Photography by Keen Eye Marketing
Small transitional gray tile and white tile dark wood floor and brown floor alcove shower photo in Charleston with a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a pedestal sink and a hinged shower 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. Eric Roth Photo

Builder: Thompson Properties, Interior Designer: Allard & Roberts Interior Design, Cabinetry: Advance Cabinetry, Countertops: Mountain Marble & Granite, Lighting Fixtures: Lux Lighting and Allard & Roberts, Doors: Sun Mountain Door, Plumbing & Appliances: Ferguson, Door & Cabinet Hardware: Bella Hardware & Bath Photography: David Dietrich Photography

Cottage home design photo in Wiltshire

The Watermill House is a beautiful example of a classic Hamptons wood shingle style home. The design and renovation would maintain the character of the exterior while transforming the interiors to create an open and airy getaway for a busy and active family. The house comfortably sits within its one acre lot surrounded by tall hedges, old growth trees, and beautiful hydrangeas. The landscape influenced the design approach of the main floor interiors. Walls were removed and the kitchen was relocated to the front of the house to create an open plan for better flow and views to both the front and rear yards. The kitchen was designed to be both practical and beautiful. The u-shape design features modern appliances, white cabinetry and Corian countertops, and is anchored by a beautiful island with a knife-edge marble countertop. The island and the dining room table create a strong axis to the living room at the rear of the house. To further strengthen the connection to the outdoor decks and pool area of the rear yard, a full height sliding glass window system was installed. The clean lines and modern profiles of the window frames create unobstructed views and virtually remove the barrier between the interior and exterior spaces. The open plan allowed a new sitting area to be created between the dining room and stair. A screen, comprised of vertical fins, allows for a degree of openness, while creating enough separation to make the sitting area feel comfortable and nestled in its own area. The stair at the entry of the house was redesigned to match the new elegant and sophisticated spaces connected to it. New treads were installed to articulate and contrast the soft palette of finishes of the floors, walls, and ceilings. The new metal and glass handrail was intended to reduce visual noise and create subtle reflections of light. Photo by Guillaume Gaudet

This Craftsman home gives you 5,292 square feet of heated living space spread across its three levels as follows: 1,964 sq. ft. Main Floor 1,824 sq. ft. Upper Floor 1,504 sq. ft. Lower Level Higlights include the 2 story great room on the main floor. Laundry on upper floor. An indoor sports court so you can practice your 3-point shot. The plans are available in print, PDF and CAD. And we can modify them to suit your needs. Where do YOU want to build? Plan Link: http://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plan-73333HS.asp

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

We packed all of the luxuries of a larger home into this compact urban apartment renovation. From the spaceous kitchen/living room to the sophisticated bathroom, this small home has it all. We removed walls to open up the kitchen into the large living and dining room, perfect for entertaining. The kitchen includes full size stainless steel appliances, porcelain floor tile, quartz countertops, a glass tile mosaic backsplash, and custom Shaker style island and cabinets in a white satin finish. Midway through the project we decided to install a new through the wall integrated heating and air-conditioning (PTAC) system incorporating the building steam system, which required building and architectural approval. By removing the window air conditioners, we completely improved the light and aesthetic. Tapping into the building's steam heat system also saves money. For another budget saver, we dressed up its factory metal cover by wrapping the baseboard around it.

On the rear of the house was a two story screen porch running 3/4 the length of the house. On the first floor we reduced the porch size by half, to relocate the new kitchen. We enclosed the entire second floor vaulted area of the screen porch to create a new walk in closet off the existing master bedroom. We also added a new modern bathroom for my client. She decided on two separate vanities with illuminated and anti-fog mirrors. A corner shower with hand head shower head was created and a new toilet added.

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Insights, vistas, perspectives. This private house in France can be divided into two clear architectural axes – inside and outside – fusing seamlessly together. Large window frontages as well as entrance and pool areas separated by solid wood struts play with light and shadow, now revealing now concealing. The modern building exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere while creating a harmonious the interplay of intimate homeliness and prestigious openness. The clear lines, handle-less fronts, and soft color scheme in the kitchen are very appealing. Everything revolves around the central island unit, which connects the functional area with sink and hob to an adjoining wooden table. As the very heart of the design, the cooking and dining island is deliberately reduced to essentials. Continuing the color concept and playing with the natural warmth of Highland oak and a light, softly matt frosty white, the large yet minimalist unit run with an integrated sideboard is a perfect fit.

