Keeping the home's turn of the century roots, the main floor bath (originally the only bathroom in the house) increased in size by 50% by incorporating the small corridor that used to be immediately outside. As such, no square footage was taken from any other space, but the resulting 3/4 bath boasts a roomy subway tile and glass shower, which further enhances the sense of space. A second door in the bathroom connects to the guest bedroom and creates a private ensuite when house-guests drop in. Large scale wall paper, rather than make the space feel small, further enhances the spaciousness of the room. Classic finishes of chrome and carrara marble are the perfect accent to this vintage yet transitional bath. Don Riley Photography

This timeless kitchen is the perfect example of how rich color sets the mood. Inspired by Sherwin-Williams’ Dried Thyme, the green cabinetry brings a warm and contemporary look. The kitchen’s original layout is what attracted the owners to this home so with a few changes, the space now better fits the owners’ needs. Straightening out a wall by the large bay window provided space to move the dishwasher, and gave room to build a tall cabinet with organized pullout drawers next to the stove for easy access and storage. This also created room to build a hidden appliance garage and flipping the location of the island sink provided more accessibility to the stove. The bow front stove hood provides visual relief for the linear nature of the cabinets. Green ceramic tiles surround the porcelain herringbone tile in the contrasting niche dedicated to spices and oils, and the adjacent pot filler provides convenience. The island was increased in size to provide for more storage and metal domed pendants provide lighting for both prepping and eating. Double-wall ovens have side handles for easy opening and convenience and provide easy access in a busy kitchen area. Separating the dining room from the kitchen with the addition of a butler door, created space to easily connect and move between the two rooms while minimizing noise. Photographer: Andrew Orozco

The Belfast Residence in Ohio is a new construction, custom modern house situated on a 150 acre farm. Panda solved the challenge of extending the intimate space of the kitchen into the expansiveness of the backyard by installing fully retractable TS.60 All Aluminum Thermally Broken Folding Door Systems. Custom designed for this space, this elegant and durable folding door system spans the entire wall of the kitchen. This door system uses cutting-edge aluminum extrusions with a polyamide bar to connect the frame together while reducing heat or cold transfer. When closed, this Bi-Fold door system provides a protective barrier that lowers u-factors, limits condensation, increases energy performance, and most of all reduces thermal conductivity. The architectural firm, Drawing Dept. designed a cantilevered roof reaching out over the pool on axis with a sunken fire pit, drawing the geometry of the house further out into the landscape. As a result, the heart of the home unrestrictedly extends toward the fire pit for optimal physical and visual connection. Impressive architectural design intertwined with Panda’s custom Bi-Fold doors can create unimaginable opportunities. No wonder this home was awarded the 2013 Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Cincinnati and the 2013 Honor Award from the CDA + Cincinnati Magazine for its exterior space! Panda’s custom designed Bi-Fold Doors ensure that a homeowner can equally and cohesively enjoy their interior and exterior spaces. Views from the house and views of the house should hold equal merit. To view more of Panda’s Bi-Fold Doors, please check out our gallery http://www.panda-windows.com/products/by-type/folding-doors. Architect: Drawing Dept. Contractor: Camery Hensley Construction Photography: Ross Van Pelt

A one story dog trot connected the two original sections of the house. Since the client wanted to make the house as user friendly as possible, our firm designed a one and a half story connector to join the upper floors. In the new space I created a full bath and storage areas for the three bedrooms and improved egress that was not adequate before. The entry stoop was replaced with a full porch. To keep the roof from growing too steep, the porch was recessed into the structure, which in turn increased the porch's depth and made it usable. We also shifted the entry door to the right instead of the middle like it was originally. The columns were milled out of Fir and then chamfered to copy an original porch post that had been discovered during demolition. A standing seam metal roof was installed on the entire original house and new additions. Concrete siding and composite materials were used to mimic the original exterior trim. Since this project is being done in phases, wooden steps will be built to coincide with the location of the door and period horizontal rails will be added.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

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

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

The homeowners needed to repair and replace their old porch, which they loved and used all the time. The best solution was to replace the screened porch entirely, and include a wrap-around open air front porch to increase curb appeal while and adding outdoor seating opportunities at the front of the house. The tongue and groove wood ceiling and exposed wood and brick add warmth and coziness for the owners while enjoying the bug-free view of their beautifully landscaped yard.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

This kitchen renovation in Charlotte, NC was designed to create a bright, functional space that supports both everyday living and entertaining. The updated layout introduces a seamless connection between the kitchen and a dedicated dining nook, enhanced by large windows that maximize natural light. As part of a comprehensive design-build remodeling project, the space features a balanced mix of warm wood cabinetry and white painted cabinets, paired with a clean, neutral palette. A central island improves workflow and gathering, while a built-in wet bar adds convenience for entertaining and additional storage, creating a more versatile and usable space. The result is a thoughtfully reconfigured kitchen that enhances flow, increases functionality, and reflects how the homeowners live and gather today.

