Topher Ayrhart
Example of a trendy white tile and subway tile drop-in bathtub design in Austin with flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets

Mert Carpenter
Inspiration for a large contemporary master dining room remodel in San Francisco with multicolored walls and no fireplace

The new basement is the ultimate multi-functional space. A bar, foosball table, dartboard, and glass garage door with direct access to the back provide endless entertainment for guests; a cozy seating area with a whiteboard and pop-up television is perfect for Mike's work training sessions (or relaxing!); and a small playhouse and fun zone offer endless possibilities for the family's son, James.

© Jeff Herr Photography
Example of a classic white tile and subway tile white floor drop-in bathtub design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and gray cabinets

Samantha Ward
Example of a small transitional master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Kansas City with white walls

Amy Bartlam Photography
Mid-sized cottage master white tile and ceramic tile light wood floor drop-in bathtub photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and beige walls

Photography by Dennis Mayer 3-D Construction / Design & Construction 829 Seminole Way Redwood City, CA 94062 Phone number (650) 367-9765
Kitchen - large country medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and recessed-panel cabinets

Dutch door leading into mudroom. Photographer: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a large country black floor mudroom remodel in New York with white walls and a black front door

Photo by Allan Zepeda
Example of a small trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in New York with a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a metal fireplace and white walls

Lauren Rubenstein Photography
Inspiration for a farmhouse brick floor and red floor mudroom remodel in Atlanta with white walls and a white front door

Interior Design By: Blackband Design 949.872.2234
Elegant alcove bathtub photo in Orange County with a two-piece toilet, white cabinets and gray walls

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

Eat-in kitchen - large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink, marble countertops and an island

Example of a farmhouse drop-in bathtub design in Minneapolis with a vessel sink, recessed-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Michael Hunter
Example of a transitional white tile gray floor freestanding bathtub design in Dallas with gray walls

The client wanted something to cover the air cooling system which was occupying a rather unsightly amount of space. Voila! The Wooden 6'x3' ceiling drop. It features a full sized grill.