Custom built peninsula reef aquarium designed as a room divider between the kitchen and dining areas of this New York home. The goal of the project was to create a functional architectural centerpiece while maintaining open sightlines throughout the space. The peninsula-style aquarium allows viewing from multiple angles and creates separation between the rooms without closing off the layout. This custom saltwater aquarium system includes remote filtration equipment located in the basement below, allowing for improved serviceability, reduced equipment noise, and a cleaner overall installation. Custom aquarium design, fabrication coordination, installation, and ongoing aquarium maintenance by Aqua Creations.

Insights, vistas, perspectives. This private house in France can be divided into two clear architectural axes – inside and outside – fusing seamlessly together. Large window frontages as well as entrance and pool areas separated by solid wood struts play with light and shadow, now revealing now concealing. The modern building exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere while creating a harmonious the interplay of intimate homeliness and prestigious openness. The clear lines, handle-less fronts, and soft color scheme in the kitchen are very appealing. Everything revolves around the central island unit, which connects the functional area with sink and hob to an adjoining wooden table. As the very heart of the design, the cooking and dining island is deliberately reduced to essentials. Continuing the color concept and playing with the natural warmth of Highland oak and a light, softly matt frosty white, the large yet minimalist unit run with an integrated sideboard is a perfect fit.

Ryan Bent
Inspiration for a cottage beige two-story wood gable roof remodel in Burlington with a metal roof

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

VICTORIAN HIGH TANK PULL CHAIN WHITE ELONGATED BOWL TOILET The old is the trendy now. People have started placing these vintage toilets in their bathroom for a traditional charm. All the materials used to manufacture this toilet are of highest quality - The one that lasts long! FEATURES Dark Oak Hardwood High Tank Traditional Tank with a Flat Front Panel White Elongated Grade A Vitreous China Toilet Bowl Protective RENO-GLOSS finish resists stains PERFECT-HEIGHT bowl reduces daily body strain Includes mounting hardware, supply line and angle stop Stainless Steel Rear Entry Pipes with Chrome plate Finish Adjustable overall height 70 in. to 74 in. and rough-in 12 in. to 15 in. Wooden Toilet seat is sold separately

Insights, vistas, perspectives. This private house in France can be divided into two clear architectural axes – inside and outside – fusing seamlessly together. Large window frontages as well as entrance and pool areas separated by solid wood struts play with light and shadow, now revealing now concealing. The modern building exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere while creating a harmonious the interplay of intimate homeliness and prestigious openness. The clear lines, handle-less fronts, and soft color scheme in the kitchen are very appealing. Everything revolves around the central island unit, which connects the functional area with sink and hob to an adjoining wooden table. As the very heart of the design, the cooking and dining island is deliberately reduced to essentials. Continuing the color concept and playing with the natural warmth of Highland oak and a light, softly matt frosty white, the large yet minimalist unit run with an integrated sideboard is a perfect fit.

Insights, vistas, perspectives. This private house in France can be divided into two clear architectural axes – inside and outside – fusing seamlessly together. Large window frontages as well as entrance and pool areas separated by solid wood struts play with light and shadow, now revealing now concealing. The modern building exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere while creating a harmonious the interplay of intimate homeliness and prestigious openness. The clear lines, handle-less fronts, and soft color scheme in the kitchen are very appealing. Everything revolves around the central island unit, which connects the functional area with sink and hob to an adjoining wooden table. As the very heart of the design, the cooking and dining island is deliberately reduced to essentials. Continuing the color concept and playing with the natural warmth of Highland oak and a light, softly matt frosty white, the large yet minimalist unit run with an integrated sideboard is a perfect fit.

Insights, vistas, perspectives. This private house in France can be divided into two clear architectural axes – inside and outside – fusing seamlessly together. Large window frontages as well as entrance and pool areas separated by solid wood struts play with light and shadow, now revealing now concealing. The modern building exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere while creating a harmonious the interplay of intimate homeliness and prestigious openness. The clear lines, handle-less fronts, and soft color scheme in the kitchen are very appealing. Everything revolves around the central island unit, which connects the functional area with sink and hob to an adjoining wooden table. As the very heart of the design, the cooking and dining island is deliberately reduced to essentials. Continuing the color concept and playing with the natural warmth of Highland oak and a light, softly matt frosty white, the large yet minimalist unit run with an integrated sideboard is a perfect fit.