Our design for the expansion and gut renovation of a small 1200 square foot house in a residential neighborhood triples is size, and reworks the living arrangement. The rear addition takes advantage of southern exposure with a "greenhouse" room that provides solar heat gain in winter, shading in summer, and a vast connection to the rear yard. Architecturally, we used an approach we call "willful practicality." The new soaring ceiling ties together first and second floors in a dramatic volumetric expansion of space, while providing increased ventilation and daylighting from greenhouse to operable windows and skylights at the peak. Exterior pockets of space are created from curved forces pushing in from outside to form cedar clad porch and stoop. Sustainable design is employed throughout all materials, energy systems and insulation. Masonry exterior walls and concrete floors provide thermal mass for the interior by insulating the exterior. An ERV system facilitates increased air changes and minimizes changes to the interior air temperature. Energy and water saving features and renewable, non-toxic materal selections are important aspects of the house design. Environmental community issues are addressed with a drywell in the side yard to mitigate rain runoff into the town sewer system. The long sloping south facing roof is in anticipation of future solar panels, with the standing seam metal roof providing anchoring opportunities for the panels. The exterior walls are clad in stucco, cedar, and cement-fiber panels defining different areas of the house. Closed cell spray insulation is applied to exterior walls and roof, giving the house an "air-tight" seal against air infiltration and a high R-value. The ERV system provides the ventilation needed with this tight envelope. The interior comfort level and economizing are the beneficial results of the building methods and systems employed in the house. Photographer: Peter Kubilus

The North Shore home, in Shorewood, WI, was originally constructed in 1923. Prior remodels had maintained most of its heritage millwork and other detailing found in early 20th Century North Shore homes. However, a kitchen remodel a few years back completely disregarded this heritage. The design objective was twofold: modernize the kitchen while integrating the existing heritage detailing found in the rest of the house. The existing kitchen had an awkward geometry causing bad circulation patterns and insufficient storage. The clients’ goals were to improve circulation and increase storage and accessibility needs (the family’s primary chef is 5’2”) while creating a space where they could enjoy socializing with family and friends, fostering more openness and better connection to the adjacent rooms. The solution centered around providing multiply sightlines to the kitchen. The primary sightline created is from the entry—guests now have a direct sightline to the welcoming kitchen space upon entering the house that is visually terminated with a painting. This was achieved by relocating the existing powder room from its central location and giving its space and location to the kitchen.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

The Small Flush Hybrid-Fyre™ wood insert is a compact sized unit that can fit where most inserts never have before. Its size is perfect for smaller masonry and zero clearance fireplaces with its 14 inch depth and 1.2 cubic foot firebox. It features a never before seen flue connection with a detachable flue collar that makes for quick and easy installations that are typically very difficult with a unit of this size. A large fire viewing glass area is surrounded by a rectangular door and a concealed blower that increases heat transfer up to 1,000 square feet. The Small Flush Wood burning insert is extremely efficient and clean-burning because it features the world’s cleanest burning technology, Hybrid-Fyre™. Hybrid-Fyre allows this unit to run at 76% overall efficiency and produce only 0.89 grams of emissions per hour, emitting virtually no smoke or carbon monoxide. The GreenStart™ igniter option adds to the efficiency of this insert because it can start its own fire with just the push of a button.

The owners of this historic 1931 property purchased the home, intending to transform it from an outdated duplex to a functional single-family home. Beginning with the kitchen, the remodel aimed to combine the existing and separate spaces, including a tiny kitchen and cramped eating area, to creating a comfortable, practical space for their large family to cook, eat and do homework. The main scope of the remodel was to increase light, create flow throughout the main floor by connecting the kitchen to the dining and living room, and bring in elements of the client's heritage and showcase their travels through the finishes of the design. The clients hoped to achieve all these while restoring and enhancing the home's original architecture, which was covered up by prior remodels.

This kitchen renovation in Charlotte, NC was designed to create a bright, functional space that supports both everyday living and entertaining. The updated layout introduces a seamless connection between the kitchen and a dedicated dining nook, enhanced by large windows that maximize natural light. As part of a comprehensive design-build remodeling project, the space features a balanced mix of warm wood cabinetry and white painted cabinets, paired with a clean, neutral palette. A central island improves workflow and gathering, while a built-in wet bar adds convenience for entertaining and additional storage, creating a more versatile and usable space. The result is a thoughtfully reconfigured kitchen that enhances flow, increases functionality, and reflects how the homeowners live and gather today.