Bethany Nauert
Mid-sized cottage white tile and subway tile cement tile floor and black floor freestanding bathtub photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, an undermount sink, brown cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls and marble countertops

Each Master Suite provides a king size bed, private bathroom, private deck, fireplace, microwave, utility fridge, built in computer desk and storage, and a large flat screen

built in units for storage
Living room - transitional living room idea in New York

Cottage bedroom photo in Salt Lake City

Jeff Beene
Inspiration for a transitional craft room remodel in Phoenix

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in New York

Updated multi-family exterior featuring bold geometric balconies and warm wood detailing.
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in San Francisco

Liadesign
Example of a small minimalist single-wall ceramic tile kitchen/dining room combo design in Milan with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Living room - transitional living room idea in New York

Studio apartment bathroom
Inspiration for a contemporary ceramic tile bathroom remodel with raised-panel cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink and white cabinets

Travis Peterson
Cottage open concept medium tone wood floor family room photo in Seattle with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

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

Dining room - dining room idea in Florence

Notable decor elements include: Vintage Danish Rosewood cabinet from 1stDibs, Jayson Home coffered inlaid box, True Color vases by Lex Pott, Via Fondazza Vase by Skultuna. Photography by Sharon Radisch

Living area inside the apartment.
Home design - craftsman home design idea in Atlanta

Studio apartment bathroom
Inspiration for a large contemporary ceramic tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink and white cabinets

Greg Cox