Martin Mann
Trendy exterior home photo in San Diego

Matt Wargo Photography
Example of a classic living room library design in Philadelphia

Trendy carpeted study room photo in DC Metro with white walls

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

Drop-in bathtub - transitional gray tile drop-in bathtub idea in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and green walls

Asier Reed
Transitional gray floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court photo in Chicago

1960s formal and enclosed concrete floor living room photo in San Francisco with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Costa Christ
Kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Trendy medium tone wood floor living room photo in Jackson with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

Nathalie Priem Photography
Eat-in kitchen - small scandinavian galley painted wood floor and white floor eat-in kitchen idea in London with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Our clients wished for a larger main bathroom with more light and storage. We expanded the footprint and used light colored marble tile, countertops and paint colors to give the room a brighter feel and added a cherry wood vanity to warm up the space. The matt black finish of the glass shower panels and the mirrors allows for top billing in this design and gives it a more modern feel.

Photography: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography.
Large 1960s open concept and formal medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in DC Metro with white walls, no tv and no fireplace

Ashley Avila
Powder room - rustic medium tone wood floor powder room idea in Grand Rapids with a vessel sink, wood countertops, gray walls and brown countertops

Jeremy Bitterman
Minimalist doorless shower photo in Seattle with a vessel sink

Caitlin Atkinson
Inspiration for a contemporary deck remodel in Los Angeles

Photography: Ben Gebo
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional light wood floor and beige floor utility room remodel in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Designed and Built by Aqua-Link Pools and Spas
Example of a large trendy backyard rectangular and concrete lap hot tub design in Orange County

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

Dedicated laundry room - large cottage u-shaped light wood floor, vaulted ceiling and shiplap wall dedicated laundry room idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, wood backsplash, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops