Kelly: “It just transformed the whole house into something more casual, more farmhouse, more lived in and comfortable.” ************************************************************************* Standard fireplace surrounded by Carrera Marble Tile and accented with Grey painted wood paneling, hearth and trim. ************************************************************************* Buffalo Lumber specializes in Custom Milled, Factory Finished Wood Siding and Paneling. We ONLY do real wood.

Jack Michaud Photography
Example of a transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home studio design in Portland Maine with gray walls

Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in Atlanta

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Example of a trendy living room design in Salt Lake City

beautifully handcrafted, painted and glazed custom Amish cabinets.
Home design - cottage l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor home design idea with distressed cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, an island, raised-panel cabinets, soapstone countertops, gray backsplash and ceramic backsplash

Elegant formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Transitional family room photo in Atlanta

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic medium tone wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with brown walls

Alan Williams Photography
Shed - contemporary shed idea in London

Governor's House Master Bedroom by Lisa Tharp. 2019 Bulfinch Award - Interior Design. Photo by Michael J. Lee
Bedroom - coastal master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom idea with white walls

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless brick floor mudroom remodel in Philadelphia with gray walls and a white front door

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

Connie Anderson Photography
Example of a classic wooden u-shaped staircase design in Houston with painted risers

Woods by Cole and Sons tops our bestsellers list each and every month!
Staircase - scandinavian painted l-shaped staircase idea in Sussex with painted risers

Belathée Photography
Inspiration for a country dining room remodel in Seattle with white walls

Inspiration for a coastal white tile and subway tile bathroom remodel in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets and soapstone countertops

Mid-sized minimalist 3/4 gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and white floor alcove shower photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

The conversion of this iconic American barn into a Writer’s Studio was conceived of as a tranquil retreat with natural light and lush views to stimulate inspiration for both husband and wife. Originally used as a garage with two horse stalls, the existing stick framed structure provided a loft with ideal space and orientation for a secluded studio. Signature barn features were maintained and enhanced such as horizontal siding, trim, large barn doors, cupola, roof overhangs, and framing. New features added to compliment the contextual significance and sustainability aspect of the project were reclaimed lumber from a razed barn used as flooring, driftwood retrieved from the shores of the Hudson River used for trim, and distressing / wearing new wood finishes creating an aged look. Along with the efforts for maintaining the historic character of the barn, modern elements were also incorporated into the design to provide a more current ensemble based on its new use. Elements such a light fixtures, window configurations, plumbing fixtures and appliances were all modernized to appropriately represent the present way of life.

Living room - cottage living room idea