Custom cedar and cypress azumaya inspired by a tea-house design. Our client enjoys relax ing in the shade by the koi pond and stream. © 2012 Ben Case, Down to Earth Designs, Inc.

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Deck - eclectic deck idea in Tampa

Example of a transitional living room design in Louisville

Large tuscan brown two-story stucco exterior home photo in Salt Lake City

Scott Doetsch www.ProImageTours.com
Inspiration for a timeless bedroom remodel in Charlotte

Alan Williams Photography
Shed - contemporary shed idea in London

Transitional mudroom, entry. Storage for coats, shoes sporting goods and more.
Inspiration for a large timeless slate floor mudroom remodel in Vancouver

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

Photography by Anthony Crisafulli
Patio - small eclectic backyard brick patio idea in New York

Inspiration for a mediterranean ceramic tile kitchen remodel in Salt Lake City with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a beach style medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room design in Nashville with white walls

Bedroom elegant gender-neutral carpeted nursery photo in Phoenix with blue walls

Electric design at it's best with amazing stone work, custom iron work on doors, balconies and features followed up with great lighting landscaping and custom doors.

Architect: Sarah Susanka, AIA Photography: Jim Westphalen A seamless flow of overlapping color, textures and patterns guides you from one outdoor space to another. An integrated mix of local stone throughout: Vermont red and green slate patios, fieldstone walls and stepping stone paths, granite boulder sculptures from the land, river rock-lined drip edges. Low sculpted wood-stemmed plants and lush groundcovers, mostly cultivars of indigenous species. Moss-filled joints in the patios, groundcover draping over stone, thyme along edges of walls.

Travis Mark
Trendy rooftop rooftop deck photo in New York with no cover

The Master Bedroom provides the perfect relaxing retreat and reflects the couple’s personality. The dark slate feature wall supports the sleek wooden bed and provides a contrasting backdrop to the modern light fixture. Two toned side tables compliment the design theme. Windows are framed with a small-scale drapery fabric, while wood blinds control darkness. The room also features a large walk-in closet, a must have on the homeowners list as their prior home lacked sufficient storage solutions.

Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Custom Millwork Design, Furniture Design, Art Curation, & AV Design by Chango & Co. Photography by Sean Litchfield See the feature in Domino Magazine

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | AMEK Custom Builders, Builder | Troy Thies, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Transitional open concept light wood floor and beige floor family room photo in San Francisco with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv