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.

This new custom home was designed in the true Tudor style and uses mixed materials of stone, brick and stucco on the exterior. Home built by Meadowlark Design+ Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan Architecture: Woodbury Design Group. Photography: Jeff Garland

ProVia double entry doors in Keller, TX. ProVia's Signet fiberglass doors are designed to perform better than traditional fiberglass doors. The hinge and strike stiles are dovetailed to the top and bottom rails to form a solid, integrated frame ensuring unmatched strength and durability. This highly customizable door system is available in Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Fir, Knotty Alder, and Smooth exteriors. ProVia utilizes their exclusive DuraFuse™ Finishing System featuring P3 Fusion for a long-lasting durable finish, plus it's protected by a 10-year finish warranty. Hinge and strike stiles are 2-5/8" and 4-1/4". Custom widths and heights. Available up to 8'. Foam-filled for maximum efficiency and strength. Authentic wood look. Available with ADA Compliant Threshold. Protected by ProVia's Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty.

Inspiration for a modern partial sun concrete paver retaining wall landscape in Minneapolis.

This house was a very small mid-century bungalow with previous additions that resulted in a large but chaotic layout. The owners wanted to convert the house to a super-efficient, and charming Craftsman-style, 6 bedroom home for their large family and work at home. We achieved the space needs by moving a few walls for a more efficient, organized layout, setting up spaces for overlapping uses, and making a small upstairs addition. Every bit of square footage was optimized to meet the goals of the project without making the house huge or adding unnecessary cost. Much thought was given to the entry sequence near the front door. A large flow-through mudroom with storage for each family member, and adjacent laundry, make it easy for children to be taught to keep their things organized and to contribute to household chores. A mail station and central home admin area at the mudroom help keep clutter down at other areas and minimize home management tasks. A garage door near the kitchen gives quick access to bulk items. The existing house had too much view to the street from the living room through large corner windows, and too little entry transition, to the extent that the family did not feel comfortable using the living room much without shades drawn. We raised the window sills and brought the new windows in from the corner of the house, allowing plenty of light while protecting privacy and a sense of enclosure in the living room. We enlarged the front porch to create a more graceful transition from the public to private space. We located the front door so that the circulation from entry into the house would allow for furnishing the living room with a sitting circle that is not intruded upon by people walking through the room. Sight lines through the living spaces were an important consideration in the design. The owners wanted discreet spaces for living room, kitchen, dining and family room, but also wanted the living spaces to feel connected and to be able to easily watch their children. Being able to see the children playing in the yard while getting things done inside the house was also important. While largely working with the existing structure, we opened walls and rearranged the use of spaces to make a series of connected living spaces with long views through them. The character of the remodeled house is a contemporary Craftsman with classic materials and cool, consistent colors. A few arches echo through the house to frame spaces and soften the feeling of the rooms. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/bungalow-expansion/

Inspiration for a craftsman exterior home remodel in Philadelphia

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

ProVia double entry doors in Keller, TX. ProVia's Signet fiberglass doors are designed to perform better than traditional fiberglass doors. The hinge and strike stiles are dovetailed to the top and bottom rails to form a solid, integrated frame ensuring unmatched strength and durability. This highly customizable door system is available in Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Fir, Knotty Alder, and Smooth exteriors. ProVia utilizes their exclusive DuraFuse™ Finishing System featuring P3 Fusion for a long-lasting durable finish, plus it's protected by a 10-year finish warranty. Hinge and strike stiles are 2-5/8" and 4-1/4". Custom widths and heights. Available up to 8'. Foam-filled for maximum efficiency and strength. Authentic wood look. Available with ADA Compliant Threshold. Protected by ProVia's Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty.

This uniquely designed home in Seattle, Washington recently underwent a dramatic transformation that provides both a fresh new aesthetic and improved functionality. Renovations on this home went above and beyond the typical “face-lift” of the home remodel project and created a modern, one-of-a-kind space perfectly designed to accommodate the growing family of the homeowners. Shielded on three sides by the thick foliage of massive evergreen trees and a carpet of ferns, the jungle-like feel of the landscape provides a sense of solitude and privacy that are hard to come by in the area. The unconventional angular shape of the building works well on the sloping site in which the perimeter comes to a sharp point and required a unique re-imagining of spaces. This distinctive shape is most clearly displayed in the renovations of the custom kitchen and expanded third-floor master suite, each uses the diagonal wall as a means of adding interest and direction in the space.

ProVia double entry doors in Keller, TX. ProVia's Signet fiberglass doors are designed to perform better than traditional fiberglass doors. The hinge and strike stiles are dovetailed to the top and bottom rails to form a solid, integrated frame ensuring unmatched strength and durability. This highly customizable door system is available in Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Fir, Knotty Alder, and Smooth exteriors. ProVia utilizes their exclusive DuraFuse™ Finishing System featuring P3 Fusion for a long-lasting durable finish, plus it's protected by a 10-year finish warranty. Hinge and strike stiles are 2-5/8" and 4-1/4". Custom widths and heights. Available up to 8'. Foam-filled for maximum efficiency and strength. Authentic wood look. Available with ADA Compliant Threshold. Protected by ProVia's Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty.

