Inspiration for a timeless kids' bedroom remodel in Burlington with beige walls

Vinyl Window Wells
Inspiration for a cottage bedroom remodel in Boston

Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Minneapolis.

An egress window is elevated to a welcome focal point of the living space. Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless home design remodel in Minneapolis

Poured Concrete egress well with tiered planter box / steps NE Fremont and NE 45th
Example of a large basement design in Portland

For this home we were hired as the Architect only. Siena Custom Builders, Inc. was the Builder. +/- 5,200 sq. ft. home (Approx. 42' x 110' Footprint) Cedar Siding - Cabot Solid Stain - Pewter Grey

photos rr jones
Large modern multicolored one-story mixed siding exterior home idea in San Francisco with a shed roof

Huge arts and crafts brown three-story concrete fiberboard exterior home photo in Other with a shingle roof

Inspiration for a transitional eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

Photo: Brian Barkley © 2015 Houzz
Mountain style guest bedroom photo in Other with beige walls and no 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

Elegant basement photo in Philadelphia

This basement living room feels open and inviting with a recessed ceiling and built-in wall niches. ©Finished Basement Company
Inspiration for a contemporary basement remodel in Minneapolis

Finished egress window product with gray Rockwell window well at home in Allouez.
Basement photo in Other

Another view of the egress window. Photo by Studio Z Architecture
Mid-sized arts and crafts green one-story concrete fiberboard gable roof photo in Detroit

Example of a small minimalist guest carpeted bedroom design in Portland with white walls

Complete renovation of an unfinished basement in a classic south Minneapolis stucco home. Truly a transformation of the existing footprint to create a finished lower level complete with family room, ¾ bath, guest bedroom, and laundry. The clients charged the construction and design team with maintaining the integrity of their 1914 bungalow while renovating their unfinished basement into a finished lower level.

Photography by VHT
Inspiration for a transitional basement remodel in Minneapolis

Egress Window Brick Well
Basement photo in Denver