Homeowners may enjoy the view and natural light more with reduced heat and glare with window film installed Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Large elegant formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in New York with yellow walls, no fireplace and no tv

John Stillman Photography
Contemporary white two-story exterior home idea in Miami

Photos By; Nate Grant
Design ideas for a contemporary side yard wood fence landscaping in Portland.

Homeowner’s kitchen with reduced glare while maintaining the natural light Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Homeowners may enjoy the view and natural light more with reduced heat and glare with window film installed Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of an eclectic family room design in Toronto

Modern Mid-Century home with floor to ceiling windows Maintains the view with natural light with reduced glare Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Inspiration for a large contemporary living room remodel in Los Angeles

Window film installed on residential windows can help homeowners enjoy the view of the water with reduced heat and glare Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a mid-sized 1960s formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in San Diego with yellow walls, no fireplace and no tv

Chris Little Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Atlanta with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige walls and a niche

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architect: Swan Architecture | Interiors: Katie Redpath Constable | Landscaping: Bechler Landscapes | Photography: Landmark Photography

Homeowner’s kitchen with reduced glare while maintaining the natural light Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a classic medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Window film installed on residential windows can help homeowners enjoy the view of the water with reduced heat and glare Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a mid-sized eclectic single-wall dark wood floor wet bar design in Minneapolis with glass countertops

Hallway - huge transitional dark wood floor and brown floor hallway idea in Orlando with beige walls

Example of a transitional white tile alcove shower design in DC Metro with white cabinets, gray walls and gray countertops

Homeowners may enjoy the view and natural light more with reduced heat and glare after window film is installed. Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Living room - mid-sized traditional enclosed dark wood floor living room idea in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

This master bathroom has everything you need to get you ready for the day. The beautiful backsplash has a mixture of brown tones that add dimension and texture to the focal wall. The lighting blends well with the other bathroom fixtures and the cabinets provide plenty of storage while demonstrating a simply beautiful style. Brad Knipstein was the photographer.

Homeowner’s kitchen with reduced glare while maintaining the natural light Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Inspiration for a large timeless single-wall eat-in kitchen remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Dallas

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master white tile marble floor drop-in bathtub remodel in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink, white walls, quartz countertops and white countertops

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