This one-room sunroom addition is connected to both an existing wood deck, as well as the dining room inside. As part of the project, the homeowners replaced the deck flooring material with composite decking, which gave us the opportunity to run that material into the addition as well, giving the room a seamless indoor / outdoor transition. We also designed the space to be surrounded with windows on three sides, as well as glass doors and skylights, flooding the interior with natural light and giving the homeowners the visual connection to the outside which they so desired. The addition, 12'-0" wide x 21'-6" long, has enabled the family to enjoy the outdoors both in the early spring, as well as into the fall, and has become a wonderful gathering space for the family and their guests.

Example of a mid-sized transitional open concept light wood floor living room design in Boston with beige walls and no fireplace

John Klycinski
Drop-in bathtub - transitional gray tile drop-in bathtub idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Mid-sized transitional enclosed and formal medium tone wood floor living room photo in DC Metro with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Off Black bookcase with aged brass hardware
Mid-sized transitional open concept light wood floor and beige floor family room photo in Dublin with no tv

Living room - transitional living room idea in San Francisco with gray walls and a standard fireplace

A cozy rustic modern living room blends natural wood, stone accents, and large windows to showcase breathtaking mountain views, creating a sustainable and luxurious retreat.

Large trendy multicolored two-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Seattle with a metal roof

Lower level cabana. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Patio kitchen - small contemporary backyard concrete patio kitchen idea in Seattle with a roof extension

Family room - contemporary carpeted and beige floor family room idea in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Tuscan medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Orange County with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Joshua Drake Photography
Living room - transitional formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room idea in Charleston with beige walls and a standard fireplace

Example of a large minimalist open concept porcelain tile and beige floor living room design in Orange County with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and a tv stand

Ben Hill
Trendy open concept light wood floor living room photo in Houston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

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

Nat Rea
Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Other with brown walls, no fireplace and no tv

Living room - coastal carpeted living room idea in Seattle with a standard fireplace, no tv and beige walls

Robyn Ivy Photography www.robynivy.com
Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern open concept medium tone wood floor family room design in Providence with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a tv stand