Whole-House Sustainable Remodel and addition. The client-oriented design also achieved USGBC LEED Platinum Certification- fifth in the nation, first in the state of Michigan. Reevaluating and prioritizing true space needs and rethinking the floor plan allowed us to eliminate the formal places of the home and instead integrate those that really mattered to the homeowner- such as a unique Bike Staging area/mud room!

Whole-House Sustainable Remodel and addition. The client-oriented design also achieved USGBC LEED Platinum Certification- fifth in the nation, first in the state of Michigan. Reevaluating and prioritizing true space needs and rethinking the floor plan allowed us to eliminate the formal places of the home and instead integrate those that really mattered to the homeowner- such as a unique Bike Staging area/mud room!

Inspiration for a large country master medium tone wood floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Charlotte with beige walls

Whole-House Sustainable Remodel and addition. The client-oriented design also achieved USGBC LEED Platinum Certification- fifth in the nation, first in the state of Michigan. Reevaluating and prioritizing true space needs and rethinking the floor plan allowed us to eliminate the formal places of the home and instead integrate those that really mattered to the homeowner- such as a unique Bike Staging area/mud room!

Inspiration for a country dining room remodel in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a transitional open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, an island, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances 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

This home was a blend of modern and traditional, mixed finishes, classic subway tiles, and ceramic light fixtures. The kitchen was kept bright and airy with high-end appliances for the avid cook and homeschooling mother. As an animal loving family and owner of two furry creatures, we added a little whimsy with cat wallpaper in their laundry room.

Example of a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room design in Dallas with beige walls

Staircase - traditional wooden l-shaped wood railing staircase idea in Richmond with wooden risers

Transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room photo in DC Metro with black walls

This gem of a house was built in the 1950s, when its neighborhood undoubtedly felt remote. The university footprint has expanded in the 70 years since, however, and today this home sits on prime real estate—easy biking and reasonable walking distance to campus. When it went up for sale in 2017, it was largely unaltered. Our clients purchased it to renovate and resell, and while we all knew we'd need to add square footage to make it profitable, we also wanted to respect the neighborhood and the house’s own history. Swedes have a word that means “just the right amount”: lagom. It is a guiding philosophy for us at SYH, and especially applied in this renovation. Part of the soul of this house was about living in just the right amount of space. Super sizing wasn’t a thing in 1950s America. So, the solution emerged: keep the original rectangle, but add an L off the back. With no owner to design with and for, SYH created a layout to appeal to the masses. All public spaces are the back of the home--the new addition that extends into the property’s expansive backyard. A den and four smallish bedrooms are atypically located in the front of the house, in the original 1500 square feet. Lagom is behind that choice: conserve space in the rooms where you spend most of your time with your eyes shut. Put money and square footage toward the spaces in which you mostly have your eyes open. In the studio, we started calling this project the Mullet Ranch—business up front, party in the back. The front has a sleek but quiet effect, mimicking its original low-profile architecture street-side. It’s very Hoosier of us to keep appearances modest, we think. But get around to the back, and surprise! lofted ceilings and walls of windows. Gorgeous.

High in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, this majestic lodge was custom designed by MossCreek to provide rustic elegant living for the extended family of our clients. Featuring four spacious master suites, a massive great room with floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive porches, and a large family room with built-in bar, the home incorporates numerous spaces for sharing good times. Unique to this design is a large wrap-around porch on the main level, and four large distinct and private balconies on the upper level. This provides outdoor living for each of the four master suites. We hope you enjoy viewing the photos of this beautiful home custom designed by MossCreek. Photo by Todd Bush

Photo: Edmunds Studios Design: Angela Westmore, LLC
Kitchen - mid-sized traditional u-shaped brown floor kitchen idea in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored backsplash

Photography by Bernard Andre
Mid-sized trendy u-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

Patio - mediterranean patio idea in Houston with a bbq area

Angle Eye Photography
Bedroom - contemporary master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Philadelphia with white walls

Custom 2 sided single bed with built in storage and trundle bed. Recessed and surface mounted Kreon lighting fixtures throughout. Photo by Lauren Coleman Furniture by Holly Hunt

Whole-House Sustainable Remodel and addition. The client-oriented design also achieved USGBC LEED Platinum Certification- fifth in the nation, first in the state of Michigan. Reevaluating and prioritizing true space needs and rethinking the floor plan allowed us to eliminate the formal places of the home and instead integrate those that really mattered to the homeowner- such as a unique Bike Staging area/mud room!