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

This walnut kitchen was built in collaboration with Union Studio for a discerning couple in Mill Valley. The hand-hewned cabinetry and custom steel pulls complement the exposed brick retained from original structure's former life as the Carnegie Library in Mill Valley. Design & photography by Union Studio and Matt Bear Unionstudio.com.

Eric Straudmeier
Urban single-wall open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with stainless steel countertops, open cabinets, an integrated sink, stainless steel cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a timeless multicolored floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Omaha with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

A personal kitchen for a professional chef. Photos by Philip Jensen-Carter.
Example of a minimalist kitchen design in New York with stainless steel appliances

Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.
Urban kitchen photo in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances

Interior Design: NB Design Group; Contractor: Prestige Residential Construction; Photo: Benjamin Benschneider
Inspiration for a contemporary light wood floor living room library remodel in Seattle

Jason Roehner
Bathroom - industrial white tile and subway tile medium tone wood floor bathroom idea in Phoenix with wood countertops, an integrated sink, white walls, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and brown countertops

The large kitchen island provides not only ample space for preparing meals but is also a great gathering spot for friends and family. Photographer: Jim Bartsch

David Livingston
Eat-in kitchen - rustic u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, concrete countertops, window backsplash, a peninsula, gray countertops and paneled appliances

Coburn design Photo Credit: David O. Marlow. A chef's dream kitchen! The kitchen features commercial grade stainless steel appliances, three sinks, ample storage and counterspace, and on top of that, has the design features anyone would appreciate. The upper cabinets are glass faced, which exposes beadboard in the back. Lower cabniets provide great storage for less-pretty items. The pendant lights provide a great mondern balance to the rustic exposed beams.

Julie Ranee Photography © 2012 Houzz
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Columbus with stainless steel appliances, open cabinets and solid surface countertops

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View from master bedroom to deck. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely. Contractor: Young & Burton, Inc.
Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in San Francisco

Corrugated, galvanized sheet metal and mirrors make for a lively powder room.
Example of an urban bathroom design in San Francisco with a bidet

© Dana Miller, www.millerhallphoto.com
Kitchen - country medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black appliances and no island

It was pretty much a blank area but with some elevation issues. The seating wall served 2 purposes as a seating space but also to retain some of the patio. Natural fieldstone steppers lead from the driveway area to the patio. An assortment of perennials and plantings soften the hardscape project. Serviceberry, hybrid dogwood, and a large dwarf pine are the anchor plants. We also created a raised vegetable garden space off the patio too. Marc Depoto (Hillside Nurseries Inc.)

Mimicking a commercial kitchen, open base cabinetry both along the wall and in the island makes accessing items a snap for the chef. Metal cabinetry is more durable for throwing around pots and pans.

This pristine modern duplex steps down its steep site, clad in a sustainable, durable material palette of Ipe, stucco and galvanized sheet metal to articulate and give scale to the exterior. The building maximizes its corner location with sidewalk-oriented plantings for greening and 180-degree views from all levels. The energy-efficient units feature photovoltaic panels and radiant heating. Custom elements include a steel stair with recycled bamboo treads, metal and glass shelving, and caesarstone and slate counters. John Lum Architects