Meghan Morrison
Small elegant master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile walk-in shower photo in Raleigh with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet and beige walls

Photo of a mid-sized asian front yard concrete paver landscaping in San Diego.

BKC of Westfield
Small cottage u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, gray countertops, a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, solid surface countertops, an island and medium tone wood cabinets

Example of a mid-sized cottage 3/4 ceramic tile porcelain tile and brown floor freestanding bathtub design in Omaha with shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray cabinets, gray walls, a drop-in sink and solid surface countertops

Outdoor Living Improvements LLC. Charlotte NC
Elegant patio photo in Charlotte

Bill McAllen
Large country backyard stone patio photo in Baltimore with a fire pit and a roof extension

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

Photo Credit to Alex Lukey
Example of a large minimalist medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room design in Toronto with white walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a country back porch remodel in Other

Kris Marie Photagraphy
Example of a large beach style u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Bedroom - mid-sized traditional master carpeted and beige floor bedroom idea in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Revisit Christmas past with nostalgic style that offers a fresh look for the season.
Mid-sized transitional formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in Charlotte with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace and no tv

Bar Area of the Basement
Large trendy galley porcelain tile wet bar photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Custom kitchen design build remodeling in New Jersey
Mid-sized tuscan galley ceramic tile eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets and two islands

Modern New Kitchen
Kitchen - farmhouse painted wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Full kitchen renovation in South Tampa including new cabinetry by Desginer's Choice Cabinetry, quartz countertops, gold fixtures, accent lighting, and flooring.

Bar Area of the Basement
Large trendy galley porcelain tile wet bar photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash and stone tile backsplash

The Cabinet Maker Milwaukee, WI Kitchen $20,000-$40,000
Small elegant eat-in kitchen photo in Milwaukee with multicolored backsplash and black appliances

Cedar Deck, Lower Deck, Bench, aluminum Spindals, Multi level Deck Location: Medina
Deck - large craftsman backyard deck idea in Minneapolis with no cover