Family room - farmhouse family room idea in Salt Lake City

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

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian 3/4 white tile and subway tile slate floor and black floor bathroom remodel in Houston with furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

MVB.
Example of a transitional living room design in Seattle

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Bob Ganser AIA, Nate Dodge Photographer: Alyssa Lee www.alyssaleephotography.com
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Orange County

Stacy Zarin-Goldberg
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized craftsman single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, glass tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

Garage - mid-sized traditional two-car garage idea in Atlanta

SpaceCrafting Real Estate Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional white two-story wood gable roof design in Minneapolis

Q: Which of these floors are made of actual "Hardwood" ? A: None. They are actually Luxury Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring skillfully engineered for homeowners who desire authentic design that can withstand the test of time. We brought together the beauty of realistic textures and inspiring visuals that meet all your lifestyle demands. Ultimate Dent Protection – commercial-grade protection against dents, scratches, spills, stains, fading and scrapes. Award-Winning Designs – vibrant, realistic visuals with multi-width planks for a custom look. 100% Waterproof* – perfect for any room including kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms and basements. Easy Installation – locking planks with cork underlayment easily installs over most irregular subfloors and no acclimation is needed for most installations. Coordinating trim and molding available.

Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Photo of a small contemporary backyard stone garden path in Orange County.

click here to see BEFORE photos / AFTER photos
Mid-sized eclectic l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, quartz countertops, red backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets and beige cabinets

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2017 Houzz
Kitchen - eclectic kitchen idea in New Orleans

Craftsman exterior home idea in Chicago

Example of a tuscan kitchen design in Houston

Michael Lee
Example of an eclectic living room design in Boston

This outdoor space featured impressive architectural bones, anchored by a fireplace that naturally demanded attention as the primary focal point. However, the area lacked the essential furnishings, warmth, and cohesion required to function as a truly comfortable gathering spot. Our design goal was to create a functional seating arrangement for six while establishing a welcoming, inviting atmosphere through layered textures and intentional accessories. A unique aspect of this project was the client’s firm preference for metal outdoor furniture, which they preferred to source locally. We embraced this as a collaborative opportunity; I provided expert guidance on furniture selection and precise sizing to ensure the layout flowed exactly as envisioned, blending their choices seamlessly into the design. To ground the seating arrangement and soften the surrounding hard surfaces, we selected an outdoor rug in warm brown and gold tones. This addition introduced immediate visual warmth and clearly defined the conversation area. Finally, we incorporated accent pillows in soft cream and rich indigo blue to provide a sophisticated contrast that intentionally echoes the home's surroundings. We are delighted to announce that this outdoor retreat was honored with 2nd Place in the People's Choice Awards for Outdoor Spaces. At Clark Team Designs, we believe in "Real-Life Luxury", creating homes that work as beautifully as they look. By managing the details with our signature methodical process, we ensured this transformation was an effortless and enjoyable experience for our clients.

Part mirage, part miracle - this masterful modern evocation is in the best Louisiana vernacular tradition. It was conceived by architect Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects Lafayette, Louisiana) for an unusual piece of property in Metairie whose cheated landscape gives the illusion of open country spaces. He has created a “cottage” that already looks as if it might be a survivor from a couple of centuries ago. Using reclaimed building materials, magnificent beams, beautiful old flooring with classically scaled rooms, it was a perfect project for Decorations Lucullus. Both architect and interior designers admit the real magic rested with the client whose highly developed aesthetic and extensive experience in design gave the process amazing vitality. Conceived as a “résidence secondaire” to be near grandchildren, she wanted something more snug than her large primary house out of town but without sacrificing the qualities of charm or elegance. While the project is still evolving, she can’t repress a smile when some passer-by stops to chat over the rose-heavy iron fence, perhaps peering into the gracious side hall, asking how this old house has managed to survive all the changes in the neighborhood. Photography by Sara Essex Bradly

Part mirage, part miracle - this masterful modern evocation is in the best Louisiana vernacular tradition. It was conceived by architect Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects Lafayette, Louisiana) for an unusual piece of property in Metairie whose cheated landscape gives the illusion of open country spaces. He has created a “cottage” that already looks as if it might be a survivor from a couple of centuries ago. Using reclaimed building materials, magnificent beams, beautiful old flooring with classically scaled rooms, it was a perfect project for Decorations Lucullus. Both architect and interior designers admit the real magic rested with the client whose highly developed aesthetic and extensive experience in design gave the process amazing vitality. Conceived as a “résidence secondaire” to be near grandchildren, she wanted something more snug than her large primary house out of town but without sacrificing the qualities of charm or elegance. While the project is still evolving, she can’t repress a smile when some passer-by stops to chat over the rose-heavy iron fence, perhaps peering into the gracious side hall, asking how this old house has managed to survive all the changes in the neighborhood. Photography by Sara Essex Bradly