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

Natural Water features demand more than a typical landscape pond. Yes we have to know our science, but for streams and creeks to appear real, we have to understand more than ecology and hydrology, we need to have worn out a closet of hiking boots to gain the artistic eye to create reality. Most people can actually sense when something looks natural, yet they cannot express why it is so. Our observations over 25 years lets us consciously see each detail that results in that natural feel.

Ty Cole Photography
Trendy kitchen/dining room combo photo in DC Metro with white walls and no fireplace

Photo: Stan Shebs, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Cercis occidentalis in the south fork of Pine Creek Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada

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

These rocks were stacked on top of one another to create a stepping stone path and jump rocks to jump into deeper water.
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic partial sun backyard mulch pond in Other.

And finally, the waterfall. Maybe the most challenging aspect of landscape design: how to get a waterfall to look real. Again there are a thousand tiny elements contributing to the appearance of this water fall. And again, most people can sense authenticity without being able to express the reason. There is never enough time to explain why, but we will give you one important clue. Look how the water rolls. Water is not angular; it wants to roll. Few understand and execute this single aspect. This particular little falls overcomes an even greater challenge. It was not accessible by heavy equipment so it had to be built completely by hand with smaller rocks. It is much easier to make a precipice look real when large boulders are at hand. Much more insight is required to "glue' a slope together using cobbles in order to make it appear to be a monolith of stone. Then of course, the wildflowers. pink: western bleeding heart yellow: western buttercup while: spring beauty

Those who value originality, very often decide to introduce objects of uncommon and expressive design to our space. We do not care about simplicity. In search for unique solutions for space arrangements it is worth to note decorative wall panels. These have a wave-like structure that can make even the most plain project stand out for people to gasp in amazement. Sharp three-dimensional waves are an option for those who wish to create modern interiors, which are highly fashionable and correspond with world-wide trends. Specification Width: 60cm* Height: 60cm* Thickness: 1.3-3.5cm Weight: 7.2kg * dimensions tolerance 1cm, in ordered part up to 1mm. All the patterns are registered trademarks, protected by the law. Using the present patterns without patent

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!

Dream backyard This Amazing Dream Backyard Project features just about all the options you have ever dreamed about having in your very own backyard. We just recently completed this project and as you can tell from the video and photos below it’s quite the dream backyard. But dreams can came true, and for these homeowners they certainly have. So proud of our team for coming together and installing another amazing backyard paradise. The outdoor living area features everything from fire to water and includes multiple travertine patio areas, flagstone and travertine walkways, stone steps, pondless waterfall, landscape lighting, outdoor audio, fire pit, and landscaping. To think were the project came from a decrepit old deck to this beautiful work of art is almost unreal! Travertine Patio and Fire Pit The dream backyard project included the installation of various hardscape items including travertine patio, Seating walls, Steps, and walkways. The patio material is silver travertine laid in French pattern. The patio area is approximately 1,012 sq ft with antiqued finish and natural edge. All walls and steps are constructed using natural stone Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ sawn wall stone. Caps and stair treads are constructed of natural stone ‘Chateau Limestone’ 2″ thick and 14″ deep, thermal top and rock faced edges. Cap stone for grill wall is 18″ wide polished and sealed top. Under grill area the patio is outdoor ‘wood look’ porcelain tile. A Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ 57″ Fire Pit with Large Zentro ‘Smokeless’ insert is installed on the lower patio area. As of these pictures and this video the fire pit insert has yet to be installed. Sealing of Travertine surfaces using GST stain blocking sealer will be completed once the project is entirely finished. Stepping stone pathway to the side of the home is full color Pa Flagstone irregular steppers. Landscaping Landscape beds, plants, trees, edging and mulching was done around the entire back and side yards of the home using triple cut bark mulch. Plant variety and size specifications were all chosen by our amazing designer Wes. The landscaping portion of this project also included the grading, lawn repair, and seeding of all the areas damaged and disturbed during construction. Pondless Waterfall A 15′ pondless waterfall was installed into the new landscape to the side of the lower patio for maximum viewing. The waterfall features approximately 15 foot of stream with multiple waterfalls. Two side by side spillways merge into a wide stream with a small waterfall before turning and going into the final falls at the basin area. The Waterfall is outfitted with low voltage LED underwater landscape lighting throughout. Outdoor Sound The Outdoor Sound System installed was a TRU Audio 4 speaker system and 12″ outdoor hardscape subwoofer. This system also includes the amplifier which is located in the home owners basement as well as Apple Airport Express and Blue Tooth Connection. Siding Siding work to be completed is still unfinished as of the time this video and pictures were shot. Siding was removed and salvaged in areas need for the patio and electrical work. Siding in areas of new outdoor living space to include: new vinyl siding on entire rear kitchen/bathroom wall from top to bottom as well as Piecing in around lights and sliding door on adjacent wall and in back of garage.

