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

A modern black and white tile bathroom gives the classic color duo a contemporary perspective with a sleek white subway tile shower and sophisticated black hexagon floor tile. For more bathroom and shower tile inspiration, visit fireclaytile.com. Non-Slip options available. TILE SHOWN White Subway Tile in Tusk, 3" Black Hexagon Tile in Basalt DESIGN Mark Davis Design PHOTOS Luis Costadone

Elizabeth Taich Design is a Chicago-based full-service interior architecture and design firm that specializes in sophisticated yet livable environments. IC360

Tuscan 3/4 beige tile, gray tile and white tile multicolored floor alcove shower photo in San Diego with dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Baron Construction and Remodeling Bathroom Design and Remodeling Design Build General Contractor Photography by Agnieszka Jakubowicz
Large trendy master white tile, gray tile and marble tile marble floor, gray floor and double-sink walk-in shower photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, gray countertops, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Photo Credit: Janet Lenzen
Huge tuscan master beige tile and stone tile travertine floor and beige floor freestanding bathtub photo in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and beige walls

Example of a cottage master medium tone wood floor bedroom design in San Francisco with multicolored walls and no fireplace

Francisco Aguila Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary master marble floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Miami with a vessel sink and gray walls

This home was fully remodeled with a cape cod feel including the interior, exterior, driveway, backyard and pool. We added beautiful moulding and wainscoting throughout and finished the home with chrome and black finishes. Our floor plan design opened up a ton of space in the master en suite for a stunning bath/shower combo, entryway, kitchen, and laundry room. We also converted the pool shed to a billiard room and wet bar.

the client decided to eliminate the bathtub and install a large shower with partial fixed shower glass instead of a shower door
Doorless shower - mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting doorless shower idea with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and gray countertops

Drop-in bathtub - transitional gray tile drop-in bathtub idea in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and green walls

Reverse Shed Eichler This project is part tear-down, part remodel. The original L-shaped plan allowed the living/ dining/ kitchen wing to be completely re-built while retaining the shell of the bedroom wing virtually intact. The rebuilt entertainment wing was enlarged 50% and covered with a low-slope reverse-shed roof sloping from eleven to thirteen feet. The shed roof floats on a continuous glass clerestory with eight foot transom. Cantilevered steel frames support wood roof beams with eaves of up to ten feet. An interior glass clerestory separates the kitchen and livingroom for sound control. A wall-to-wall skylight illuminates the north wall of the kitchen/family room. New additions at the back of the house add several “sliding” wall planes, where interior walls continue past full-height windows to the exterior, complimenting the typical Eichler indoor-outdoor ceiling and floor planes. The existing bedroom wing has been re-configured on the interior, changing three small bedrooms into two larger ones, and adding a guest suite in part of the original garage. A previous den addition provided the perfect spot for a large master ensuite bath and walk-in closet. Natural materials predominate, with fir ceilings, limestone veneer fireplace walls, anigre veneer cabinets, fir sliding windows and interior doors, bamboo floors, and concrete patios and walks. Landscape design by Bernard Trainor: www.bernardtrainor.com (see “Concrete Jungle” in April 2014 edition of Dwell magazine). Microsoft Media Center installation of the Year, 2008: www.cybermanor.com/ultimate_install.html (automated shades, radiant heating system, and lights, as well as security & sound).

Bedroom. Photo by Clark Dugger
Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls and no fireplace

Casey Dunn
Large trendy white tile and stone tile marble floor freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, white walls and medium tone wood cabinets

Guest bathroom remodel in Dallas, TX by Kitchen Design Concepts. This Girl's Bath features cabinetry by WW Woods Eclipse with a square flat panel door style, maple construction, and a finish of Arctic paint with a Slate Highlight / Brushed finish. Hand towel holder, towel bar and toilet tissue holder from Kohler Bancroft Collection in polished chrome. Heated mirror over vanity with interior storage and lighting. Tile -- Renaissance 2x2 Hex White tile, Matte finish in a straight lay; Daltile Rittenhouse Square Cove 3x6 Tile K101 White as base mold throughout; Arizona Tile H-Line Series 3x6 Denim Glossy in a brick lay up the wall, window casing and built-in niche and matching curb and bullnose pieces. Countertop -- 3 cm Caesarstone Frosty Carina. Vanity sink -- Toto Undercounter Lavatory with SanaGloss Cotton. Vanity faucet-- Widespread faucet with White ceramic lever handles. Tub filler - Kohler Devonshire non-diverter bath spout polished chrome. Shower control – Kohler Bancroft valve trim with white ceramic lever handles. Hand Shower & Slider Bar - one multifunction handshower with Slide Bar. Commode - Toto Maris Wall-Hung Dual-Flush Toilet Cotton w/ Rectangular Push Plate Dual Button White. Photos by Unique Exposure Photography

Luxury spa bath
Large transitional master gray tile and marble tile marble floor and gray floor freestanding bathtub photo in Milwaukee with gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Photography by Chipper Hatter
Example of a mid-sized classic master gray tile and stone tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and white walls

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Elegant master white tile and stone tile marble floor bathroom photo in Boston with white cabinets, marble countertops, an undermount tub and green walls

Alcove shower - modern master beige floor alcove shower idea in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops