Randy Colwell
Enclosed kitchen - large rustic u-shaped dark wood floor enclosed kitchen idea with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, brown backsplash, granite countertops, an island, a farmhouse sink and paneled appliances

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

Photograph by Pete Sieger
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized country l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, brown backsplash, white appliances and an island

Inspiration for a timeless white tile and subway tile corner shower remodel in Atlanta with gray cabinets and recessed-panel cabinets

Greg Reigler
Mid-sized minimalist master multicolored tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor bathroom photo with distressed cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Surprising space savers! This Martha Stewart Living Message Center cabinet is almost like a hidden door! It's the perfect place to hold Kristin's keys or other odds and ends.

Living room - mid-sized country open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Burlington with a metal fireplace, no tv, white walls and a standard fireplace

Large trendy concrete floor and gray floor great room photo in New York with beige walls

Weldon Brewster Photography
Large trendy master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, white walls and white countertops

Example of a small minimalist gender-neutral home design design in Chicago

Inspiration for a timeless backyard full sun patio remodel in San Francisco

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design | Troy Thies, Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling
Large transitional living room photo in Minneapolis

The high entry gives you vertical connection with the sky. A catwalk is suspended in this volume to allow time to pause at the breathtaking lake view from a higher vantage point. The landscape moves and flows throughout the site like the water laps against the shore. ©Shoot2Sell Photography

Luxurious master bath done in neutral tones and natural textures. Zen like harmony between tile,glass and stone make this an enviable retreat. 2010 A-List Award for Best Home Remodel

Mike Chajecki
Large trendy women's brown floor and dark wood floor closet photo in Toronto with open cabinets and white cabinets

Ryann Ford
Inspiration for a farmhouse detached landscaping in Austin.

The entry herringbone floor pattern leads way to a wine room that becomes the jewel of the home with a viewing window from the dining room that displays a wine collection on a floating stone counter lit by Metro Lighting. The hub of the home includes the kitchen with midnight blue & white custom cabinets by Beck Allen Cabinetry, a quaint banquette & an artful La Cornue range that are all highlighted with brass hardware. The kitchen connects to the living space with a cascading see-through fireplace that is surfaced with an undulating textural tile.

The bookcase is a secret door that hides storage. ©Finished Basement Company
Inspiration for a large timeless walk-out carpeted and brown floor basement remodel in Denver with white walls and no fireplace

Jeri Koegel
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept kitchen remodel in Orange County with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash and glass sheet backsplash