Photo by Susan Teare
Example of a farmhouse kitchen design in Burlington with an undermount sink, open cabinets and wood countertops

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

Inspiration for a contemporary galley kitchen remodel in Brisbane with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Traditional white marble New England kitchen with walnut wood island and bronze fixtures for added warmth. Photo: Michael J Lee Photography
Kitchen - traditional dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and wood countertops

Trendy backyard patio photo in Toronto with no cover

Before view of side yard - The terrain in Kennesaw, GA is notoriously difficult for landscaping due to dense red clay and deeply embedded granite. These rocky conditions often require heavy machinery, like jackhammers or rock saws, to break through large stones just beneath the surface. What looks like a manageable yard can quickly reveal solid rock layers that slow down grading and increase labor. The clay and rock also create poor drainage, leading to water pooling that must be addressed with solutions like dry creek beds or advanced regrading. Despite the challenge, with the right tools and planning, even the toughest Kennesaw yards can be transformed into functional, beautiful spaces.

Another beautiful addition to this client's home, which includes a previous outdoor kitchen and putting green area. This project addressed two areas of need, First, we installed a dry riverbed in the back, down a slope, and just above the previously installed putting green. Water was an issue running down that side and into the driveway. We dug down and installed rock to catch and slow the water and direct it to the drive. The rock used tied into the rock we previously installed during the putting green project and only increased the beauty in the area. Lights were installed to the putting green area, so that night play is possible. We also added mossrock accent/edging walls to the beds in the front of the home for a clean look and to define the space

Stripped of its original charm with sagging floors and water leaks, this 1900 row house was prime for a full renovation. While the staircase and marble fireplace are original, everything from the white oak flooring, crown, applied, and base moldings, to the archways and brass door hardware is new; yet they all feel original to the house. Other projects included removing soffits and tucking away randomly placed support beams and posts, relocating and expanding the kitchen, renovating each bathroom – and adding a new one, upgrading all the mechanical, electric and plumbing systems, removing a fireplace, and regrading the back patio for proper drainage and added greenery. The project is a perfect study of juxtaposing new and old, classic and modern. Photography Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Example of a minimalist shed design in Geelong

Raquel Langworthy
Example of a small beach style master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in New York with gray walls

Ronda Batchelor, Galley laundry room with folding counter, dirty clothes bins on rollers underneath, clean clothes baskets for each family member, sweater drying racks with built in fan, and built in ironing board.

This custom roof deck in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood features lightweight aluminum decking, ipe planters, an ipe and metal pergola, and ipe benches with built-in storage under the seats. Few woods can match the natural beauty of ipe (pronounced ee-pey), a hardwood with a 30-year life expectancy. These pictures were taken in early spring, before the leaves have filled out on the trees. Plantings include coralbark maples, hornbeams, pink cherry trees, crape myrtles, and feather grasses. The planters include LED up-lighting and automated drip irrigation lines. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

Dry creek bed in front entry with drought tolerant plantings and lush grasses.
Photo of a transitional landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project along with replacing the lawn with CA native and low water plants and a total renovation. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Another beautiful addition to this client's home, which includes a previous outdoor kitchen and putting green area. This project addressed two areas of need, First, we installed a dry riverbed in the back, down a slope, and just above the previously installed putting green. Water was an issue running down that side and into the driveway. We dug down and installed rock to catch and slow the water and direct it to the drive. The rock used tied into the rock we previously installed during the putting green project and only increased the beauty in the area. Lights were installed to the putting green area, so that night play is possible. We also added mossrock accent/edging walls to the beds in the front of the home for a clean look and to define the space

Jeff Herr Photography
Inspiration for a country wooden metal railing staircase remodel in Atlanta

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary partial sun side yard stone garden path in Dallas.