Essential, contemporary, and inviting defines this extremely energy efficient, Energy Star certified, Passive House design-inspired home in the Pacific Northwest. Designed for an active family of four, the one-story 3 bedroom, 2 bath floor plan offers tasteful aging in place features, a strong sense of privacy, and a low profile that doesn’t impinge on the natural landscape. This house will heat itself in the dead of winter with less energy than it takes to run a hair dryer, and be sensual to live in while it does it. The forms throughout the home are simple and neutral, allowing for ample natural light, rich warm materials, and of course, room for the Guinea pigs makes this a great example of artful architecture applied to a genuine family lifestyle. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Natural daylight enters both from the tilt & turn and fixed windows in the living and dining areas, and through the terrace door that leads seamlessly outside to the natural landscape. Project Designed & Built by: artisansgroup Certifications: Energy Star & Built Green Lvl 4 Photography: Art Gray of Art Gray Photography

Nestled in a wooded area in the Pacific Northwest, the 1800 sf Passive Cedar Haus was built as a retirement home. The Artisans Group designed the layout of the home, mindful of aging in place, and working to ensure that the home blended in with the surrounding natural beauty. The project meets a complex program, with an unheated sleeping porch for a master bedroom, a screened porch, a 600 sf caretakers apartment/mother in law unit, large wood shop, plus a two car carport. The home seamlessly integrates a floating cedar tongue and groove roof with large sheltering overhangs, clerestory windows, and language of cedar slats for privacy screens and doors inside and out. The warm, natural materials of wood and cork for the interior palette are punctuated by lively accents and stunning fixtures. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, gives an expansive view of the surrounding Northwest forest. The tops of these windows reveal the interior cedar clad and the up-swept soffits on the home’s exterior, creating a floating ceiling effect. Slatted spruce wood fly-overs break up the vertical areas of the great room and define separate areas that would otherwise feel like an overwhelmingly expansive space. Photography by: Cheryl Ramsay of Ramsay Photography

Nestled in a wooded area in the Pacific Northwest, the 1800 sf Passive Cedar Haus was built as a retirement home. The Artisans Group designed the layout of the home, mindful of aging in place, and working to ensure that the home blended in with the surrounding natural beauty. The project meets a complex program, with an unheated sleeping porch for a master bedroom, a screened porch, a 600 sf caretakers apartment/mother in law unit, large wood shop, plus a two car carport. The home seamlessly integrates a floating cedar tongue and groove roof with large sheltering overhangs, clerestory windows, and language of cedar slats for privacy screens and doors inside and out. The warm, natural materials of wood and cork for the interior palette are punctuated by lively accents and stunning fixtures. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, gives an expansive view of the surrounding Northwest forest. The tops of these windows reveal the interior cedar clad and the up-swept soffits on the home’s exterior, creating a floating ceiling effect. Slatted spruce wood fly-overs break up the vertical areas of the great room and define separate areas that would otherwise feel like an overwhelmingly expansive space. Photography by: Cheryl Ramsay of Ramsay Photography

A SOULFUL TRIBUTE more photos at http://www.kylacoburndesigns.com/questlove-personal-nbc-jimmy-fallon-dressing-room Step into an immersive exploration of Questlove’s career, influences, and contributions to art and music that is filled with significance and detail. A stunning piece of salvaged church architecture frames saintly images of people who influenced and inspired Questlove. J Dilla, who Questlove has called “the greatest rap producer of all time,” is the saint of Mixology. Odetta is the saint of Spirituals. Amiri Baraka is the saint of Poetry. Late Roots manager, Richard Nichols, is the saint of Ecology and Growth, and Fela Kuti - the Godfather of Afro-Beat, is the saint of Musicianship. Each detail in the room was selected for both it’s significance and aesthetics. A vintage optometrist machine reminds us to maintain our clarity and vision, player piano scrolls become inspirational wallpaper, and a KISS coffee mug nods to Questlove’s admitted childhood “obsession” with the band, and his controversial vote for them to be admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “The opportunity to do a personal space for Questlove was a chance to pay tribute someone who has shaped generations of music. I spent weeks researching Questlove’s career and influences - pouring over old interviews, watching and listening to performances… in the hope I would get close to ‘the roots’ of his personal journey and create something that he would love.” - Kyla Design Deep Dive King of Hearts pillow, custom sign created from Detroit road signs, gallery wall of Roots albums, vintage optometrist machine, wallpaper made from piano scrolls with poetic lyrics, travelling trunk, jazz-age violin case that holds a whiskey bottle, collection of Kiss memorabilia

