Ⓒ ZAC+ZAC
Inspiration for a transitional bedroom remodel in London

Roger Davies Photography
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, black appliances, an island and raised-panel cabinets

Tria Giovan
Example of a french country dark wood floor dining room design in New York with blue walls

Please see this Award Winning project in the October 2014 issue of New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine: NYC&G http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/October-2014/NYCG-Innovation-in-Design-Winners-Kitchen-Design/ It was also featured in a Houzz Tour: Houzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29691278/list/houzz-tour-loving-the-old-and-new-in-an-1880s-brooklyn-row-house Photo Credit: Hulya Kolabas

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless gray two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof remodel in Chicago with a shingle roof

© Lisa Russman Photography
Alcove shower - transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile alcove shower idea in New York with white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and a hinged shower door

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

Jeff Herr Photography
Country gray floor foyer photo in Atlanta with white walls and a glass front door

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

Dan Murdoch, Murdoch & Company, Inc.
Example of a classic single-wall dark wood floor wet bar design in New York with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops and brown countertops

Dry bar - farmhouse single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor dry bar idea in Chicago with no sink, glass-front cabinets, gray cabinets, brown backsplash, wood backsplash and black countertops

Example of a transitional beige floor powder room design in Salt Lake City with gray cabinets and white walls

Inspiration for a large contemporary single-wall beige floor wet bar remodel in DC Metro with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown backsplash, wood backsplash and black countertops

Matthew Niemann Photography www.matthewniemann.com
Example of a transitional open concept carpeted and gray floor living room design with gray walls

Mid-sized minimalist master gray floor bathroom photo in Miami with gray walls, a trough sink and flat-panel cabinets

photo by Read Mckendree
Bathroom - small traditional 3/4 gray tile and marble tile multicolored floor and mosaic tile floor bathroom idea with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and gray countertops

Photography: Stephani Buchman
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white walls and white countertops

In the kitchen, the feeling is light and airy, thanks to a soft color palette and open shelving. Rather than create a massive center island, Kiel applied his handy work to an array of inexpensive materials, resulting in an island work table with open shelving. By keeping sight lines open down below, the kitchen gains a greater feeling of space. Wall Color, Lightest Sky, by Pantone for Valspar; Counter top, IKEA; Pendant Fixtures, Home Depot Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz

Inspiration for a small timeless single-wall wet bar remodel in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and mosaic tile backsplash