Photosynthesis Studio
Inspiration for a large farmhouse single-wall porcelain tile dedicated laundry room remodel in Atlanta with white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and recessed-panel cabinets

Transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Vancouver with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Living room - coastal open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Providence with beige walls

Ciro Coelho Photography
Example of a trendy patio design in Santa Barbara

Small compact master bath remodeled for maximum functionality
Small elegant master beige tile and travertine tile travertine floor and multicolored floor walk-in shower photo in Portland with raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Traditional Style Fire Feature - the Prescott Fire Pit - using Techo-Bloc's Prescott wall & Piedimonte cap.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional full sun backyard stone landscaping in DC Metro with a fire pit for summer.

Laurence Taylor, Taylor Architectural Photography
Inspiration for a coastal hallway remodel in Tampa with gray walls

Example of a small transitional 3/4 gray tile and ceramic tile vinyl floor alcove shower design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an integrated sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Minneapolis

Small 1960s bathroom photo in San Francisco with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Andrea Calo
Mid-sized 1960s galley brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, quartz countertops and orange countertops

Photography by: Douglas Hunter
Inspiration for a rustic open concept living room remodel in Salt Lake City

photo credit: Larry Taylor
Hot tub - large transitional backyard stone and l-shaped hot tub idea in Tampa

Eric Rorer
Mid-sized mid-century modern formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and a concrete fireplace

Marco Ricca
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional ceramic tile and gray floor home bar remodel in Denver with gray cabinets, brown backsplash, stainless steel countertops, ceramic backsplash, gray countertops and shaker cabinets

Trendy wood gable roof photo in Seattle

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

Transitional screened-in porch photo in Chicago with decking

indoor-outdoor space, nana door, bbq area,
Arts and crafts deck photo in Seattle with a roof extension and a bbq area