This basement game room brings together two Manomin products in a way that feels completely cohesive. Reclaimed Wood Paneling in warm honey and chestnut tones runs horizontally across the accent wall, its natural color variation and aged texture creating a rich backdrop for the space. Heavy Hand Hewn Timbers frame the room as posts and header beams, their dark rough sawn surface providing a striking contrast against the warmer tones of the paneling. A reclaimed wood ceiling border runs the perimeter of the space, tying the material palette together and giving the room a sense of depth and craftsmanship that no modern material can replicate. At Manomin Resawn Timbers, every piece goes through a detailed process of denailing, kiln drying, and precision milling so that antique character is preserved while performing beautifully in a modern home. Whether you are a homebuilder, a home remodeling contractor, or a homeowner looking to bring reclaimed wood into a basement, game room, or home bar, Manomin Resawn Timbers has been helping people discover the antique charm of reclaimed wood since 2002. We serve homebuilders, contractors, and designers across the country. Visit our showroom in Hugo, MN or reach out to us with a call or a message to get started.

This project’s owner originally contacted Sunspace because they needed to replace an outdated, leaking sunroom on their North Hampton, New Hampshire property. The aging sunroom was set on a fieldstone foundation that was beginning to show signs of wear in the uppermost layer. The client’s vision involved repurposing the ten foot by ten foot area taken up by the original sunroom structure in order to create the perfect space for a new home office. Sunspace Design stepped in to help make that vision a reality. We began the design process by carefully assessing what the client hoped to achieve. Working together, we soon realized that a glass conservatory would be the perfect replacement. Our custom conservatory design would allow great natural light into the home while providing structure for the desired office space. Because the client’s beautiful home featured a truly unique style, the principal challenge we faced was ensuring that the new conservatory would seamlessly blend with the surrounding architectural elements on the interior and exterior. We utilized large, Marvin casement windows and a hip design for the glass roof. The interior of the home featured an abundance of wood, so the conservatory design featured a wood interior stained to match. The end result of this collaborative process was a beautiful conservatory featured at the front of the client’s home. The new space authentically matches the original construction, the leaky sunroom is no longer a problem, and our client was left with a home office space that’s bright and airy. The large casements provide a great view of the exterior landscape and let in incredible levels of natural light. And because the space was outfitted with energy efficient glass, spray foam insulation, and radiant heating, this conservatory is a true four season glass space that our client will be able to enjoy throughout the year.

In the latest trends in kitchen remodel we have noticed the use of a warmer grey color for the kitchen cabinets. The finish on the cabinets is divided between sleek look or weathered look with aging details and the mix of both in the kitchen is fantastic. More glass doors with incorporated indirect lighting is the perfect way to show your favorite dishes but also helps create the coziness in your space. The focal points in the Spring/ Summer 2018 will be the hoods over the cook tops and the kitchen islands. The hoods will become bigger and more masculine but will have more decorative details to them so that they can draw attention and be the "hero". The islands are going to grow bigger so that they can perform the duty and perhaps replace the kitchenette table and to do so the new islands will be very specific in shape and functionality to each owner/ cook. To accomplish the new visions for the kitchen islands, we at Karin Ross Designs like to extend the size by adding different shapes of decorative feet and or shelving instead of having another roll of cabinetry under a bigger slab of counter top. By adding feet and or shelving for your cook books and such we convert the island in a big prep area but also in the much desired space to gather around the cook preparing the family meal. After all one of the best family secrets in accordance to some soap operas, are revealed around the table in the kitchen as the meal is been prepared....