Bridging traditional furnishings, contemporary architecture, global accessories and an open concept layout together for an airy and balanced flow. Photos by Josh Graham. SHERI KAZ DESIGNS

Georgia Coast Design & Construction - Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home at St. Simons Island, GA Built on a one-acre, lakefront lot on the north end of St. Simons Island, the Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home is characterized as Old World European featuring exterior finishes of Mosstown brick and Old World stucco, Weathered Wood colored designer shingles, cypress beam accents and a handcrafted Mahogany door. Inside the three-bedroom, 2,400-square-foot showcase home, Old World rustic and modern European style blend with high craftsmanship to create a sense of timeless quality, stability, and tranquility. Behind the scenes, energy efficient technologies combine with low maintenance materials to create a home that is economical to maintain for years to come. The home's open floor plan offers a dining room/kitchen/great room combination with an easy flow for entertaining or family interaction. The interior features arched doorways, textured walls and distressed hickory floors.

The Ridge Residence has been carefully placed on the steeply sloped site to take advantage of the awe-inspiring views. The Glo European Windows A5 Double Pane series was selected for the project to provide cost effective durability and value. Full lite entry doors from the A5 series provide natural daylight and access to the energy efficient home while delivering a much higher performance value than traditional aluminum doors and windows. Large asymmetrical window configurations of fixed and tilt & turn windows provide natural ventilation throughout the home and capture the stunning views across the valley. A variety of exterior siding materials including stucco, dark horizontal wood and vertical ribbed metal are countered with an unembellished Dutch hip roof creating a composition that is both engaging and simplistic. Regardless of season, the Ridge Residence provides comfort, beauty, and breathtaking views of the Montana landscape surrounding it.

ProVia double entry doors in Keller, TX. ProVia's Signet fiberglass doors are designed to perform better than traditional fiberglass doors. The hinge and strike stiles are dovetailed to the top and bottom rails to form a solid, integrated frame ensuring unmatched strength and durability. This highly customizable door system is available in Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Fir, Knotty Alder, and Smooth exteriors. ProVia utilizes their exclusive DuraFuse™ Finishing System featuring P3 Fusion for a long-lasting durable finish, plus it's protected by a 10-year finish warranty. Hinge and strike stiles are 2-5/8" and 4-1/4". Custom widths and heights. Available up to 8'. Foam-filled for maximum efficiency and strength. Authentic wood look. Available with ADA Compliant Threshold. Protected by ProVia's Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty.

This house was a very small mid-century bungalow with previous additions that resulted in a large but chaotic layout. The owners wanted to convert the house to a super-efficient, and charming Craftsman-style, 6 bedroom home for their large family and work at home. We achieved the space needs by moving a few walls for a more efficient, organized layout, setting up spaces for overlapping uses, and making a small upstairs addition. Every bit of square footage was optimized to meet the goals of the project without making the house huge or adding unnecessary cost. Much thought was given to the entry sequence near the front door. A large flow-through mudroom with storage for each family member, and adjacent laundry, make it easy for children to be taught to keep their things organized and to contribute to household chores. A mail station and central home admin area at the mudroom help keep clutter down at other areas and minimize home management tasks. A garage door near the kitchen gives quick access to bulk items. The existing house had too much view to the street from the living room through large corner windows, and too little entry transition, to the extent that the family did not feel comfortable using the living room much without shades drawn. We raised the window sills and brought the new windows in from the corner of the house, allowing plenty of light while protecting privacy and a sense of enclosure in the living room. We enlarged the front porch to create a more graceful transition from the public to private space. We located the front door so that the circulation from entry into the house would allow for furnishing the living room with a sitting circle that is not intruded upon by people walking through the room. Sight lines through the living spaces were an important consideration in the design. The owners wanted discreet spaces for living room, kitchen, dining and family room, but also wanted the living spaces to feel connected and to be able to easily watch their children. Being able to see the children playing in the yard while getting things done inside the house was also important. While largely working with the existing structure, we opened walls and rearranged the use of spaces to make a series of connected living spaces with long views through them. The character of the remodeled house is a contemporary Craftsman with classic materials and cool, consistent colors. A few arches echo through the house to frame spaces and soften the feeling of the rooms. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/bungalow-expansion/

For convenience and more efficient morning rituals, we replaced our clients' previous walk-in closet entry through the bedroom and directly connected it to their newly designed master bathroom! Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who serve Chicago and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest.

Andersen® 100 Series windows and patio doors are made with our revolutionary Fibrex® composite material, which allows Andersen to offer an uncommon value others can't. It's environmentally responsible and energy-efficient, and it comes in durable colors that are darker and richer than most vinyl windows.

Exterior Projects for your home may include: Siding, Roofing, Decks & Patios, Garages, Sunrooms, Windows & Entry Doors! Exterior projects are great for setting an exceptional first impression for anyone driving through your neighborhood. Enjoying your home is possible both inside and out! Contact us for a FREE in-home consultation! (614)707-7003

The front double doors were 30-year-old natural mahogany with a clear urethane finish (a maintenance nightmare). In Louisville’s high humidity, the doors were beginning to rot. The homeowners decided to replace the front double doors with a wider single door with sidelites and a transom. They selected a SureDoor from Signature Door: a high-density wood composite designed to tolerate the elements. They painted the exterior of the door and chose a stained mahogany interior. The result is a beautiful, low-maintenance entrance sure to last another thirty years (or more)!