Mid-sized transitional white two-story brick gable roof photo in Atlanta with a shingle roof

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

This room just needed a fresh coat of paint to update it. Located immediately to the left of the new bright entryway and within eyesight of the rich blue dining room. We selected a green from the oriental rug that also highlights the painting over the fireplace. Sara E. Eastman Photography

Small white painted kitchen in cottage on the beach in California. Natural wood shelves and natural materials with white cabinetry, A small weekend beach resort home for a family of four with two little girls. Remodeled from a funky old house built in the 60's on Oxnard Shores. This little white cottage has the master bedroom, a playroom, guest bedroom and girls' bunk room upstairs, while downstairs there is a 1960s feel family room with an industrial modern style bar for the family's many parties and celebrations. A great room open to the dining area with a zinc dining table and rattan chairs. Fireplace features custom iron doors, and green glass tile surround. New white cabinets and bookshelves flank the real wood burning fire place. Simple clean white cabinetry in the kitchen with x designs on glass cabinet doors and peninsula ends. Durable, beautiful white quartzite counter tops and yes! porcelain planked floors for durability! The girls can run in and out without worrying about the beach sand damage!. White painted planked and beamed ceilings, natural reclaimed woods mixed with rattans and velvets for comfortable, beautiful interiors Project Location: Oxnard, California. Project designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

This dark stained kitchen was completely transformed when we painted the upper cabinets in Sherwin Williams' 7008 "Alabaster" and the lower cabinets in Benjamin Moore's 445 "Greenwich Village". It's amazing what paint can do! Check out the "Before" photo to see the whole transformation.

The dining room serves as a transition space between the entry and kitchen/living areas. The hidden transom window above the art wall accentuates the clients' personal photography collection, while the transom window in the foreground adds light to the central living area. Contemporary rugs were sourced from Oriental Rug Gallery in Austin, TX to add a soft texture over the walnut floors. The existing mid-century brick walls were painted a warm white to tone down the variety of materials found in the space. An open-grain cypress is used on the ceiling. The ivory Linda Chairs from Bontempi also complement the wood tones used in the space, and the translucent glass and leather Bubble Chandelier by Pelle adds light while maintaining the open feeling of the room. Interior by Allison Burke Interior Design Architecture by A Parallel Paul Finkel Photography

Travis Mark https://www.houzz.com/pro/travismark

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a large coastal medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel with green walls, a brick fireplace and a standard fireplace

Example of a large beach style master brown floor and dark wood floor bedroom design in Houston with green walls and no fireplace

A dramatic transformation in an early 20th century home brought into the new millennium by a young and eclectic owner. A new fireplace adds to the warmth and ambiance to a space filled with warm spice colors and African pieces collected through many travels. The clean face gas burning unit is the Bayport model from Kozy Heat finished with a Beveled front in Rust. The brick is new to the home and is painted white to limit the rustic feel but still maintain it's classic look. A slate hearth and a reclaimed wood mantel from a 100 year old barn compliment the design and anchor the design in tradition.

Rear of this grand traditional home with white painted brick. We painted this beauty in Benjamin Moore's OC-152, "Super White".
Example of a huge classic white two-story brick gable roof design in Austin

Kitchen painted with full-spectrum C2 Paint featuring a high gloss ceiling.
Large transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, black appliances, an island, marble countertops and glass sheet backsplash

Professionally Staged by Ambience at Home http://ambiance-athome.com/ Professionally Photographed by SpaceCrafting http://spacecrafting.com

Meet Nina,the DIY decorating enthusiast behind the blog Swanky Swell. Nina had been eying our Birch Forest Stencil because it reminded her of her favorite nature inspired wallpaper. She had decided to make over her guest bedroom and while she loved the look of wallpaper, the price was way outside her decorating budget. Our Birch Forest Stencil was the perfect solution. She painted the forest pattern on an accent wall behind the bed in Martha Stewart's Tiger Eye. To complete the look of the room, she purchased a headboard from Target and scored a vintage end table on Craigslist that she painted Kelly Green. It's the perfect swanky guest bedroom. Somehow we doubt her guests will want to leave!

Example of a large classic white two-story brick gable roof design in Houston with a shingle roof

Michael J. Lee Photography
Elegant brick floor front door photo in Boston with a blue front door and beige walls

Remodeled brick ranch home, updated with painted brick, gables, trusses, shutters and deck porch Brynn Burns Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional beige one-story brick gable roof design in Kansas City with a shingle roof

Seth Caplan
Example of a transitional light wood floor living room library design in New York with blue walls, no fireplace and no tv

Painting the exterior brick can give your home a fresh, rejuvenated appearance. DFW Painting can paint any exterior surface. We paint wood, brick, stucco, siding, stone and even garage doors. You name it, we can paint it.