Long Term Effort - Photos & Ideas

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

Fox Hollow Residence

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Angle Eye Photography
Large elegant powder room photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, marble countertops, beige walls and white countertops

Kitchen Remodeling Near Long Island

HTI Interior Finishes

Example of a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

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Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen

Talianko Design Group, LLC

This Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen was completely remodeled and the home is nestled on the border of Pasadena and South Pasadena. Our goal was to keep the original charm of our client’s home while updating the kitchen in a way that was fresh and current. Our design inspiration began with a deep green soapstone counter top paired with creamy white cabinetry. Carrera marble subway tile for the backsplash is a luxurious splurge and adds classic elegance to the space. The stainless steel appliances and sink create a more transitional feel, while the shaker style cabinetry doors and schoolhouse light fixture are in keeping with the original style of the home. Tile flooring resembling concrete is clean and simple and seeded glass in the upper cabinet doors help make the space feel open and light. This kitchen has a hidden microwave and custom range hood design, as well as a new pantry area, for added storage. The pantry area features an appliance garage and deep-set counter top for multi-purpose use. These features add value to this small space. The finishing touches are polished nickel cabinet hardware, which add a vintage look and the cafe curtains are the handiwork of the homeowner. We truly enjoyed the collaborative effort in this kitchen. Photography by Erika Beirman

House in the Tree Tops

Hermitage Kitchen Gallery LLC

Designed by Terri Sears Photography by Steven Long
Kitchen - large craftsman l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

Hill Country Custom Home

Dawn Hearn Interior Design

This long back porch has room for a seating area, dining table, an outdoor kitchen and fireplace. Tre Dunham with Fine Focus Photography
Deck - rustic deck idea in Austin

Exterior View at Entry

ODS Architecture

Originally a nearly three-story tall 1920’s European-styled home was turned into a modern villa for work and home. A series of low concrete retaining wall planters and steps gradually takes you up to the second level entry, grounding or anchoring the house into the site, as does a new wrap around veranda and trellis. Large eave overhangs on the upper roof were designed to give the home presence and were accented with a Mid-century orange color. The new master bedroom addition white box creates a better sense of entry and opens to the wrap around veranda at the opposite side. Inside the owners live on the lower floor and work on the upper floor with the garage basement for storage, archives and a ceramics studio. New windows and open spaces were created for the graphic designer owners; displaying their mid-century modern furnishings collection. A lot of effort went into attempting to lower the house visually by bringing the ground plane higher with the concrete retaining wall planters, steps, wrap around veranda and trellis, and the prominent roof with exaggerated overhangs. That the eaves were painted orange is a cool reflection of the owner’s Dutch heritage. Budget was a driver for the project and it was determined that the footprint of the home should have minimal extensions and that the new windows remain in the same relative locations as the old ones. Wall removal was utilized versus moving and building new walls where possible. Photo Credit: John Sutton Photography.

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Sunbury, OH

J.Holderby - Renovations4 Reviews

Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

NKBA Award Winning Kitchen - DESIGNED BY CJ LOWENTHAL

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

The client was recently widowed and had been wanting to remodel her kitchen for a long time. Although the floor plan of the space remained the same, the kitchen received a major makeover in terms of aesthetic and function to fit the style and needs of the client and her small dog in this water front residence. A spice pull out cabinet was installed next to the over for convenience. Schedule an appointment with one of our designers: http://www.gkandb.com/contact-us/ DESIGNER: CJ LOWENTHAL PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVE JOHNSON CABINETS: DURA SUPREME CABINETRY

Lake Travis Casa

Chairma Design Group

This island is huge! about 13' long! Notice the tile to the ceiling- it makes a substantial impact- always do that if you can!
Large tuscan l-shaped beige floor and travertine floor open concept kitchen photo in Houston with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, granite countertops and beige countertops

Luxurious Getaway at the Floridian Golf and Yacht Club

Pineapple House Interior Design

The shower is universally designed and has no curb or step at its entry. The drawer pulls are also designed for easy use. A Bonisolli Photography
Mid-sized transitional white tile walk-in shower photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and marble countertops

Avondale Carriage House

alairhomesdecatur

The high point of this project was the smart layout and design that made sure to get every inch of space allowed by Avondale Estate’s unique height, size and massing limits. In addition, the exterior used a variety of materials to create a harmonious and interesting visual that though unique is oh so pleasing to the eye. Details inside made the space useful, airy and bright. A very large sliding door unit floods the living room and kitchenette with light. The bathroom serves all purposes and doesn’t feel too tight. And the office has plenty of room for visiting clients and long term can provide a bedroom with plenty of closet space if needs change. The accessory structure successfully includes absolutely every function the homeowner could want with style to spare.

