Enclosed kitchen - transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, gray backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Brian Vanden Brink
Country l-shaped kitchen photo in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and white appliances

Joe DeMaio Photography
Alcove shower - small traditional subway tile and white tile multicolored floor, mosaic tile floor and wainscoting alcove shower idea with green walls, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and a wall-mount sink

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

Bernard Andre
Example of a classic master gray tile drop-in bathtub design in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door

Welcome to our latest home transformation video!Dive into our French-style kitchen renovation where we blend elegance with functionality. We've reimagined the space with stunning light blue cabinets, a high contrast hood, chic fixtures, and a beautifully crafted light wood island. Cabinet: Custom Frameless Cabinet Countertop: Emerstone Quartz Plumbing Fixtures: Waterstone Stove: Wolf Fridge: Subzero 42" Classic Hood: Copper Smith Hoods Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more home renovation tips and transformations. Hit the bell icon so you never miss an update from us! #KitchenRenovation #FrenchStyleKitchen #HomeMakeover #InteriorDesign

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional white tile and subway tile gray floor and porcelain tile alcove shower remodel in Austin with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops, a two-piece toilet, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Elegant l-shaped laundry room photo in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer and gray countertops

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a large cottage built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Fully encapsulated by tile and glass, the wet room features a free standing Maax tub, multi-function showering experience with Brizo Virage valves and body sprays as well as a useful corner seat.This project was a joint effort between J. Stephen Peterson, architect and Riddle Construction & Design.

Transitional family room photo in Charlotte with gray walls

2010 A-List Award for Best Home Remodel A perfect example of mixing what is authentic with the newest innovation. Beautiful antique reclaimed wood ceilings with Neff’s sleek grey lacquered cabinets. Concrete and stainless counter tops. Travertine flooring in a vertical pattern to compliment adds another subtle graining to the room.

Coastal meets modern farmhouse in this North County bathroom remodel.
Example of a transitional bathroom design in San Diego

A guest bath transformation in Bothell featuring a unique modern coastal aesthetic complete with a floral patterned tile flooring and a bold Moroccan-inspired green shower surround.

Kitchen - transitional galley medium tone wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

Libbie Holmes Photography
Inspiration for a transitional underground carpeted and beige floor basement remodel in Phoenix with blue walls and no fireplace

Bruce Damonte
Example of a large mid-century modern master white tile and subway tile marble floor corner shower design in San Francisco with an undermount tub and gray walls

Large transitional galley gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white walls, beige countertops, flat-panel cabinets and a side-by-side washer/dryer

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