photos by Trina Roberts 949.395.8341 trina@grinphotography.com www.grinphotography.com
Inspiration for a coastal exterior home remodel in Orange County

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

Megan Gibbons Photography
Inspiration for a large craftsman beige two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof remodel in DC Metro

Jeri Koegel - 949-584-8525
Inspiration for a southwestern stucco exterior home remodel in Orange County

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project along with replacing the lawn with CA native and low water plants and a total renovation. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

A young family moving from NYC tackled a lightning fast makeover of their new colonial revival home before the arrival of their second child. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and new layout. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by grey glazed rift oak cabinetry on the island. Shiplap paneling on the island and cabinet lend a slightly contemporary edge. White bronze hardware by Schaub & Co. in a contemporary bar shape offer clean lines with some texture in a warm metallic tone. White Marble countertops in “Alpine Mist” create a harmonious color palette while the pale blue/grey Waterworks backsplash adds a touch of color. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator--Subzero; Ovens--Wolf. Cooktop--Gaggenau. Hardware--Schaub & Company. Sink--Kohler Strive. Sink faucet--Rohl. Tile--Waterworks. Stools--Palacek. Flooring—Sota Floors. Window treatments: www.horizonshades.com in “Northbrook Birch.” Photography Adam Kane Macchia.

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Minimalist gray two-story exterior home photo in San Francisco

For this traditional kitchen remodel the clients chose Fieldstone cabinets in the Bainbridge door in Cherry wood with Toffee stain. This gave the kitchen a timeless warm look paired with the great new Fusion Max flooring in Chambord. Fusion Max flooring is a great real wood alternative. The flooring has the look and texture of actual wood while providing all the durability of a vinyl floor. This flooring is also more affordable than real wood. It looks fantastic! (Stop in our showroom to see it in person!) The Cambria quartz countertops in Canterbury add a natural stone look with the easy maintenance of quartz. We installed a built in butcher block section to the island countertop to make a great prep station for the cook using the new 36” commercial gas range top. We built a big new walkin pantry and installed plenty of shelving and countertop space for storage.

Nestled along the base of the Snake River, this house in Jackson, WY, is surrounded by nature. Design emphasis has been placed on carefully located views to the Grand Tetons, Munger Mountain, Cody Peak and Josie’s Ridge. This modern take on a farmhouse features painted clapboard siding, raised seam metal roofing, and reclaimed stone walls. Designed for an active young family, the house has multi-functional rooms with spaces for entertaining, play and numerous connections to the outdoors. Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy

This spacious kitchen in Westchester County is flooded with light from huge windows on 3 sides of the kitchen plus two skylights in the vaulted ceiling. The dated kitchen was gutted and reconfigured to accommodate this large kitchen with crisp white cabinets and walls. Ship lap paneling on both walls and ceiling lends a casual-modern charm while stainless steel toe kicks, walnut accents and Pietra Cardosa limestone bring both cool and warm tones to this clean aesthetic. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry, built ins, walnut countertops and paneling by Studio Dearborn. Architect Frank Marsella. Interior design finishes by Tami Wassong Interior Design. Pietra cardosa limestone countertops and backsplash by Marble America. Appliances by Subzero; range hood insert by Best. Cabinetry color: Benjamin Moore Super White. Hardware by Top Knobs. Photography Adam Macchia.

Inspiration for a 1960s light wood floor and beige floor utility room remodel in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multicolored walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Builder: Highmark Builders Inc; Photographers: Spacecrafting Photography; Window Film Installations by Solar Shield, Inc.
Example of a huge arts and crafts side yard balcony design in Minneapolis with no cover

The cell phone storage and charger station has 4 electrical outlets built in for phone and ipad charging, key storage, and a writing surface. Interior and exterior panels are magnetic white board. c 2011 Sarah Robertson Dearborn Cabinetry LLC

Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Baltimore.

After installation of LoE 366 energy saving replacement windows. The windows come with a lifetime warranty and will pay for themselves in reduced energy usage. Jeremy Sharrock

Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, an undermount sink, white cabinets, white countertops and no island

Builder: Highmark Builders Inc; Photographers: Spacecrafting Photography; Window Film Installations by Solar Shield, Inc.
Large craftsman brown three-story wood gable roof idea in Minneapolis

Underutilized attic space was transformed into a beautiful dressing room. Working with the builder, we coordinated necessary details to transform the client's space into a work of art, the homeowner never wants to leave. Scott Janelli Photography, Bridgewater NJ