Nelson Ave

GEORGE Interior Design

Photos by Emily Hagopian Photography
Beach style white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor bathroom photo in San Francisco with a console sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets and gray walls

Warm and Welcoming Kitchen Renovation

Drury Design

This kitchen is home to two taller individuals who both use the space equally and requested a taller workspace to comfortably accommodate their needs. The island cabinets are standard 34-1/2” tall but the Iceberg countertops were installed with a 3” build-up to add height to the island. Cabinets on the long wall were designed to break up the wall of white: buffet on the end with walnut-framed glass cabinets and seashell backsplash; double refrigerators in a painted, distressed mahogany finish were pulled forward to simulate texture and depth on the wall; wide pantry cabinets with roll-out drawers sitting on the countertops flank the refrigerators. On the opposite wall, a new window box at the kitchen sink was built to add more countertop behind the sink and to let in more light, adding dimension to the room. The cabinetry in the original existing kitchen was disjointed at the dining room entrance and made the room appear much smaller than it really was. To remedy this, the entry to the dining room from the kitchen was closed up and relocated around the corner from the foyer; 2 simple, stacked columns were built to highlight the new opening. These transitional style columns and wider room openings at the family room and dining room entrances provide an open layout suitable for large groups to mingle comfortably; family room cabinetry and dining room fireplace surround matches kitchen cabinets.

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Columbus, OH

Hope Restoration & General Contracting35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

Valor L2 Linear Fireplace with Long Beach Firebed

Fireplaces 'N' Fixin's

Built on a strong foundation of continuous fireplace innovation, the Valor Linear Series welcomes the first of its kind--a wide-format fireplace that integrates linear design with impressive radiant heat technology. Featuring leading edge, contemporary design, this series provides efficient comfort, advanced controllability, distinct quality and superior heating performance, even when the power goes out. Blending clean, functional design and installation versatility, each Valor linear model fits seamlessly into contemporary room settings with ease. Engineered to enhance flame depth and width without sacrificing efficiency, the specialized Valor burner projects radiant warmth – where you want it, when you want it. Soothing, relaxed flames illuminate the natural fire elements while creating a casual and comfortable atmosphere. A selection of complimentary surrounds extends the linear composition, or simplify with the 1” trim kit option for a seamless transition when finishing to any wall surface. Highly efficient and reliable home heaters, the Linear Series combines renowned Valor function with true contemporary form. Photo by Valor.

Dance Studio

ODS Architecture

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

Abbey's Bluffview

The Kitchen Source

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 the home’s renovation was the kitchen and dining area, which needed careful attention to bring it to the level that suited the home and the homeowners. The concept and vision of Abby Smith, Abby Smith Design, was brought to life by collaboration with The Kitchen Source to elicit thoughtful space-planning and great attention to the necessary details. Having trained in the culinary arts, the homeowner wanted a kitchen that “feels like a restaurant,” where guests can gather over great food, great wine, and truly feel comfortable in the open concept home. The use of natural materials, textures, and finishes beautifully contrasts the professional appliances and industrial elements sought after by the homeowners. The dining area addition, enclosed by windows, continues to vivify the organic elements and brings in ample natural light, enhancing the darker finishes. This collaborative effort proved to be successful in producing a truly custom and elegant space that finally gave life to this modern home. Photography- Lemuel Walsh

Everything In Its Place

David Lund Design

There never seems to be enough room for outdoor gear. Even a modest mudroom, however, goes a long way in introducing order to what is often a messy jumble of coats, boots, and backpacks. A mix of open and closed storage - cubbies for shoes, hooks on the walls, drawers for off season items - provide multiple storage solutions. Even a recycling cabinet found a place in this hardworking corner of the kitchen. Eric & Chelsea Eul Photography