J.W. Boom Photography
Elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a country living room remodel in San Francisco

Guest Bathroom
Inspiration for a contemporary master gray tile pebble tile floor and multicolored floor doorless shower remodel in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white 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. Photography Eric Roth Photo

Jeffrey Freeman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Portland

Floating stairs are crafted from solid oak beams salvaged from a barn in Oregon. The stringer is black painted steel. The enclosed stairwell acts as a sculptural anchor. Behind the stairwell on the left is a laundry closet concealed by a large sliding door and steps leading up to the mud room. photos by scott hargis

SJC Dramatic Remodel
Example of a mid-sized trendy dining room design in Orange County

Gordon Beall
Bedroom - tropical yellow floor bedroom idea in Boston with white walls

Mike Kaskel
Staircase - mid-sized farmhouse wooden l-shaped wood railing staircase idea in Houston with painted risers

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard patio remodel in Boise with a fire pit and a pergola

custom kitchen
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped marble floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, white cabinets and a peninsula

Jeff Herr Photography
Inspiration for a country wooden metal railing staircase remodel in Atlanta

A hip young family moving from Boston tackled an enormous makeover of an antique colonial revival home in downtown Larchmont. The kitchen area was quite spacious but benefitted from a small bump out for a banquette and additional windows. Navy blue island and tall cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen blue is balanced by crisp white (Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace) cabinetry on the perimeter. The mid-century inspired suspended fireplace adds warmth and style to the kitchen. A tile covered range hood blends the ventilation into the walls. Brushed brass hardware by Lewis Dolan in a contemporary T-bar shape offer clean lines in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops on the perimeter are balanced by white quartz composite on the island. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator--Subzero; Range—Viking French door oven--Viking. Dacor Wine Station. Dishwashers—Bosch. Ventilation—Best. Hardware—Lewis Dolan. Lighting—Rejuvenation. Sink--Franke. Stools—Soho Concept. Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

Example of a large classic u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen design in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Kids' bedroom - bedroom mediterranean girl light wood floor kids' bedroom idea in Orange County with multicolored walls

Inspiration for a transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

This creek side Kiawah Island home veils a romanticized modern surprise. Designed as a muse reflecting the owners’ Brooklyn stoop upbringing, its vertical stature offers maximum use of space and magnificent views from every room. Nature cues its color palette and texture, which is reflected throughout the home. Photography by Brennan Wesley

Dan Cutrona
Bathroom - traditional bathroom idea in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Photo - Jessica Glynn Photography
Inspiration for a small transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in New York with blue walls and no fireplace