Living room - small transitional formal and open concept light wood floor living room idea in Toronto with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

David O Marlow
Example of a trendy galley dark wood floor seated home bar design in Denver with flat-panel cabinets and red cabinets

Alison Henry | Las Vegas, NV
Example of a large transitional u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor kitchen design in Las Vegas with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Photography by Gillian Jackson
Transitional eat-in kitchen photo in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

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

A 1980's townhouse located in the Fitler Square neighborhood of Philadelphia was in need of an upgrade. The project that resulted included substantial interior renovation to the four-story townhome overlooking the Schuylkill River. The Owners desired a fresh interpretation of their existing space, more suited for entertaining and uncluttered modern living. This led to a reinvention of the modern master suite and a refocusing of architectural elements and materials throughout the home. Originally comprised of a divided master bedroom, bathroom and office, the fourth floor was entirely redesigned to create a contemporary, open-plan master suite. The bedroom, now located in the center of the floor plan, is composed with custom built-in furniture and includes a glass terrarium and a wet bar. It is flanked by a dressing room on one side and a luxurious bathroom on the other, all open to one another both visually and by circulation. The bathroom includes a free-standing tub, glass shower, custom wood vanity, eco-conscious fireplace, and an outdoor terrace. The open plan allows for great breadth and a wealth of natural light, atypical of townhouse living. The main entertaining floor houses the kitchen, dining area and living room. A sculptural ceiling defines the open dining area, while a long, low concrete hearth connects the new modern fireplace with the concrete stair treads leading up. The bright, neutral color palette of the walls and finishes contrasts against the blackened wood floors. Sleek but comfortable furnishing, dramatic recessed lighting, and a full-home speaker system complete the entertaining space. Barry Halkin and Todd Mason Photography

Open concept kitchen - large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Inspiration for a small contemporary kids' multicolored tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor tub/shower combo remodel in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, multicolored walls, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

Marcel Page Photography
Inspiration for a transitional staircase remodel in Chicago

Rancher/Single level living custom built and design specific to the clients wants and desires. Mixed exterior material to include man made stone, vinyl board and batten siding, as well as shake siding. Window grills specific to design style with white exterior trim. Built by Foreman Builders, Winchester Virginia built in Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia Photography by Manon Roderick

Photo: Lauren Andersen © 2018 Houzz
Open concept kitchen - eclectic galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, black backsplash, stone slab backsplash, colored appliances and an island

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized transitional galley light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops and white backsplash

Example of a mid-sized urban walk-out concrete floor and gray floor basement design in DC Metro with white walls

This French Country Charmer is a showpiece for Shrock Premier’s attention to detail and quality materials. Shrock Premier always selects the highest quality materials available. With two young children, these homeowners desired a home rich in beauty, one that would work hard, and also provide great durability & functionality. We were able to create a stunning home with classic lines, meet the family’s low maintenance requirements, and create open, flowing living spaces through a thoughtful floor plan.

Our clients had been in their home since the early 1980’s and decided it was time for some updates. We took on the kitchen, two bathrooms and a powder room. This petite master bathroom primarily had storage and space planning challenges. Since the wife uses a larger bath down the hall, this bath is primarily the husband’s domain and was designed with his needs in mind. We started out by converting an existing alcove tub to a new shower since the tub was never used. The custom shower base and decorative tile are now visible through the glass shower door and help to visually elongate the small room. A Kohler tailored vanity provides as much storage as possible in a small space, along with a small wall niche and large medicine cabinet to supplement. “Wood” plank tile, specialty wall covering and the darker vanity and glass accents give the room a more masculine feel as was desired. Floor heating and 1 piece ceramic vanity top add a bit of luxury to this updated modern feeling space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Living room - contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in San Francisco with black walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mid-sized minimalist l-shaped concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and light wood cabinets

Pool and Deck
Example of a transitional outdoor kitchen deck design in Austin with no cover

Example of a mountain style indoor rectangular pool design