Emily Followill
Inspiration for a transitional guest bedroom remodel in Atlanta with beige walls

EVERYONE'S INVITED. The first-floor bedroom and laundry area was replaced by an open family room with fabulous backyard views, perfect for entertaining a large extended family. Photography by Anice Hoachlander

Inspiration for a timeless basement remodel in Toronto with gray walls and a ribbon fireplace

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

Rick Bethem
Example of a mid-sized beach style guest carpeted bedroom design in Miami with gray walls and no fireplace

Kids' bedroom - bedroom contemporary girl kids' bedroom idea in Houston with multicolored walls

California Ranch Farmhouse Style Design 2020
Large transitional open concept light wood floor, gray floor, vaulted ceiling and shiplap wall living room photo in San Francisco with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

View of double door entry from master suite
Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in DC Metro

Mountain style mudroom photo in Minneapolis with beige walls

Photo by Emily Redfield Lighting by Bright on Presidio, San Francisco. The yellow desk lamp also comes in other colors and as a floor lamp! Desk chair by McLaughin Collection

Bates Masi Architects LLC
Trendy backyard deck photo in New York with decking and no cover

Photos by J.L. Jordan Photography
Inspiration for a transitional gray floor bathroom remodel in Louisville with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Photo by Kip Dawkins
Large minimalist u-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor kitchen pantry photo in Richmond with a double-bowl sink, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, multicolored backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and open cabinets

Rustic beams frame the architecture in this spectacular great room; custom sectional and tables. Photographer: Mick Hales
Example of a huge country open concept medium tone wood floor family room design in New York with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless guest carpeted and green floor bedroom remodel in Boston with blue walls

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Self

We built 24" deep boxes to really showcase the beauty of this walk-in closet. Taller hanging was installed for longer jackets and dusters, and short hanging for scarves. Custom-designed jewelry trays were added. Valet rods were mounted to help organize outfits and simplify packing for trips. A pair of antique benches makes the space inviting.

The master bathroom at our Wrightwood Residence in Studio City, CA features large dual shower, double vanity, and a freestanding tub. Located in Wrightwood Estates, Levi Construction’s latest residency is a two-story mid-century modern home that was re-imagined and extensively remodeled with a designer’s eye for detail, beauty and function. Beautifully positioned on a 9,600-square-foot lot with approximately 3,000 square feet of perfectly-lighted interior space. The open floorplan includes a great room with vaulted ceilings, gorgeous chef’s kitchen featuring Viking appliances, a smart WiFi refrigerator, and high-tech, smart home technology throughout. There are a total of 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. On the first floor there are three large bedrooms, three bathrooms and a maid’s room with separate entrance. A custom walk-in closet and amazing bathroom complete the master retreat. The second floor has another large bedroom and bathroom with gorgeous views to the valley. The backyard area is an entertainer’s dream featuring a grassy lawn, covered patio, outdoor kitchen, dining pavilion, seating area with contemporary fire pit and an elevated deck to enjoy the beautiful mountain view. Project designed and built by Levi Construction http://www.leviconstruction.com/ Levi Construction is specialized in designing and building custom homes, room additions, and complete home remodels. Contact us today for a quote.