Entrance to this home features ship lap walls & ceilings that are off set with a brilliant blue barn door and abstract ocean theme art. Photography by Patrick Brickman

Photography by Dennis Mayer
Bathroom - large traditional master white tile and gray tile gray floor bathroom idea in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, marble countertops and gray countertops

Photo by Grey Crawford
Example of a small beach style galley dark wood floor kitchen design in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black backsplash and no island

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a large coastal dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in San Francisco

Modern cabinetry by Wood Mode Custom Cabinets, Frameless construction in Vista Plus door style, Maple wood species with a Matte Eclipse finish, dimensional wall tile Boreal Engineered Marble by Giovanni Barbieri, LED backlit lighting.

Large transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor, multicolored floor and double-sink alcove shower photo in San Francisco with blue cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a freestanding vanity and beaded inset cabinets

Inspiration for a large timeless master carpeted bedroom remodel in Kansas City with green walls and no fireplace

Paint color is Winter Solstice Photography by Robert Granoff
Example of a transitional carpeted family room design in New York with gray walls

Photography by Carlos Perez Lopez © Chromatica. This project consisted of turning a traditional home into a contemporary one. You'll be amazed at the before and after!

Primary Bathroom Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography; Interior Design: Kristin Try Interiors; Builder: Harry Braswell, Inc.
Example of a beach style blue tile and subway tile white floor bathroom design in DC Metro with medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Morgante Wilson Architects added color and pattern to this Music Room. The lounge chairs are covered in fabric from Carnegie. The Artisitc Frame side chairs bring in more color. A pendant from Currey & Co. hangs above. Werner Straube Photography

Sid Levin Revolution Design Build
Inspiration for a large timeless porcelain tile entryway remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls and a white front door

Kitchen - farmhouse kitchen idea in Seattle

Elegant eat-in kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and limestone backsplash

An inviting Farmhouse inspired master bedroom with soft, luxorious carpet. Available at Finstad's Carpet One.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country master carpeted bedroom remodel in Other with white walls and no fireplace

We designed this modern, cozy master bedroom to support the family's lifestyle. We installed a wall of 3D tile to house the new electric fireplace, television and components. We dropped a George Nelson Bubble Lamp on a dimmer switch above the bed for a modern touch. Interior Design by Mackenzie Collier Interiors (Phoenix, AZ), Photography by Jaryd Niebauer Photography (Phoenix, AZ)

Inspiration for a transitional master gray tile, white tile and marble tile marble floor and gray floor bathroom remodel in Chicago with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls and an undermount sink

Elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo in Houston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

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