Example of a huge tuscan white two-story stucco house exterior design in Miami with a shingle roof

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Toronto

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

Photographer: Ryan Gamma
Example of a small minimalist backyard concrete and custom-shaped lap pool fountain design in Tampa

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Enclosed kitchen - small transitional galley light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen idea in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, no island and white countertops

The custom round window with a dragonfly motif was designed as a portal overlooking the woodland gardens, and koi pond in the distance. A small built-in cabinet houses the essentials for making tea, and two floating mahogany shelves hold a small tea pot and cups. Glen Grayson, Architect

This Pacific Beach home is walking distance to the surf.
Example of a minimalist white stucco gable roof design in San Diego with a shingle roof and a black roof

The exterior of this modern farmhouse has incredibly clean lines. The texture of the house is created entirely by the siding changes and contrast between black and white. Truly elegant.

Another view from the front of the center island shows the layering in the landscape to provide a sense of distance from the street to the house.
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Miami.

Stepping stones in a minimal gravel paved area lead past two lounge chairs to the intimate dining area. The herringbone-patterned limestone patio dissipates into a lush planting bed filled with loose swaths of shade-loving perennials and seasonal bulbs. Beech hedging, and formal clipped evergreens, surround the space and provide privacy, structure and winter interest to the garden. On axis to the main interior living space of the home, the fountain, is the focal point of the garden. A limestone water wall featuring an engraved pattern of fallen Honey Locust leaves nods to the centrally located mature Honey Locust tree that anchors the garden. Water, flowing down the wall, falls a short distance into a pool with a submerged limestone panel. The light noise of the falling water helps soften the sounds of the bustling downtown neighbourhood, creating a tranquil back drop for living and entertaining.

Transitional dark wood floor, brown floor and wallpaper living room photo in New York with beige walls, a corner fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Eclectic kitchen photo in Austin

Martin King Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy master gray tile and marble tile marble floor and gray floor freestanding bathtub design in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray walls and an undermount sink

A stunning landscape filled with traditional elements throughout. Knot gardens, formal boxwood gardens with a water feature at the center, dining under a plush pergola, and seating from front to back to enjoy every space. Multiple levels are created in the landscape with raised beds and views from the upper terrace. Extensive perennial beds fill the distance with color and texture. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Yorkville Hill Landscaping
Mid-sized elegant backyard brick patio photo in Chicago with a fire pit and a pergola

Starr Homes, LLC
Example of a mountain style entryway design in Dallas

Barn (in distance) by Vermont Barns
Farmhouse multicolored two-story wood gable roof photo with a mixed material roof

Leslie Goodwin Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional look-out medium tone wood floor basement remodel in Toronto with white walls and no fireplace