For more photos of this project see: O'SHEA
Photo of a traditional partial sun side yard stone walkway in San Francisco for spring.

Example of a trendy l-shaped light wood floor kitchen design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and an island

Derek Skalko
Minimalist bathroom photo in Denver with a vessel sink

Photo by Oivanki Photography. Builder: Telich Custom Homes. Interior Design: Anne McCanless.
Inspiration for a timeless open concept kitchen remodel in Nashville with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Example of a country bathroom design in New York with a vessel sink, wood countertops and multicolored walls

Stephen Allen Photography
Example of a large transitional master dark wood floor bedroom design in Orlando with beige walls and no fireplace

Jeri Koegel
Trendy l-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Jonathon Edwards Media
Example of a large beach style open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Other with brown walls, a media wall, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

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

Ulrich Designer: Jeannie Fulton Photography by Peter Rymwid This modern/transitional kitchen was designed to meld comfortably with a 1910 home. This photo highlights the lovely custom-designed and built cabinets by Draper DBS that feature a gray pearl finish that brings an understated elegance to the semblance of a "white kitchen". White calcutta marble tops and backsplashes add to the clean feel and flow of the space. Also featured is a custom designed and manufactured stainless steel range hood by Rangecraft. Contact us at Ulrich for more of the secrets that we hid in this lovely kitchen - there is much much more than meets the eye!

Kitchen - small country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Brad + Jen Butcher
Family room library - large contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library idea in Nashville with gray walls

California Ranch Farmhouse Style Design 2020
Large transitional open concept light wood floor, gray floor, vaulted ceiling and shiplap wall living room photo in San Francisco with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Construction by Plath + Co. Photography by Eric Rorer. Interior Design by Jan Wasson.
Inspiration for a small timeless powder room remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface countertops and blue walls

Photo by Michael Hospelt
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in San Francisco

Elegant family room photo in Philadelphia

Spacecrafting Photography
Example of a transitional white two-story exterior home design in Minneapolis

Photography By: Eric Taylor
Arts and crafts brown tile and subway tile ceramic tile and brown floor corner shower photo in DC Metro with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and a wall-mount toilet

This Pantry has plenty of built-in shelves to store food and appliances alike. The shelves are supported by pipes, which carry the industrial look in from the Kitchen and Dining Room. The neutral palette of white and medium-toned wood remains cohesive with the Kitchen.