Remodeled bathroom in 1930's vintage Marina home. Architect: Gary Ahern Photography: Lisa Sze
Alcove shower - mid-sized mediterranean multicolored tile and terra-cotta tile terra-cotta tile and blue floor alcove shower idea in San Francisco with a pedestal sink, white walls and a two-piece toilet

A farmhouse style was achieved in this new construction home by keeping the details clean and simple. Shaker style cabinets and square stair parts moldings set the backdrop for incorporating our clients’ love of Asian antiques. We had fun re-purposing the different pieces she already had: two were made into bathroom vanities; and the turquoise console became the star of the house, welcoming visitors as they walk through the front door.

PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Espie DESIGNER Jules Moore When Mike and Genevieve Broadbent decided to renovate their backyard in Herne Bay, they did so to make a statement. Their beautiful house would be well at home with a traditional classic look. But Mike opted for a resort-style landscape.

Master bedroom with white shutters and medium wood flooring.
Large elegant master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Salt Lake City with beige walls and no fireplace

While this new home had an architecturally striking exterior, the home’s interior fell short in terms of true functionality and overall style. The most critical element in this renovation was the kitchen and dining area, which needed careful attention to bring it to the level that suited the home and the homeowners. As a graduate of Culinary Institute of America, our client wanted a kitchen that “feels like a restaurant, with the warmth of a home kitchen,” where guests can gather over great food, great wine, and truly feel comfortable in the open concept home. Although it follows a typical chef’s galley layout, the unique design solutions and unusual materials set it apart from the typical kitchen design. Polished countertops, laminated and stainless cabinets fronts, and professional appliances are complemented by the introduction of wood, glass, and blackened metal – materials introduced in the overall design of the house. Unique features include a wall clad in walnut for dangling heavy pots and utensils; a floating, sculptural walnut countertop piece housing an herb garden; an open pantry that serves as a coffee bar and wine station; and a hanging chalkboard that hides a water heater closet and features different coffee offerings available to guests. The dining area addition, enclosed by windows, continues to vivify the organic elements and brings in ample natural light, enhancing the darker finishes and creating additional warmth. Photos by Ira Montgomery

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Sacramento

Sam Oberter Photography
Patio - contemporary patio idea in Philadelphia

The kitchen was the most dramatic change- we put in a beam to open up the wall between the kitchen and dining area. We also eliminated the cabinets on the far wall so we could re introduce a window that had been eliminated in a prior remodeling. The back door is in the far left in the picture.

Photo of a contemporary gender-neutral outdoor playset in Dallas.

© Lisa Russman Photography
Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor kitchen remodel in New York with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Trendy wood exterior home photo in Dallas with a hip roof

Eric Rorer
Mid-sized transitional formal and open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room photo in San Francisco with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace

Patio - patio idea in DC Metro

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

stacy zarin goldberg
Trendy entryway photo in DC Metro

The homeowner's favorite part of this kitchen remodel was a gorgeous walk-in pantry, highlighted with opaque glass doors, a beverage center and quartz countertops. Light Fixture: Elegant Lighting, Toureag Collection, Ceiling Flush, 8000D12 Door Hardware: Same throughout kitchen but different sizes (Topex Stainless Steel Collection, Rectangle) Glass Shelves: OpiWhite Low Iron Glass Pantry Door Glass: Starphire Low Iron Glass (Frosted) Kate Benjamin Photography

Tim Layzell, owner, Jewell Hardwoods
Dining room - modern dining room idea in Portland