Suggested products do not represent the products used in this image. Design featured is proprietary and contains custom work. (Dan Piassick, Photographer)

The goal for these clients was to build a new home with a transitional design that was large enough for their children and grandchildren to visit, but small enough to age in place comfortably with a budget they could afford on their retirement income. They wanted an open floor plan, with plenty of wall space for art and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces to maintain the original garden feeling of the lot. A unique combination of cultures is reflected in the home – the husband is from Haiti and the wife from Switzerland. The resulting traditional design aesthetic is an eclectic blend of Caribbean and Old World flair. Jim Barsch Photography

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

Hillcrest Construction designed and executed a complete facelift for these West Chester clients’ master bathroom. The sink/toilet/shower layout stayed relatively unchanged due to the limitations of the small space, but major changes were slated for the overall functionality and aesthetic appeal. The bathroom was gutted completely, the wiring was updated, and minor plumbing alterations were completed for code compliance. Bathroom waterproofing was installed utilizing the state-of-the-industry Schluter substrate products, and the feature wall of the shower is tiled with a striking blue 12x12 tile set in a stacked pattern, which is a departure of color and layout from the staggered gray-tome wall tile and floor tile. The original bathroom lacked storage, and what little storage it had lacked practicality. The original 1’ wide by 4’ deep “reach-in closet” was abandoned and replaced with a custom cabinetry unit that featured six 30” drawers to hold a world of personal bathroom items which could pulled out for easy access. The upper cubbie was shallower at 13” and was sized right to hold a few spare towels without the towels being lost to an unreachable area. The custom furniture-style vanity, also built and finished at the Hillcrest custom shop facilitated a clutter-free countertop with its two deep drawers, one with a u-shaped cut out for the sink plumbing. Considering the relatively small size of the bathroom, and the vanity’s proximity to the toilet, the drawer design allows for greater access to the storage area as compared to a vanity door design that would only be accessed from the front. The custom niche in the shower serves and a consolidated home for soap, shampoo bottles, and all other shower accessories. Moen fixtures at the sink and in the shower and a Toto toilet complete the contemporary feel. The controls at the shower allow the user to easily switch between the fixed rain head, the hand shower, or both. And for a finishing touch, the client chose between a number for shower grate color and design options to complete their tailor-made sanctuary.

Powder room - mid-sized coastal multicolored tile and mosaic tile medium tone wood floor powder room idea in Miami with blue cabinets, a vessel sink, furniture-like cabinets, marble countertops and white countertops

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Example of a cottage single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, wood countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash and gray walls

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Remodel | Troy Thies, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Our client is the perfect mix of fun. Her geometric runner runs throughout the entire upstairs, and that chair... Photos by Denise Davies
Inspiration for a transitional staircase remodel in New York with gray walls

Jim Fuhrmann, Beinfield Architecture PC
Living room - mid-sized farmhouse living room idea in New York with a standard fireplace and no tv

David Duncan Livingston
Small transitional black tile, white tile and black and white tile mosaic tile floor powder room photo in San Francisco with marble countertops, gray walls and an undermount sink

Modern Bathroom inspired by natural elements. The wood-textured tile flooring is bordered with soothing water like textured cabinets on one side and a warming fireplace on the other. Free standing volcanic limestone bathtub by Victoria + Albert PuraVida series Faucet and Shower head from Hansgrohe Above-Counter Sink by Duravit 3-D textured cabinets by Soho Kitchen Studio Inc. Soho Kitchen Studio Inc.

This Award-winning kitchen proves vintage doesn't have to look old and tired. This previously dark kitchen was updated with white, gold, and wood in the historic district of Monte Vista. The challenge is making a new kitchen look and feel like it belongs in a charming older home. The highlight and starting point is the original hex tile flooring in white and gold. It was in excellent condition and merely needed a good cleaning. The addition of white calacatta marble, white subway tile, walnut wood counters, brass and gold accents keep the charm intact. Cabinet panels mimic original door panels found in other areas of the home. Custom coffee storage is a modern bonus! Sub-Zero Refrig, Rohl sink, seeded glass cabinets, brass wire grille,

This smart kitchen renovation in Silver Spring, Maryland, involved removing three walls and a centrally located powder room and a closet. The powder room was relocated into the original closet area, and the patio door moved nearby. The main window was enlarged to create an anchor and focal point for the new kitchen as well as to enhance the view onto the lovely backyard. An angled island keeps the room feeling spacious and open, and a corner pantry was designed so as not to lose precious storage space.

David Duncan Livingston
Open concept kitchen - transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances

Photos by John Woodcock
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Phoenix

John Gillooly/PEI
Enclosed kitchen - traditional enclosed kitchen idea in Boston with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Our clients house was built in 2012, so it was not that outdated, it was just dark. The clients wanted to lighten the kitchen and create something that was their own, using more unique products. The master bath needed to be updated and they wanted the upstairs game room to be more functional for their family. The original kitchen was very dark and all brown. The cabinets were stained dark brown, the countertops were a dark brown and black granite, with a beige backsplash. We kept the dark cabinets but lightened everything else. A new translucent frosted glass pantry door was installed to soften the feel of the kitchen. The main architecture in the kitchen stayed the same but the clients wanted to change the coffee bar into a wine bar, so we removed the upper cabinet door above a small cabinet and installed two X-style wine storage shelves instead. An undermount farm sink was installed with a 23” tall main faucet for more functionality. We replaced the chandelier over the island with a beautiful Arhaus Poppy large antique brass chandelier. Two new pendants were installed over the sink from West Elm with a much more modern feel than before, not to mention much brighter. The once dark backsplash was now a bright ocean honed marble mosaic 2”x4” a top the QM Calacatta Miel quartz countertops. We installed undercabinet lighting and added over-cabinet LED tape strip lighting to add even more light into the kitchen. We basically gutted the Master bathroom and started from scratch. We demoed the shower walls, ceiling over tub/shower, demoed the countertops, plumbing fixtures, shutters over the tub and the wall tile and flooring. We reframed the vaulted ceiling over the shower and added an access panel in the water closet for a digital shower valve. A raised platform was added under the tub/shower for a shower slope to existing drain. The shower floor was Carrara Herringbone tile, accented with Bianco Venatino Honed marble and Metro White glossy ceramic 4”x16” tile on the walls. We then added a bench and a Kohler 8” rain showerhead to finish off the shower. The walk-in shower was sectioned off with a frameless clear anti-spot treated glass. The tub was not important to the clients, although they wanted to keep one for resale value. A Japanese soaker tub was installed, which the kids love! To finish off the master bath, the walls were painted with SW Agreeable Gray and the existing cabinets were painted SW Mega Greige for an updated look. Four Pottery Barn Mercer wall sconces were added between the new beautiful Distressed Silver leaf mirrors instead of the three existing over-mirror vanity bars that were originally there. QM Calacatta Miel countertops were installed which definitely brightened up the room! Originally, the upstairs game room had nothing but a built-in bar in one corner. The clients wanted this to be more of a media room but still wanted to have a kitchenette upstairs. We had to remove the original plumbing and electrical and move it to where the new cabinets were. We installed 16’ of cabinets between the windows on one wall. Plank and Mill reclaimed barn wood plank veneers were used on the accent wall in between the cabinets as a backing for the wall mounted TV above the QM Calacatta Miel countertops. A kitchenette was installed to one end, housing a sink and a beverage fridge, so the clients can still have the best of both worlds. LED tape lighting was added above the cabinets for additional lighting. The clients love their updated rooms and feel that house really works for their family now. Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging

Great Island Photography
Alcove shower - rustic beige tile alcove shower idea in Boston with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet and white walls