Eric Rorer Photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior remodel in San Francisco with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Mid-sized ornate master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Atlanta with beige walls

Mid-sized cottage beige one-story stucco house exterior idea in San Luis Obispo with a hip roof

Transitional bathroom photo in Minneapolis

Pool fountain - mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular pool fountain idea in Dallas with decking

Transitional open concept dark wood floor family room photo in Atlanta with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Elegant master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Atlanta with white walls and no fireplace

Bedroom - contemporary dark wood floor bedroom idea in Miami with gray walls

This Eclectic Contemporary House keeps a low profile amidst a bold and lively landscape. The home is made up of simple forms stitched together under shallow gable roofs that spread out, rather than stack up. Instead of trying to blend in like camouflage, or to assert itself with stark contrast, This ecelctic house uses bright materials and cheerful colors to compliment the sunny mood of its natural surroundings. Photos by: David Patterson Photography

Example of a mid-sized transitional beige floor and medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room design in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic master dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Austin with no fireplace and brown walls

For a client with an enthusiastic appreciation of retro design, this sunny ode to kitchens of the past is a cheerful and comforting retreat for today. The client wanted a kitchen that creatively expressed her fun, unconventional taste while providing all the modern conveniences of a contemporary home. Space was borrowed from an existing office to provide more open area and easier navigation in the kitchen. Bright, optimistic yellow sets the tone in the room, with retro-inspired appliances in buttery yellow chosen as key elements of the design. A generous apron-front farm sink gleams with clean white enameled cast iron and is outfitted with a rare retro faucet with spray and scrub brush attachments. Black trim against the yellow ceramic tile countertops defines the kitchen’s lines. Simple maple cabinetry painted white with black ceramic knobs provides a modern level of storage. Playful positioning of contrasting tiles on the floor presents a modern, quirky interpretation of the traditional checkerboard pattern in this classic kitchen with an original point of view.

The master bedroom has a gorgeous view to the lake. We really wanted a comfortable, yet refined approach to the space. The large headboard with low profile surround worked great for the bed – a bigger footboard would have been too distracting. The clean bench was just enough filler for the large space between the bed and TV area. We love this sofa with a cut-out in the middle. How perfect is that for lounging without cutting off the view? Soft linens, light colors with touches of that "lakey" blue really make this master feel spa- or resort-like. As usual, we changed the ceiling fan to this awesome light fixture. Certainly the A/C can keep the space cool enough, right? And then for photo day ... just a touch of bold color with the red gerbers! Design: Wesley-Wayne Interiors Photo: Stephen Karlisch

An under used whirlpool tub and inefficient layout were rectified by removing the tub and outdated glass block shower to create a generous walk-in shower area and dual vanity with built ins for storage. Woods and textured materials add warmth and sophistication to the space.

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

Example of a large island style galley light wood floor kitchen design in Miami with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles.

The Inverness Bathroom remodel had these goals: to complete the work while allowing the owner to continue to use their workshop below the project's construction, to provide a high-end quality product that was low-maintenance to the owners, to allow for future accessibility, more natural light and to better meet the daily needs of both the husband's and wife's lifestyles. The first challenge was providing the required structural support to continue to clear span the two cargarage below which housed a workshop. The sheetrock removal, framing and sheetrock repairs and painting were completed first so the owner could continue to use his workshop, as requested. The HVAC supply line was originally an 8" duct that barely fit in the roof triangle between the ridge pole and ceiling. In order to provide the required air flow to additional supply vents in ceiling, a triangular duct was fabricated allowing us to use every square inch of available space. Since every exterior wall in the space adjoined a sloped ceiling, we installed ventilation baffles between each rafter and installed spray foam insulation.This project more than doubled the square footage of usable space. The new area houses a spaciousshower, large bathtub and dressing area. The addition of a window provides natural light. Instead of a small double vanity, they now have a his-and-hers vanity area. We wanted to provide a practical and comfortable space for the wife to get ready for her day and were able to incorporate a sit down make up station for her. The honed white marble looking tile is not only low maintenance but creates a clean bright spa appearance. The custom color vanities and built in linen press provide the perfect contrast of boldness to create the WOW factor. The sloped ceilings allowed us to maximize the amount of usable space plus provided the opportunity for the built in linen press with drawers at the bottom for additional storage. We were also able to combine two closets and add built in shelves for her. This created a dream space for our client that craved organization and functionality. A separate closet on opposite side of entrance provided suitable and comfortable closet space for him. In the end, these clients now have a large, bright and inviting master bath that will allow for complete accessibility in the future.

Robert Swinburne metal and wood siding detail
Example of a trendy exterior home design in Boston