Example of a huge trendy patio design in Orange County with a fire pit and no cover

Large contemporary white two-story stone gable roof idea in Dallas with a metal roof

Inspiration for a traditional partial sun side yard stone garden path in Portland for spring.

This is an example of a mid-century modern front yard concrete paver landscaping in San Francisco.

Design ideas for a large southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun side yard concrete paver garden path in Phoenix for fall.

Jeri Koegel
Inspiration for a small timeless gray one-story wood gable roof remodel in Orange County

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

The irregular bluestone pathway flanked with pachysandra leading to the Asian style gate with pergola. The gate draws ones eyes through to frame the rear yard and entices one to enter.

Photo: Karen Melvin
Mudroom - traditional mudroom idea in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Richmond with a fire pit and no cover

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project along with replacing the lawn with CA native and low water plants and a total renovation. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Inspiration for a timeless side yard stone patio remodel in Burlington with a fire pit and no cover

Randall Perry Photography
Example of a mid-sized country claw-foot bathtub design in New York with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets and beige walls

Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in Austin.

Transitional backyard gravel patio photo in Chicago with no cover

Frank Shirley Architects
Inspiration for a large farmhouse l-shaped slate floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, subway tile backsplash and an island

©ThompsonPhotographic.com 2015
Example of an eclectic light wood floor hallway design in Phoenix with beige walls

outdoor living space, outdoor seating, water feature, water falls, ponds, hardscaping, concrete pavers, retaining walls, bluestone hardscaping
Photo of a contemporary water fountain landscape in Portland.

Example of a classic double front door design in Austin with beige walls and a black front door