PHOTOGRAPHY - Chi Fang
Eat-in kitchen - transitional dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, marble backsplash and an island

Benjamin Hill Photography
Huge transitional formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Houston with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, a standard ceiling, gray walls and no tv

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

Example of a transitional master white tile marble floor bathroom design in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, an undermount tub, multicolored walls and blue cabinets

Cutrona
Example of a huge transitional family room design in Miami

Paul McMullin
Cottage two-story stone gable roof photo

Photography: David Maurand
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary split-level wood exterior home remodel in Boston

Beautiful Cherry HIlls Farm house, with Pool house. A mixture of reclaimed wood, full bed masonry, Steel Ibeams, and a Standing Seam roof accented by a beautiful hot tub and pool

Michael Lewis Architects, PC Location: Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522 Attic addition transforming the entry facade while increasing usable space above the second floor!

Photography by Stacy Bass. www.stacybassphotography.com
Example of a mid-sized beach style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room library design in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a concrete fireplace

This stunning custom home is set in a beautiful Texas Hill Country location. Tre Dunham with Fine Focus Photography
Inspiration for a mediterranean stone gable roof remodel in Austin with a metal roof

Lisa Carroll
Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard screened-in, dark wood floor and brown floor sunroom remodel in Atlanta with decking, a roof extension, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a standard ceiling

The existing house was a dated 1962 Split Level Ranch that has undergone a complete transformation to a modern livable residence for a growing family with high ceilings and an expanded upper level addition to the South. The new roof design is a switchback roof that expresses the overlapping levels while creating clerestory windows for increased daylighting and ventilation. The elevated addition can serve both as a carport and as a covered patio space that connects to the yard. Photography: David Maurand

Transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Eccleston Pink No.248 Cabinets. Charterhouse No.4 Mantle and Walls. Kitchen by Middleton Bespoke Interiors.
Example of a farmhouse painted wood floor kitchen design in London with shaker cabinets, white appliances and no island

Perfectly settled in the shade of three majestic oak trees, this timeless homestead evokes a deep sense of belonging to the land. The Wilson Architects farmhouse design riffs on the agrarian history of the region while employing contemporary green technologies and methods. Honoring centuries-old artisan traditions and the rich local talent carrying those traditions today, the home is adorned with intricate handmade details including custom site-harvested millwork, forged iron hardware, and inventive stone masonry. Welcome family and guests comfortably in the detached garage apartment. Enjoy long range views of these ancient mountains with ample space, inside and out.

Sean Jancski
Pool house - traditional rectangular pool house idea in New York

The homeowner, who is a woodworking hobbyist, created the custom built teak vanity, and the open cabinet shelving. Photographer: Jeff Beck Designer: Six Walls

This award winning contemporary Brookhaven kitchen Frameless cabinetry in Shadow Gray, with intergraded Stainless Steel appliances. Silestone tops and mosaic back splash Paul Bartholomew - photographer