Nestled in a wooded area in the Pacific Northwest, the 1800 sf Passive Cedar Haus was built as a retirement home. The Artisans Group designed the layout of the home, mindful of aging in place, and working to ensure that the home blended in with the surrounding natural beauty. The project meets a complex program, with an unheated sleeping porch for a master bedroom, a screened porch, a 600 sf caretakers apartment/mother in law unit, large wood shop, plus a two car carport. The home seamlessly integrates a floating cedar tongue and groove roof with large sheltering overhangs, clerestory windows, and language of cedar slats for privacy screens and doors inside and out. The warm, natural materials of wood and cork for the interior palette are punctuated by lively accents and stunning fixtures. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, gives an expansive view of the surrounding Northwest forest. The tops of these windows reveal the interior cedar clad and the up-swept soffits on the home’s exterior, creating a floating ceiling effect. Slatted spruce wood fly-overs break up the vertical areas of the great room and define separate areas that would otherwise feel like an overwhelmingly expansive space. Photography by: Cheryl Ramsay of Ramsay Photography

Essential, contemporary, and inviting defines this extremely energy efficient, Energy Star certified, Passive House design-inspired home in the Pacific Northwest. Designed for an active family of four, the one-story 3 bedroom, 2 bath floor plan offers tasteful aging in place features, a strong sense of privacy, and a low profile that doesn’t impinge on the natural landscape. This house will heat itself in the dead of winter with less energy than it takes to run a hair dryer, and be sensual to live in while it does it. The forms throughout the home are simple and neutral, allowing for ample natural light, rich warm materials, and of course, room for the Guinea pigs makes this a great example of artful architecture applied to a genuine family lifestyle. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Natural daylight enters both from the tilt & turn and fixed windows in the living and dining areas, and through the terrace door that leads seamlessly outside to the natural landscape. Project Designed & Built by: artisansgroup Certifications: Energy Star & Built Green Lvl 4 Photography: Art Gray of Art Gray Photography

Nestled in a wooded area in the Pacific Northwest, the 1800 sf Passive Cedar Haus was built as a retirement home. The Artisans Group designed the layout of the home, mindful of aging in place, and working to ensure that the home blended in with the surrounding natural beauty. The project meets a complex program, with an unheated sleeping porch for a master bedroom, a screened porch, a 600 sf caretakers apartment/mother in law unit, large wood shop, plus a two car carport. The home seamlessly integrates a floating cedar tongue and groove roof with large sheltering overhangs, clerestory windows, and language of cedar slats for privacy screens and doors inside and out. The warm, natural materials of wood and cork for the interior palette are punctuated by lively accents and stunning fixtures. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area, gives an expansive view of the surrounding Northwest forest. The tops of these windows reveal the interior cedar clad and the up-swept soffits on the home’s exterior, creating a floating ceiling effect. Slatted spruce wood fly-overs break up the vertical areas of the great room and define separate areas that would otherwise feel like an overwhelmingly expansive space. Photography by: Cheryl Ramsay of Ramsay Photography

In the latest trends in kitchen remodel we have noticed the use of a warmer grey color for the kitchen cabinets. The finish on the cabinets is divided between sleek look or weathered look with aging details and the mix of both in the kitchen is fantastic. More glass doors with incorporated indirect lighting is the perfect way to show your favorite dishes but also helps create the coziness in your space. The focal points in the Spring/ Summer 2018 will be the hoods over the cook tops and the kitchen islands. The hoods will become bigger and more masculine but will have more decorative details to them so that they can draw attention and be the "hero". The islands are going to grow bigger so that they can perform the duty and perhaps replace the kitchenette table and to do so the new islands will be very specific in shape and functionality to each owner/ cook. To accomplish the new visions for the kitchen islands, we at Karin Ross Designs like to extend the size by adding different shapes of decorative feet and or shelving instead of having another roll of cabinetry under a bigger slab of counter top. By adding feet and or shelving for your cook books and such we convert the island in a big prep area but also in the much desired space to gather around the cook preparing the family meal. After all one of the best family secrets in accordance to some soap operas, are revealed around the table in the kitchen as the meal is been prepared....

