Art Gray
Open concept kitchen - small contemporary single-wall concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, metallic backsplash, paneled appliances, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

Example of a transitional white tile alcove shower design in DC Metro with white cabinets, gray walls and gray countertops

Trendy u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and white countertops

Kitchen with pantry behind screen door
Kitchen - country light wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo: Vicki Bodine
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in New York with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Treve Johnson
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and shaker cabinets

Sean Litchfield Photography Backsplash Tile: "Calcutta Ashlar 3x6" in a polished finish from Tile Showcase Countertops: Soapstone Island: Carrara Marble

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized scandinavian porcelain tile open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and wood countertops

Brain Vanden Brink
Example of a beach style kitchen design in Boston with shaker cabinets

Tom Arban
Open concept kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, white appliances and an island

Kitchen - small country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

This home was a sweet 30's bungalow in the West Hollywood area. We flipped the kitchen and the dining room to allow access to the ample backyard. The design of the space was inspired by Manhattan's pre war apartments, refined and elegant.

Jenna & Lauren Weiler
Inspiration for a small cottage l-shaped enclosed kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Mark Angeles
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, an island, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel 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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Back When Photography
Small farmhouse u-shaped dark wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with yellow cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, white appliances, no island, a drop-in sink and shaker cabinets

Chip Riegel www.chipriegel.com
Open concept kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Providence with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Koch Classic Cabinetry Prairie door style, Full Overlay 5pc drawer fronts Ivory & Charcoal Blue paint
Example of a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in Nashville with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Mark Lohman
Elegant u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and an island