floor radiant heating system which further helps to add comfort to the space. Lastly, we also sprayed a closed-cell, expanding urethane foam on the inside of the foundation walls all the way to the first floor. To help bring more light down to the basement, we started by opening up the staircase on both sides. A curved wall bends light into the lower level while a countertop and cubbies below provide storage space for odds and ends. On the opposite wall, creatively placed cubbies provide places for paintings, ceramics and plants. We also removed the tiny 18” x 34” window on the south wall and installed a full-sized, high-efficiency, triple pane Pella egress window. To let lots of natural light into the window, we expanded the size of the cedar-lined egress well and included a built-in planter at the base to help bring life into an otherwise empty cavity. Small, unspecified spaces that became storage areas now have purpose. The areas are defined, yet open. Upon descending down the stairs, one is greeted by a large living room with curved walls, custom design media center, built-in daybed and bookshelves. Use of paint was important in the design. Naturally in older homes basements are going to have exposed beams, soffits and a whole gambit of nooks and crannies. Instead of disguising them, we played them up, which created a layer effect with the color. The color also adds a touch of playfulness which anyone, regardless of age, can enjoy. We scavenged the client’s garage and discovered that the previous homeowner kept the old, full-view glass front entry door in the garage. We re-installed the original glass knob and attached the door to sliding barn door hardware which was attached to the main structural beam of the lower level. On the other side of the door was the homeowners’ combined office and small fitness area. The office floor is a blend of thin strips of different colored cork. A built-in storage cabinet sits across from a site-built desk which forms to the curve of the dividing wall. A small, square hole in the curved wall provides a view to see who is coming down the stairs. Opposite of the office area and directly at the base of the stairs is a place for the homeowner’s treadmill. Hidden is the mechanical room, which is home to many green and energy efficient products. The washing machine is a low-water consumption unit while the dryer requires less energy to operate than most standard units. Both sit atop a checkerboard pattern of different colored VCT tiles. We also replaced the aging boiler, which only heated the first and second level, with a 95% efficient heat source for the entire house—including the basement. Behind the curved wall, the bathroom is conveniently located. A large, custom built no-formaldehyde added vanity supports the slab of remnant granite countertop. A piece of eco-resin wall panel, embedded with organic material, contains water in the shower and blends beautifully with the updated colors. Tucked under the stairs, we installed a dual-flush, low-water consumption toilet. Through creative space planning, we packed a lot of into a rather small space. As a result, we have three very happy homeowners who are enjoying their light, clean and safe lower level of their home—however, they’ve been hard pressed to think of it as a “basement”. highlights Moisture management system Insulated slab Hydronic in-floor heat Formaldehyde free cabinetry MN-made custom cabinets Ultra-low VOC paints Wool carpet Dual-flush toilet Cork floor No recessed lights Cedar egress window well with planter Re-used door Eco-resin

maple hardwood floor, water-popped, and stained with 50% rosewood and 50% neutral stains.
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Salt Lake City

Chicology Cordless Honeycomb Cellular Shades are efficient. Efficient in function. Efficient in performance. Efficient in style. Efficient in design. Efficient in energy. By combining function with stylish design, Chicology Honeycomb Cellular modern shades highlight any room in need while helping against penetrating summer heat or winter air. The cordless honeycomb cellular shade hexagon unique structure cells design has been mastered to become a premium draft and heat barrier. Chicology Cordless honeycomb cellular shade's marvelous design does an excelent job at being the most energy efficient shades in the market. The honeycomb design does a marvelous job at trapping air keeping your home cool in the summer heat and a great insulator in the winter; saving you money on summer/heating energy bills year round. 9/18-inch single cells creates the best functional eco-friendly shades while maintaining the Chic look you want. The unique honeycomb cellular fabric is timeless yet durable. The honeycomb cells open and close in an accordion fashion, with the simple child and pet safe cordless hassle free lift or pull of a hand. Our cordless lift system provides a fresh look by removing the need for operating cords. Simply cordless, the easy to use cellular shade stays exactly where you want, with no cords attached. Styled in UV protection, energy saver fabrics that filter the natural light beautifully – our window coverings create gentle sun-cover and protection during the day and valued complete privacy at night. The rich crisp fabric is available in a range of stunning beautiful array of colors, from Morning Mist (White), Morning Croissant (Beige), Morning Pebble (Grey), Morning Fog (Dark Grey), Morning Ocean (Blue), Evening Mist (White with Blackout). All colors come with fabric matching head rail and bottom rail color coordinated to match your shade – for a complete and finished look. Installation is quick and easy. Just install the brackets to the wall or ceiling and clip the head rail on. Capable of both inside and outside mount, the width you purchase is exactly the width you get – there is no deduction. It is available in 3 different lengths: 48, 64, and 84.