In the latest trends in kitchen remodel we have noticed the use of a warmer grey color for the kitchen cabinets. The finish on the cabinets is divided between sleek look or weathered look with aging details and the mix of both in the kitchen is fantastic. More glass doors with incorporated indirect lighting is the perfect way to show your favorite dishes but also helps create the coziness in your space. The focal points in the Spring/ Summer 2018 will be the hoods over the cook tops and the kitchen islands. The hoods will become bigger and more masculine but will have more decorative details to them so that they can draw attention and be the "hero". The islands are going to grow bigger so that they can perform the duty and perhaps replace the kitchenette table and to do so the new islands will be very specific in shape and functionality to each owner/ cook. To accomplish the new visions for the kitchen islands, we at Karin Ross Designs like to extend the size by adding different shapes of decorative feet and or shelving instead of having another roll of cabinetry under a bigger slab of counter top. By adding feet and or shelving for your cook books and such we convert the island in a big prep area but also in the much desired space to gather around the cook preparing the family meal. After all one of the best family secrets in accordance to some soap operas, are revealed around the table in the kitchen as the meal is been prepared....

This home had original parquet wood flooring that had become worn, dated, and no longer matched the bright, modern style the homeowners wanted. While the existing floor had served its purpose for many years, it showed its age through visible wear, uneven coloring, and an outdated appearance that made the entryway and main living areas feel darker than they really were. The homeowners wanted a flooring solution that would completely transform the space while providing long-term durability for everyday living. After helping them select the perfect luxury vinyl plank flooring, our team carefully removed the existing flooring, prepared the subfloor, and professionally installed beautiful wide-plank LVP throughout the main level. The staircase was also updated to create a seamless transition between levels, giving the entire home a cohesive, custom appearance. The new flooring instantly brightened the home and made the space feel larger, cleaner, and more inviting. The lighter wood tones complement the home's neutral finishes while adding warmth and timeless style. Beyond the visual transformation, luxury vinyl plank offers outstanding performance for busy households. It is highly resistant to scratches, dents, moisture, and everyday wear, making it an excellent choice for families, children, and pets. It is also easy to clean and maintain, allowing homeowners to enjoy beautiful floors without the upkeep required by many traditional flooring materials. From demolition and floor preparation to the final installation and finishing details, our team focused on delivering quality craftsmanship and a smooth customer experience from start to finish. The result is a dramatic before-and-after transformation that not only improves the appearance of the home but also adds lasting value and everyday comfort. If you're considering replacing outdated flooring, luxury vinyl plank is one of the most popular choices for Arizona homeowners thanks to its durability, realistic wood appearance, low maintenance, and excellent performance in our climate. This project is a great example of how new flooring can completely transform the look and feel of a home.

