Photography: Stephani Buchman
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped home design remodel in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, blue backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Troy Theis
Inspiration for a craftsman l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls and an island

Wood-Mode "Brandywine Recessed" cabinets in a Vintage Nordic White finish on Maple. Wood-Mode Oil-Rubbed Bronze Hardware. Taj Mahal Leathered Quartzite Countertops with Ogee Edges on Island and 1/8" Radius Edges on Perimeter. Photo: John Martinelli

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

Adriana Solmson Interiors
Example of a large trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in New York with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized coastal u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Inspiration for a coastal bedroom remodel in Philadelphia with yellow walls

Nestled in historic NoHo, graphite matte lacquer Lignum et Lapis doors give structural elegance to a kitchen framed by stunning charcoal and ivory marble. With the vertical staving distinctive to the #Arclinea line, the added touch of sophistication is subtle but breathtaking, in a home showcasing natural elements of wood and stone to excellent effect. Designer: Sally Rigg - http://www.riggnyc.com

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Large transitional u-shaped cement tile floor and white floor eat-in kitchen photo in Providence with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, an island, an undermount sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Jacqui Blanchard
Kitchen - scandinavian galley light wood floor kitchen idea in Auckland with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Photos By: Jen Burner
Eat-in kitchen - small eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen idea in Dallas with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, a peninsula and gray countertops

Stacey Goldberg
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Julie Mannell Photography
Example of a mid-sized 1950s l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Seattle with quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, an island and flat-panel cabinets

Blackband Design 949.872.2234 www.blackbanddesign.com
Inspiration for a coastal family room remodel in Orange County

Photo: Rachel Loewen © 2018 Houzz Selvage ramps plaid, sriracha affogato la croix chia art party. Tacos vinyl freegan sartorial neutra truffaut migas edison bulb subway tile yuccie flannel enamel pin pop-up unicorn marfa. Art party disrupt forage cred organic typewriter tattooed tbh meh neutra pinterest vinyl messenger bag taiyaki PBR&B.

In this Victorian home on Capitol Hill, the interior had been gut renovated by a developer to match a modern farmhouse aesthetic which did not reflect our client. Our scope included a complete overhaul of the primary bathroom and powder room, a heavy kitchen refresh, along with new hardware, doors, paint, lighting, furnishings and window treatments throughout the home. Our goal was to also elevate the home’s architectural details, including a new stair rail, back to what could have been original millwork while creating a feminine, sophisticated space for a family of 5 (plus one adorable furry friend).

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Atlanta

KuDa Photography
Mudroom - traditional mudroom idea in Portland with white walls and a glass front door