Angie Seckinger
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls

By relocating the sink and dishwasher to the island the new kitchen layout allows the owners to engage with guests seated at the island and the banquette while maintaining a view to the outdoor terrace.

John Tsantes
Inspiration for a large timeless l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink and white cabinets

Jeff Herr
Small transitional formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in Atlanta with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Eat-in kitchen - eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen idea in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white cabinets

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2014 Houzz Design: New Leaf Construction
Bathroom - contemporary master gray tile concrete floor bathroom idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and beige walls

Amoura Productions Sallie Elliott, Allied ASID Exclusively Faux
Inspiration for a large mediterranean l-shaped open concept kitchen remodel in Omaha with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, granite countertops and beige backsplash

Boston Home Magazine
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Handmade, Rookwood tile with glazed edges provide a clean transition the shower wall. A new transom window over the vanity provides extra light and openness to the space.

Beach style bathroom photo in New York

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Kitchen - mid-sized cottage u-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor kitchen idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and an undermount sink

The focal point in the kitchen is the deep navy, French range positioned in an alcove trimmed in distressed natural wood and finished with handmade tile. The arched marble backsplash of the bar creates a dramatic focal point visible from the dining room.

Swinging open to an intimate balcony perched upon the shimmering waters of Lake Michigan, the relaxed master retreat with spa-like bath make for the perfect escape to unwind, unplug and recharge. Photography Credit: Ashley Avila

Michelle Scotto Trani
Example of a transitional master carpeted bedroom design in New York with gray walls

Example of a trendy dark wood floor and brown floor kids' room design in New York with multicolored walls

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

Michael K. Wilkinson
Craftsman green three-story gable roof idea in DC Metro

Jessica Glynn Photography
Mid-sized beach style open concept light wood floor family room photo in Miami with no fireplace and white walls

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors