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

Jim Bartsch
Inspiration for a contemporary two-story exterior home remodel in Denver

Architecture by Anders Lasater Architects. Interior Design and Landscape Design by Exotica Design Group. Photos by Jeri Koegel.
Example of a 1950s bamboo floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

The shower includes dual shower areas, four body spray tiles (two on each side) and a large glass surround keeping the uncluttered theme for the room while still offering privacy with an etched “belly band” around the perimeter. The etching is only on the outside of the glass with the inside being kept smooth for cleaning purposes. The end result is a bathroom that is luxurious and light, with nothing extraneous to distract the eye. The peaceful and quiet ambiance that the room exudes hit exactly the mark that the clients were looking for.

Photography by Brian Bookstrucker
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Calgary with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

McCabe + McCabe Design
Beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Toronto

Cottage bathroom photo in Portland

Driveway approach to this custom REEF built Cape style home on the northside of Cape Cod
Mid-sized traditional gray two-story wood gable roof idea in Boston

Discover inspiration for a serene and stylish Fort Greene Modern Scandinavian living room featuring a comfortable blue sectional, a curated gallery wall, and a harmonious blend of natural light and materials. This space exemplifies minimalist elegance with functional design, perfect for urban living.

Inspiration for a coastal master beige tile beige floor drop-in bathtub remodel in San Francisco with dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls and an undermount sink

This house was a 50 year old outdated Cape Cod. With some easy, budget friendly rennovations the house went from outdated to right on trend. Enjoy, and feel free to contact me with any questions or requests. Thank you. Rebecca Segar

glass backsplash, light color wood, travertine floor; modern kitchen, white quartz counter top,
Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Miami with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Rick Ricozzi Photography
Transitional dark wood floor kitchen photo in Wilmington with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

First impressions count! Glass Front Entry Doors that Make a Statement! Your front entry door is the first thing people see and glass front doors by Sans Soucie featuring frosted, etched glass designs create a unique, custom effect while also providing privacy AND light! A little or a lot, your front door glass will be obscure and private without sacrificing sunlight! Available any size, all glass doors are custom made to order and ship worldwide at reasonable prices. Door glass for exterior front entry will be tempered, dual pane (an equally efficient single 1/2" thick pane is used in our fiberglass doors). Selling both the glass inserts for front doors as well as doors with glass, Sans Soucie art glass entry doors are available in 8 woods and Plastpro fiberglass in both smooth surface or a grain texture, as a slab door or prehung in the jamb - any size. From simple frosted glass effects to our more extravagant 3D sculpture carved, painted and stained glass .. and everything in between, Sans Soucie designs are sandblasted different ways which create not only different effects but different levels in price. The "same design, done different" - with no limit to design, there's something for every decor, any style. Price will vary by design complexity and type of effect: Specialty Glass and Frosted Glass. Inside our fun, easy to use online Glass and Door Designer, you'll get instant pricing on everything as YOU customize your front door and glass! When you're all finished designing, you can place your order online! We're here to answer any questions you have so please call (877) 331-339 to speak to a knowledgeable representative! Doors ship worldwide at reasonable prices from Palm Desert, California with delivery time ranges between 3-8 weeks depending on door material and glass effect selected. (Doug Fir or Fiberglass in Frosted Effects allow 3 weeks, Specialty Woods and Glass [2D, 3D, Leaded] will require approx. 8 weeks).

Soak your senses in a tranquil spa environment with sophisticated bathroom furniture from Dura Supreme. Coordinate an entire collection of bath cabinetry and furniture and customize it for your particular needs to create an environment that always looks put together and beautifully styled. Any combination of Dura Supreme’s many cabinet door styles, wood species, and finishes can be selected to create a one-of a-kind bath furniture collection. A double sink vanity creates personal space for two, while drawer stacks create convenient storage to keep your bath uncluttered and organized. This soothing at-home retreat features Dura Supreme’s “Style One” furniture series. Style One offers 15 different configurations (for single sink vanities, double sink vanities, or offset sinks) and multiple decorative toe options to create a personal environment that reflects your individual style. On this example, a matching decorative toe element coordinates the vanity and linen cabinets. The bathroom has evolved from its purist utilitarian roots to a more intimate and reflective sanctuary in which to relax and reconnect. A refreshing spa-like environment offers a brisk welcome at the dawning of a new day or a soothing interlude as your day concludes. Our busy and hectic lifestyles leave us yearning for a private place where we can truly relax and indulge. With amenities that pamper the senses and design elements inspired by luxury spas, bathroom environments are being transformed from the mundane and utilitarian to the extravagant and luxurious. Bath cabinetry from Dura Supreme offers myriad design directions to create the personal harmony and beauty that are a hallmark of the bath sanctuary. Immerse yourself in our expansive palette of finishes and wood species to discover the look that calms your senses and soothes your soul. Your Dura Supreme designer will guide you through the selections and transform your bath into a beautiful retreat. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Architect: David Kotzebue / Photography: Paul Dyer
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary partial sun backyard formal garden in San Francisco with no cover for spring.

When full-time Massachusetts residents contemplate building a second home in Telluride, Colorado the question immediately arises; does it make most sense to hire a regionally based Rocky Mountain architect or a sea level architect conveniently located for all of the rigorous collaboration required for successful bespoke home design. Determined to prove the latter true, Siemasko + Verbridge accompanied the potential client as they scoured the undulating Telluride landscape in search of the perfect house site. The selected site’s harmonious balance of untouched meadow rising up to meet the edge of an aspen grove and the opposing 180 degree view of Wilson’s Range spoke to everyone. A plateau just beyond a fork in the meadow provided a natural flatland, requiring little excavation and yet the right amount of upland slope to capture the views. The intrinsic character of the site was only enriched by an elk trail and snake-rail fence. Establishing the expanse of Wilson’s range would be best served by rejecting the notion of selected views, the central sweeping curve of the roof inverts a small saddle in the range with which it is perfectly aligned. The soaring wave of custom windows and the open floor plan make the relatively modest house feel sizable despite its footprint of just under 2,000 square feet. Officially a two bedroom home, the bunk room and loft allow the home to comfortably sleep ten, encouraging large gatherings of family and friends. The home is completely off the grid in response to the unique and fragile qualities of the landscape. Great care was taken to respect the regions vernacular through the use of mostly native materials and a palette derived from the terrain found at 9,820 feet above sea level. Photographer: Gibeon Photography

We turned a narrow Victorian into a family-friendly home. CREDITS Architecture: John Lum Architecture Interior Design: Mansfield + O’Neil Contractor: Christopher Gate Construction Styling: Yedda Morrison Photography: John Merkl