Entry. Photography by Floyd Dean, Dean Digital Imaging Inc. ©2016
Transitional dark wood floor foyer photo in Philadelphia with white walls and a glass front door

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Large beach style u-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Out of State Custom Home HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Outdoor Living Environment athome A-List Award 2013 - Finalist - Residential Architecture < 7,000 sq. ft. NY Cottages and Gardens Innovation in Design Award - Finalist - Architecture Charles Hilton Architects Photography: Woodruff Brown

Example of a large minimalist l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, stainless steel countertops, stainless steel appliances, two islands, gray cabinets, gray backsplash and gray countertops

Angle Eye Photography
Large country open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room library photo in Philadelphia with beige walls, no tv, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Inspiration for a small timeless u-shaped dark wood floor seated home bar remodel in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, multicolored backsplash and mosaic tile backsplash

Angle Eye Photography
Large elegant enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Philadelphia with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and white walls

Angle Eye Photography
Large elegant u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, beige walls, an island, gray backsplash and white countertops

A custom library ladder works in the Kitchen and also the Living Room. John Wilbanks Photography
Example of an arts and crafts single-wall kitchen design in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

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

Photography by Brad Knipstein
Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite countertops, yellow backsplash, terra-cotta backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a small trendy dark wood floor and brown floor foyer design in Denver with blue walls and a dark wood front door

Seth Hannula
Bathroom - traditional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and white floor bathroom idea in Minneapolis with a pedestal sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and gray walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Photo of a shabby-chic style shade landscaping in New York.

Bliss Garden Design

Michael Baxley
Inspiration for a large timeless medium tone wood floor great room remodel in Little Rock with white walls and no fireplace

We decided on a retro look for our new kitchen with lots of display shelving, happy colors, laminate counters (no cracking!), a chubby old stove, period details and “linoleum” flooring.

Example of a large transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in New York with no fireplace and multicolored walls

Living room - mid-sized contemporary open concept living room idea in New York with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, no tv and beige walls