Dining room - traditional dining room idea in Tampa

Inspiration for a large 1950s u-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Builder: Pillar Homes www.pillarhomes.com Landmark Photography
Family room - mid-sized coastal dark wood floor family room idea in Minneapolis with a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and white walls

Lisa Petrole
Example of a beach style bedroom design in Other

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard stamped concrete and rectangular lap pool fountain remodel in San Francisco

Inspiration for a 1950s l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with quartz countertops, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Country kitchen photo in Chicago

Matthew Millman
Hallway - contemporary medium tone wood floor hallway idea in Other with white 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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Lisa Carroll
Example of a large country open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room design in Atlanta with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Great room - contemporary medium tone wood floor great room idea in Portland with white walls

Inspiration for a large modern formal and open concept ceramic tile and white floor living room remodel in Other with white walls

Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a large trendy light wood floor and brown floor great room design in Orange County with white walls and a standard fireplace

Large elegant formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room photo in Denver with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Large danish open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Burlington with white walls, a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal guest dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Orange County with gray walls

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized craftsman l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Seattle with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, an island, an undermount sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

When side walls are low, we can gain some height with deep slanged partitions.
Closet photo in New York