Marco Ricca
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed light wood floor family room remodel in New York with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Mid-sized stone and rectangular pool photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a mid-sized front porch remodel in Los Angeles with a pergola

Recently, our Docking Drawer Blade Series Outlets were specified for a kitchen remodel. Big thanks to Ultimate Kitchen and Bath for introducing a kitchen charging station by Docking Drawer. For a full list of powering and charging solutions available by Docking Drawer, visit our website or our Houzz store.

Where warmer temperatures and drier conditions make seasonal displays of cut evergreens a non-starter, create a winter windowbox that’s planted with lots of greenery in shades from emerald to lime and add a few seasonal touches. Here a bed of ivy (looks great year round) is tricked-out with white cyclamen, potted-up yellow peppers, and a few winter pansies. Can’t find peppers? Swap in fresh citrus such as kumquats. We think this one’s made for twinkle lights!

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

Mid-sized freestanding desk dark wood floor study room photo in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Deck - mid-sized backyard deck idea in Los Angeles with a roof extension

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Bedroom - industrial bedroom idea in New York with white walls

acid etch patio acid etching concrete camp fire camping space camping style curved wood pergola custom water fountain fire pit fire pit with reflection wall flagstone patio log benches outdoor curtains outdoor fire place outdoor tent area pergola Picture frame fire pit seat wall stone wall wood structure dining patio, lounge patio, child's play structure, lawn, boulder steps to campsite

Tuscan home design photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless gray two-story wood gable roof remodel in Chicago with a shingle roof

Dean J. Birinyi Photography
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in San Francisco

spacious kitchen which flows into great room giving a high impact modern feel with lighter monotone colors,
Trendy home bar photo in Las Vegas with stainless steel appliances and an island

Marco Ricca
Example of a mid-sized trendy light wood floor enclosed dining room design in New York with gray walls

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Corey Gaffer, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Home design - contemporary home design idea in San Francisco

Mid-sized stone and rectangular pool photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary guest dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Los Angeles