Dream backyard This Amazing Dream Backyard Project features just about all the options you have ever dreamed about having in your very own backyard. We just recently completed this project and as you can tell from the video and photos below it’s quite the dream backyard. But dreams can came true, and for these homeowners they certainly have. So proud of our team for coming together and installing another amazing backyard paradise. The outdoor living area features everything from fire to water and includes multiple travertine patio areas, flagstone and travertine walkways, stone steps, pondless waterfall, landscape lighting, outdoor audio, fire pit, and landscaping. To think were the project came from a decrepit old deck to this beautiful work of art is almost unreal! Travertine Patio and Fire Pit The dream backyard project included the installation of various hardscape items including travertine patio, Seating walls, Steps, and walkways. The patio material is silver travertine laid in French pattern. The patio area is approximately 1,012 sq ft with antiqued finish and natural edge. All walls and steps are constructed using natural stone Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ sawn wall stone. Caps and stair treads are constructed of natural stone ‘Chateau Limestone’ 2″ thick and 14″ deep, thermal top and rock faced edges. Cap stone for grill wall is 18″ wide polished and sealed top. Under grill area the patio is outdoor ‘wood look’ porcelain tile. A Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ 57″ Fire Pit with Large Zentro ‘Smokeless’ insert is installed on the lower patio area. As of these pictures and this video the fire pit insert has yet to be installed. Sealing of Travertine surfaces using GST stain blocking sealer will be completed once the project is entirely finished. Stepping stone pathway to the side of the home is full color Pa Flagstone irregular steppers. Landscaping Landscape beds, plants, trees, edging and mulching was done around the entire back and side yards of the home using triple cut bark mulch. Plant variety and size specifications were all chosen by our amazing designer Wes. The landscaping portion of this project also included the grading, lawn repair, and seeding of all the areas damaged and disturbed during construction. Pondless Waterfall A 15′ pondless waterfall was installed into the new landscape to the side of the lower patio for maximum viewing. The waterfall features approximately 15 foot of stream with multiple waterfalls. Two side by side spillways merge into a wide stream with a small waterfall before turning and going into the final falls at the basin area. The Waterfall is outfitted with low voltage LED underwater landscape lighting throughout. Outdoor Sound The Outdoor Sound System installed was a TRU Audio 4 speaker system and 12″ outdoor hardscape subwoofer. This system also includes the amplifier which is located in the home owners basement as well as Apple Airport Express and Blue Tooth Connection. Siding Siding work to be completed is still unfinished as of the time this video and pictures were shot. Siding was removed and salvaged in areas need for the patio and electrical work. Siding in areas of new outdoor living space to include: new vinyl siding on entire rear kitchen/bathroom wall from top to bottom as well as Piecing in around lights and sliding door on adjacent wall and in back of garage.

Discover a lush and serene backyard where nature meets art. This beautifully designed space features a gently flowing stream that weaves through vibrant tropical plants, creating a tranquil oasis. Stunning sculptures add an artistic touch, blending seamlessly with the rich greenery and calming water. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat or an inspiring outdoor gallery, this garden offers a perfect balance of natural beauty and creative expression.

Landscape Expressions
Photo of a mid-sized traditional shade backyard stone water fountain landscape in Salt Lake City for summer.

This is an example of a mid-sized rustic partial sun backyard mulch pond in Other.