Home conversions from a single-family home to a mother/daughter home may be just what your family needs to cut costs or care for an aging parent. You must designate two distinct living areas with two separate entrances in your home for the independence and privacy of your aging parents. The majority of floor plans are not ideal for mother-daughter living, so trust the professionals at Cavalier Homes Inc. to perform a transformative mother/daughter home conversion that will give your family two separate living spaces. Since many people are unfamiliar with the term, a mother-daughter home is simply a house with separate living spaces, such as two bathrooms, two bedrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, etc. Even though the extended family lives under one roof, they appear to be divided between two houses. However, if one member of the family requires the assistance of another in an emergency, such as an elderly parent falling, the other family members can respond quickly. A mother/daughter home is not the same as a duplex or a single-family home with an in-law suite. A mother/daughter conversion creates completely separate living quarters for the family. A mother-daughter home can be arranged in a variety of ways, and many different kinds of families could benefit from it. For instance, the most typical arrangement for mother-daughter homes is for elderly parents to live with their adult child and their family. The elderly parent retains their independence and dignity in this type of mother-daughter home while also having access to a lot of assistance from their adult children. In addition, a family with a son or daughter who has recently graduated from college but isn’t quite ready to buy or rent a living space of their own would profit from a mother/daughter conversion. They receive a separate living space so they can live independently, even though they are technically still living with their parents. No matter what your family’s particular requirements are, Cavalier Homes can make a mother/daughter conversion of your house to meet everyone’s needs and preferences. Our design experts can create two separate spaces for the two distinct personalities or families that live in them, all while maintaining the cohesion that binds the mother/daughter home together. Your home is your calling card, and your happiness is our greatest goal, as well as our greatest pleasure. Our qualified professionals in West Islip, Long Island can help you with your mother/daughter conversion or any type of home remodeling project. Call us at 631-422-9138 or email us at cavalierhomes@aol.com to set up a meeting to discuss your needs and how we can help you meet them.

Home conversions from a single-family home to a mother/daughter home may be just what your family needs to cut costs or care for an aging parent. You must designate two distinct living areas with two separate entrances in your home for the independence and privacy of your aging parents. The majority of floor plans are not ideal for mother-daughter living, so trust the professionals at Cavalier Homes Inc. to perform a transformative mother/daughter home conversion that will give your family two separate living spaces. Since many people are unfamiliar with the term, a mother-daughter home is simply a house with separate living spaces, such as two bathrooms, two bedrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, etc. Even though the extended family lives under one roof, they appear to be divided between two houses. However, if one member of the family requires the assistance of another in an emergency, such as an elderly parent falling, the other family members can respond quickly. A mother/daughter home is not the same as a duplex or a single-family home with an in-law suite. A mother/daughter conversion creates completely separate living quarters for the family. A mother-daughter home can be arranged in a variety of ways, and many different kinds of families could benefit from it. For instance, the most typical arrangement for mother-daughter homes is for elderly parents to live with their adult child and their family. The elderly parent retains their independence and dignity in this type of mother-daughter home while also having access to a lot of assistance from their adult children. In addition, a family with a son or daughter who has recently graduated from college but isn’t quite ready to buy or rent a living space of their own would profit from a mother/daughter conversion. They receive a separate living space so they can live independently, even though they are technically still living with their parents. No matter what your family’s particular requirements are, Cavalier Homes can make a mother/daughter conversion of your house to meet everyone’s needs and preferences. Our design experts can create two separate spaces for the two distinct personalities or families that live in them, all while maintaining the cohesion that binds the mother/daughter home together. Your home is your calling card, and your happiness is our greatest goal, as well as our greatest pleasure. Our qualified professionals in West Islip, Long Island can help you with your mother/daughter conversion or any type of home remodeling project. Call us at 631-422-9138 or email us at cavalierhomes@aol.com to set up a meeting to discuss your needs and how we can help you meet them.

Home conversions from a single-family home to a mother/daughter home may be just what your family needs to cut costs or care for an aging parent. You must designate two distinct living areas with two separate entrances in your home for the independence and privacy of your aging parents. The majority of floor plans are not ideal for mother-daughter living, so trust the professionals at Cavalier Homes Inc. to perform a transformative mother/daughter home conversion that will give your family two separate living spaces. Since many people are unfamiliar with the term, a mother-daughter home is simply a house with separate living spaces, such as two bathrooms, two bedrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, etc. Even though the extended family lives under one roof, they appear to be divided between two houses. However, if one member of the family requires the assistance of another in an emergency, such as an elderly parent falling, the other family members can respond quickly. A mother/daughter home is not the same as a duplex or a single-family home with an in-law suite. A mother/daughter conversion creates completely separate living quarters for the family. A mother-daughter home can be arranged in a variety of ways, and many different kinds of families could benefit from it. For instance, the most typical arrangement for mother-daughter homes is for elderly parents to live with their adult child and their family. The elderly parent retains their independence and dignity in this type of mother-daughter home while also having access to a lot of assistance from their adult children. In addition, a family with a son or daughter who has recently graduated from college but isn’t quite ready to buy or rent a living space of their own would profit from a mother/daughter conversion. They receive a separate living space so they can live independently, even though they are technically still living with their parents. No matter what your family’s particular requirements are, Cavalier Homes can make a mother/daughter conversion of your house to meet everyone’s needs and preferences. Our design experts can create two separate spaces for the two distinct personalities or families that live in them, all while maintaining the cohesion that binds the mother/daughter home together. Your home is your calling card, and your happiness is our greatest goal, as well as our greatest pleasure. Our qualified professionals in West Islip, Long Island can help you with your mother/daughter conversion or any type of home remodeling project. Call us at 631-422-9138 or email us at cavalierhomes@aol.com to set up a meeting to discuss your needs and how we can help you meet them.

