Dedicated laundry room - large traditional l-shaped ceramic tile dedicated laundry room idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls and a stacked washer/dryer

Small eclectic medium tone wood floor utility room photo in San Francisco with a stacked washer/dryer and white walls

Huge trendy master black and white tile and ceramic tile white floor freestanding bathtub photo in Cincinnati with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls and a vessel sink

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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Our Austin design studio gave this living room a bright and modern refresh. Project designed by Sara Barney’s Austin interior design studio BANDD DESIGN. They serve the entire Austin area and its surrounding towns, with an emphasis on Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/living-room-refresh/

Praised for its visually appealing, modern yet comfortable design, this Scottsdale residence took home the gold in the 2014 Design Awards from Professional Builder magazine. Built by Calvis Wyant Luxury Homes, the 5,877-square-foot residence features an open floor plan that includes Western Window Systems’ multi-slide pocket doors to allow for optimal inside-to-outside flow. Tropical influences such as covered patios, a pool, and reflecting ponds give the home a lush, resort-style feel.

Jessica Glynn Photography
Mid-sized beach style open concept light wood floor family room photo in Miami with no fireplace and white walls

A bedroom and a bathroom unit are presented as separate rooms
Trendy 3/4 light wood floor alcove shower photo in Seattle with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets and black walls

Master Bath and Shower Photograph by Gordon Beall
Inspiration for a timeless master white tile and ceramic tile marble floor freestanding bathtub remodel in DC Metro with white walls, marble countertops and a console sink

Walk-in closet - contemporary gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor walk-in closet idea in Dallas with open cabinets and brown cabinets

Inspiration for a farmhouse white one-story gable roof remodel in San Francisco

Roger Wade Studio
Family room - rustic open concept medium tone wood floor family room idea with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

photo by Seed Studio, editing by TR PhotoStudio
Photo of a small modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit.

Inspiration for a farmhouse white two-story gable roof remodel in San Francisco

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Dale R. Hubbard
Farmhouse two-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Denver

Echo Wall By Tech Lighting SKU# 700TDECS Vivid glass shade over white case glass inner cylinder suspended from a round base and highlighted with three satin nickel cylinder details. Provides ambient, up- and down-light.

A motorized sliding storage element crates distinct spaces within a compact 390 sf Manhattan apartment including a dedicated dressing room. The television rotates 360 degrees for view from the living room or spaces created around the sliding element.

High Res Media
Hallway - mid-sized mediterranean terra-cotta tile hallway idea in Phoenix with white walls