Metropolis Iconic Shots www.metropolisbranding.com
Patio - rustic tile patio idea in Charlotte with a roof extension

Scott Amundson Photography
Transitional dedicated laundry room photo in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a drop-in sink, a side-by-side washer/dryer, laminate countertops and beige 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

Example of a trendy gray tile and stone tile medium tone wood floor walk-in shower design in Manchester with a wall-mount sink and a wall-mount toilet

Christopher Davison, AIA
Mid-sized elegant master gray tile and glass tile porcelain tile walk-in shower photo in Austin with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops and beige walls

Kitchen - small country l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

David Swift
Example of a mountain style wood exterior home design in Salt Lake City

Enjoy arts and crafts in your "me time" room accented by - Ultra Modern single face mount barn door hanging hardware and a Woodgrain Doors knotty alder barn door

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Los Angeles

Nadia Gottfried
Double shower - contemporary master gray tile and pebble tile porcelain tile double shower idea in Calgary with recessed-panel cabinets, white walls, marble countertops and an undermount sink

addet madan Design
Corner shower - small contemporary 3/4 gray tile and cement tile concrete floor corner shower idea in Los Angeles with a pedestal sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls and solid surface countertops

Kat Alves-Photography
Small country multicolored tile and stone tile marble floor doorless shower photo in Sacramento with black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped painted wood floor dedicated laundry room remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and solid surface countertops

Down-to-studs remodel and second floor addition. The original house was a simple plain ranch house with a layout that didn’t function well for the family. We changed the house to a contemporary Mediterranean with an eclectic mix of details. Space was limited by City Planning requirements so an important aspect of the design was to optimize every bit of space, both inside and outside. The living space extends out to functional places in the back and front yards: a private shaded back yard and a sunny seating area in the front yard off the kitchen where neighbors can easily mingle with the family. A Japanese bath off the master bedroom upstairs overlooks a private roof deck which is screened from neighbors’ views by a trellis with plants growing from planter boxes and with lanterns hanging from a trellis above. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-mediterranean/

Designer: Cameron Snyder & Judy Whalen; Photography: Dan Cutrona
Home design - huge traditional master beige tile and stone tile marble floor home design idea in Boston with dark wood cabinets, granite countertops and beige walls

DESIGN: Eric Richmond, Flat Rock Productions; BUILDER: DR Construction; PHOTO: Stadler Studio
Garage - small coastal detached one-car garage idea in Seattle

Inspiration for a small transitional 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and white floor alcove bathtub remodel in Seattle with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Traditional two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Toronto

photography by Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a large timeless single-wall medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white walls