Home conversions from a single-family home to a mother/daughter home may be just what your family needs to cut costs or care for an aging parent. You must designate two distinct living areas with two separate entrances in your home for the independence and privacy of your aging parents. The majority of floor plans are not ideal for mother-daughter living, so trust the professionals at Cavalier Homes Inc. to perform a transformative mother/daughter home conversion that will give your family two separate living spaces. Since many people are unfamiliar with the term, a mother-daughter home is simply a house with separate living spaces, such as two bathrooms, two bedrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, etc. Even though the extended family lives under one roof, they appear to be divided between two houses. However, if one member of the family requires the assistance of another in an emergency, such as an elderly parent falling, the other family members can respond quickly. A mother/daughter home is not the same as a duplex or a single-family home with an in-law suite. A mother/daughter conversion creates completely separate living quarters for the family. A mother-daughter home can be arranged in a variety of ways, and many different kinds of families could benefit from it. For instance, the most typical arrangement for mother-daughter homes is for elderly parents to live with their adult child and their family. The elderly parent retains their independence and dignity in this type of mother-daughter home while also having access to a lot of assistance from their adult children. In addition, a family with a son or daughter who has recently graduated from college but isn’t quite ready to buy or rent a living space of their own would profit from a mother/daughter conversion. They receive a separate living space so they can live independently, even though they are technically still living with their parents. No matter what your family’s particular requirements are, Cavalier Homes can make a mother/daughter conversion of your house to meet everyone’s needs and preferences. Our design experts can create two separate spaces for the two distinct personalities or families that live in them, all while maintaining the cohesion that binds the mother/daughter home together. Your home is your calling card, and your happiness is our greatest goal, as well as our greatest pleasure. Our qualified professionals in West Islip, Long Island can help you with your mother/daughter conversion or any type of home remodeling project. Call us at 631-422-9138 or email us at cavalierhomes@aol.com to set up a meeting to discuss your needs and how we can help you meet them.

This is the Vanity from our Master Suite Reconfiguration Project in Tribeca, seen from inside the Shower Room. Waterworks 'Henry' Fixtures were used throughout in Burnished Brass, which will age beautifully over time. Our GC developed a custom medicine cabinet with a metal frame to match the fixtures perfectly. Shaker Panels with a stepped detail, metal frames & applied mouldings set up a perfectly proportioned composition. The custom vanity was topped with a Neolith Estatuario product that has the look and feel of natural Statuary Stone, but better performance from a hardness and porosity point of view. Kelly Wearstler 'Utopia' Sconces and Shades of Light 'Moravian Star' surface lights were chosen to add a bit of flair to the understated transitional aesthetic of the project. Emtek Hexagon knobs in French Antique were used to match throughout, as well. Our GC commissioned the custom metal shower door & frame in oil-rubbed bronze onto which we fastened our custom Ochre door pull with blackened steel bar and bronze knuckle. Porcelanosa 'Persian White' was used for the shower wall and floor border, while Kelly Wearstler's 'Liason' tile for Ann Sacks was inset on the floor and in the wall niches.

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