Mid-sized mountain style detached shed photo in Other

Dream backyard This Amazing Dream Backyard Project features just about all the options you have ever dreamed about having in your very own backyard. We just recently completed this project and as you can tell from the video and photos below it’s quite the dream backyard. But dreams can came true, and for these homeowners they certainly have. So proud of our team for coming together and installing another amazing backyard paradise. The outdoor living area features everything from fire to water and includes multiple travertine patio areas, flagstone and travertine walkways, stone steps, pondless waterfall, landscape lighting, outdoor audio, fire pit, and landscaping. To think were the project came from a decrepit old deck to this beautiful work of art is almost unreal! Travertine Patio and Fire Pit The dream backyard project included the installation of various hardscape items including travertine patio, Seating walls, Steps, and walkways. The patio material is silver travertine laid in French pattern. The patio area is approximately 1,012 sq ft with antiqued finish and natural edge. All walls and steps are constructed using natural stone Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ sawn wall stone. Caps and stair treads are constructed of natural stone ‘Chateau Limestone’ 2″ thick and 14″ deep, thermal top and rock faced edges. Cap stone for grill wall is 18″ wide polished and sealed top. Under grill area the patio is outdoor ‘wood look’ porcelain tile. A Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ 57″ Fire Pit with Large Zentro ‘Smokeless’ insert is installed on the lower patio area. As of these pictures and this video the fire pit insert has yet to be installed. Sealing of Travertine surfaces using GST stain blocking sealer will be completed once the project is entirely finished. Stepping stone pathway to the side of the home is full color Pa Flagstone irregular steppers. Landscaping Landscape beds, plants, trees, edging and mulching was done around the entire back and side yards of the home using triple cut bark mulch. Plant variety and size specifications were all chosen by our amazing designer Wes. The landscaping portion of this project also included the grading, lawn repair, and seeding of all the areas damaged and disturbed during construction. Pondless Waterfall A 15′ pondless waterfall was installed into the new landscape to the side of the lower patio for maximum viewing. The waterfall features approximately 15 foot of stream with multiple waterfalls. Two side by side spillways merge into a wide stream with a small waterfall before turning and going into the final falls at the basin area. The Waterfall is outfitted with low voltage LED underwater landscape lighting throughout. Outdoor Sound The Outdoor Sound System installed was a TRU Audio 4 speaker system and 12″ outdoor hardscape subwoofer. This system also includes the amplifier which is located in the home owners basement as well as Apple Airport Express and Blue Tooth Connection. Siding Siding work to be completed is still unfinished as of the time this video and pictures were shot. Siding was removed and salvaged in areas need for the patio and electrical work. Siding in areas of new outdoor living space to include: new vinyl siding on entire rear kitchen/bathroom wall from top to bottom as well as Piecing in around lights and sliding door on adjacent wall and in back of garage.

Dream backyard This Amazing Dream Backyard Project features just about all the options you have ever dreamed about having in your very own backyard. We just recently completed this project and as you can tell from the video and photos below it’s quite the dream backyard. But dreams can came true, and for these homeowners they certainly have. So proud of our team for coming together and installing another amazing backyard paradise. The outdoor living area features everything from fire to water and includes multiple travertine patio areas, flagstone and travertine walkways, stone steps, pondless waterfall, landscape lighting, outdoor audio, fire pit, and landscaping. To think were the project came from a decrepit old deck to this beautiful work of art is almost unreal! Travertine Patio and Fire Pit The dream backyard project included the installation of various hardscape items including travertine patio, Seating walls, Steps, and walkways. The patio material is silver travertine laid in French pattern. The patio area is approximately 1,012 sq ft with antiqued finish and natural edge. All walls and steps are constructed using natural stone Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ sawn wall stone. Caps and stair treads are constructed of natural stone ‘Chateau Limestone’ 2″ thick and 14″ deep, thermal top and rock faced edges. Cap stone for grill wall is 18″ wide polished and sealed top. Under grill area the patio is outdoor ‘wood look’ porcelain tile. A Semco ‘Cedar Ridge’ 57″ Fire Pit with Large Zentro ‘Smokeless’ insert is installed on the lower patio area. As of these pictures and this video the fire pit insert has yet to be installed. Sealing of Travertine surfaces using GST stain blocking sealer will be completed once the project is entirely finished. Stepping stone pathway to the side of the home is full color Pa Flagstone irregular steppers. Landscaping Landscape beds, plants, trees, edging and mulching was done around the entire back and side yards of the home using triple cut bark mulch. Plant variety and size specifications were all chosen by our amazing designer Wes. The landscaping portion of this project also included the grading, lawn repair, and seeding of all the areas damaged and disturbed during construction. Pondless Waterfall A 15′ pondless waterfall was installed into the new landscape to the side of the lower patio for maximum viewing. The waterfall features approximately 15 foot of stream with multiple waterfalls. Two side by side spillways merge into a wide stream with a small waterfall before turning and going into the final falls at the basin area. The Waterfall is outfitted with low voltage LED underwater landscape lighting throughout. Outdoor Sound The Outdoor Sound System installed was a TRU Audio 4 speaker system and 12″ outdoor hardscape subwoofer. This system also includes the amplifier which is located in the home owners basement as well as Apple Airport Express and Blue Tooth Connection. Siding Siding work to be completed is still unfinished as of the time this video and pictures were shot. Siding was removed and salvaged in areas need for the patio and electrical work. Siding in areas of new outdoor living space to include: new vinyl siding on entire rear kitchen/bathroom wall from top to bottom as well as Piecing in around lights and sliding door on adjacent wall and in back of garage.

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!