1950s living room library photo in San Francisco with blue walls, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace and no tv

Anne Buskirk
Living room - contemporary look-out light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Indianapolis with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace

A machined hood, custom stainless cabinetry and exposed ducting harkens to a commercial vibe. The 5'x10' marble topped island wears many hats. It serves as a large work surface, tons of storage, informal seating, and a visual line that separates the eating and cooking areas. Photo by Lincoln Barber

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

Modern glass house set in the landscape evokes a midcentury vibe. A modern gas fireplace divides the living area with a polished concrete floor from the greenhouse with a gravel floor. The frame is painted steel with aluminum sliding glass door. The front features a green roof with native grasses and the rear is covered with a glass roof. Photo by: Peter Vanderwarker Photography

Circle Ten Media
Trendy light wood floor living room photo in Miami with gray walls

Christian J Anderson Photography
Mid-sized mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Seattle with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Michael J. Lee
Living room - large transitional open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Boston with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a large rustic enclosed carpeted and gray floor home theater remodel in Salt Lake City with blue walls

Beau Meyer Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless enclosed carpeted and multicolored floor family room remodel with brown walls and no fireplace

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Bedroom - industrial bedroom idea in New York with white walls

Photos by Vic Moss, Moss Photography
Elegant open concept kitchen photo in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, blue walls and a wall-mounted tv

Major gut renovation of this coastal estate preserved its basic layout while expanding the kitchen. A veranda and a pair of gazebos were also added to the home to maximize outdoor living and the water views. The interior merged the homeowners eclectic style with the traditional style of the home. Photographer: James R. Salomon Contractor: Carl Anderson, Anderson Contracting Services

Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Custom Furniture Design, AV Design, Landscape Architecture, & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Ball & Albanese

A gorgeous living room designed for an equestrian family in Wellington, FL. Hermes accents. Sectional by B&B Italia. Side chair by Knoll. Side tables by Knoll. Rug by NIBA. Custom drapery. Vintage coffee table. Barstools provided by client. Krista Watterworth Design Studio in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Home in Wellington Florida. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray Photography by Jessica Glynn.

Example of a danish medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Los Angeles with white walls

Rebecca McAlpin Photography
Living room - mid-sized 1950s slate floor living room idea in Philadelphia with no fireplace, a standard ceiling and blue walls

California Closets
Trendy dressing room photo in DC Metro