Search results for "Increased efficiency" in Home Design Ideas

This project started as a cramped cape with little character and extreme water damage, but over the course of several months, it was transformed into a striking modern home with all the bells and whistles. Being just a short walk from Mackworth Island, the homeowner wanted to capitalize on the excellent location, so everything on the exterior and interior was replaced and upgraded. Walls were torn down on the first floor to make the kitchen, dining, and living areas more open to one another. A large dormer was added to the entire back of the house to increase the ceiling height in both bedrooms and create a more functional space. The completed home marries great function and design with efficiency and adds a little boldness to the neighborhood.

Enhancing your home starts with the right windows, and at Window Choice Inc., we make it simple for homeowners to upgrade with confidence. New windows not only improve curb appeal but also increase energy efficiency, reduce outside noise, and create a more comfortable living environment all year long.
Our Window Installation Services in Melrose, MA
We specialize in a wide range of professional window installation services, ensuring every home gets the perfect fit:
Double-Hung Windows – Classic style, easy to clean, and highly efficient for New England homes.
Casement Windows – Sleek design with superior ventilation and energy efficiency.
Picture Windows – Expansive, fixed-pane designs that flood your rooms with natural light.
Bay & Bow Windows – Add charm, character, and extra space while brightening your living areas.
Vinyl Windows – Durable, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly without sacrificing quality.
Custom Windows – Tailored shapes, finishes, and designs to match your home’s unique style.

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
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Our clients have lived in this tiny 3-bedroom 1 bath home, built before the 1980’s, for 6 years, which now feels undersized. We initially explored the feasibility of adding square footage - a master bedroom and bathroom - which was beyond their budget. We created their dream space through a room addition to add a bedroom and office.
** National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Merit Award winning residential room addition under $100K
Gordon Reese and Kevin Richtik

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

A simple improvement to increase storage, organization and efficiency in a kitchen are cutlery dividers. It's the best way to minimize drawer clutter and be confident that you know exactly where the next utensil you need is. We also refaced the kitchen cabinets in white Formica, upgraded the cabinet doors with soft-close hinges and new roll out-drawers for lower cabinet storage.

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

The owners of this stately Adams Morgan rowhouse wanted to reconfigure rooms on the two upper levels and to create a better layout for the nursery, guest room and au pair bathroom on the second floor. Our crews fully gutted and reframed the floors and walls of the front rooms, taking the opportunity of open walls to increase energy-efficiency with spray foam insulation at exposed exterior walls.
On the second floor, a door from the hallway opens to the new bedroom/bathroom suite – perfect for guests or an au pair

A simple improvement to increase storage, organization and efficiency in a kitchen are cutlery dividers. It's the best way to minimize drawer clutter and be confident that you know exactly where the next utensil you need is. We also refaced the kitchen cabinets in white Formica, upgraded the cabinet doors with soft-close hinges and new roll out-drawers for lower cabinet storage.

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

Relocating to Portland, Oregon from California, this young family immediately hired Amy to redesign their newly purchased home to better fit their needs. The project included updating the kitchen, hall bath, and adding an en suite to their master bedroom. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining allowed for additional counter space and storage along with improved traffic flow and increased natural light to the heart of the home. This galley style kitchen is focused on efficiency and functionality through custom cabinets with a pantry boasting drawer storage topped with quartz slab for durability, pull-out storage accessories throughout, deep drawers, and a quartz topped coffee bar/ buffet facing the dining area. The master bath and hall bath were born out of a single bath and a closet. While modest in size, the bathrooms are filled with functionality and colorful design elements. Durable hex shaped porcelain tiles compliment the blue vanities topped with white quartz countertops. The shower and tub are both tiled in handmade ceramic tiles, bringing much needed texture and movement of light to the space. The hall bath is outfitted with a toe-kick pull-out step for the family’s youngest member!

Originally this loft had a light maple flat panel door that didn't accentuate the lifestyle of a young professional. We increased the height of the cabinets to go to the ceiling along with making the island twice the size for entertaining.
Cabinets: Dura Supreme

Impact Windows & Doors
Protect your home or business with premium impact windows and doors designed to provide superior hurricane protection, enhanced security, energy efficiency, and lasting durability. At Cavare Interiors, we offer professionally installed, high-performance impact-resistant windows and doors that meet the highest building standards while improving comfort, reducing outside noise, and increasing property value. Whether you're replacing existing windows or upgrading your entire property, our solutions combine safety, functionality, and modern design to deliver long-lasting performance and exceptional curb appeal.

Impact Windows & Doors
Protect your home or business with premium impact windows and doors designed to provide superior hurricane protection, enhanced security, energy efficiency, and lasting durability. At Cavare Interiors, we offer professionally installed, high-performance impact-resistant windows and doors that meet the highest building standards while improving comfort, reducing outside noise, and increasing property value. Whether you're replacing existing windows or upgrading your entire property, our solutions combine safety, functionality, and modern design to deliver long-lasting performance and exceptional curb appeal.

Pella® 350 Series® ENERGY STAR® -qualified vinyl sliding patio doors feature a durable frame and high-quality hardware. For coastal climates, HurricaneShield® impact-resistant glass is available to help protect what you value most and reduce outside noise, while foam-insulated panels increase energy efficiency.

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

This office tenant improvement project includes an open bullpen area, reception area, large conference/training facility featuring an interior garage door to open increased space. The facility boasts a world class data infrastructure system enabling state agencies and international providers to create a smarter and more efficient credentialing exchange. This project was completed on budget and on time

Relocating to Portland, Oregon from California, this young family immediately hired Amy to redesign their newly purchased home to better fit their needs. The project included updating the kitchen, hall bath, and adding an en suite to their master bedroom. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining allowed for additional counter space and storage along with improved traffic flow and increased natural light to the heart of the home. This galley style kitchen is focused on efficiency and functionality through custom cabinets with a pantry boasting drawer storage topped with quartz slab for durability, pull-out storage accessories throughout, deep drawers, and a quartz topped coffee bar/ buffet facing the dining area. The master bath and hall bath were born out of a single bath and a closet. While modest in size, the bathrooms are filled with functionality and colorful design elements. Durable hex shaped porcelain tiles compliment the blue vanities topped with white quartz countertops. The shower and tub are both tiled in handmade ceramic tiles, bringing much needed texture and movement of light to the space. The hall bath is outfitted with a toe-kick pull-out step for the family’s youngest member!

Impact Windows & Doors
Protect your home or business with premium impact windows and doors designed to provide superior hurricane protection, enhanced security, energy efficiency, and lasting durability. At Cavare Interiors, we offer professionally installed, high-performance impact-resistant windows and doors that meet the highest building standards while improving comfort, reducing outside noise, and increasing property value. Whether you're replacing existing windows or upgrading your entire property, our solutions combine safety, functionality, and modern design to deliver long-lasting performance and exceptional curb appeal.
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