Photo: Tyler Van Stright, JLC Architecture Architect: JLC Architecture General Contractor: Naylor Construction Metalwork: Noe Design Co. Interior Design: KW Designs Floors: IndoTeak

Inspiration for a rustic two-story wood gable roof remodel in Sacramento

Photography: Nat Rea
Balcony - victorian balcony balcony idea in Providence with a roof extension

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Sacramento

Pattern tiles on floors combined with simple with subway tiles on shower walls give this modern farmhouse bathroom in Santa Monica a unique and interesting look.

Rustic wood exterior home idea

Chris Ermides
Mid-sized mountain style three-story wood gable roof photo

Sand Creek Post & Beam traditional wood barn used as a garage with a party loft / guest house. For more photos visit us at www.sandcreekpostandbeam.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SandCreekPostandBeam

Inspiration for a mediterranean powder room remodel in Houston with a vessel sink, wood countertops, gray walls and brown countertops

Photo of a large rustic partial sun backyard stone formal garden in Philadelphia with a fire pit.

Jim Bartsch Photography
Walk-in shower - mid-sized beige tile and stone tile limestone floor walk-in shower idea in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets and recessed-panel cabinets

Elegant deck photo in Seattle with no cover and a bbq area

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean full sun backyard stone formal garden in Denver.

David Land
Inspiration for a transitional gender-neutral medium tone wood floor playroom remodel in New York 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

Inspiration for a farmhouse concrete floor and beige floor patio remodel in San Francisco with beige walls and a metal front door

Sophie Mutevelian
Example of a minimalist white tile and subway tile light wood floor bathroom design in London with a vessel sink, light wood cabinets, white walls, a one-piece toilet and open cabinets

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard rectangular pool remodel in New York

Design ideas for a traditional partial sun landscaping in Boston.