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

INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER. 2018 NKBA Design Competition Best Overall Kitchen. 2018 TIDA International USA Kitchen of the Year. 2018 Best Traditional Kitchen - Westchester Home Magazine design awards. The designer's own kitchen was gutted and renovated in 2017, with a focus on classic materials and thoughtful storage. The 1920s craftsman home has been in the family since 1940, and every effort was made to keep finishes and details true to the original construction. For sources, please see the website at www.studiodearborn.com. Photography, Adam Kane Macchia and Timothy Lenz

Kate Falconer Photography
Example of a large eclectic terra-cotta tile eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with an integrated sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

Easton, Maryland Traditional Kitchen Design by #JenniferGilmer with a lake view http://gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod

Modern open kitchen flooded with light by a wall of windows. Ventilation provided by single Tilt Only window above sink. The entire kitchen is encompassed in light wood panels. The open wood shelving mirrors the surrounding wood, seamlessly integrating the discreet open storage.

Substantial stone archways and arched windows lend integrity to this exercise in classicism. White cabinetry adorned with crown molding are anchored by honed black granite. Arched window and glass door cabinets flank the sink. Faucets, hardware, lighting, and leg trim in polished nickel reflect the light.A walk-in pantry and message niche are hidden charms.

We reconfigured the kitchen to maximize the light and the view. The sink and window were previously facing the next door neighbor's garage, so that became the range wall and the window was relocated to face the beautiful trees and rock formations in the back yard. A full light exterior entry door was added in place of the former door to let natural light flood the space. Layered recess lighting and a glass pendant over the sink further increase brightness in what was previously a very dark space. Custom moody gray-blue inset shaker cabinetry is paired with elongated handmade matte white tile backsplash, alongside white quartz, pale blue walls and off-white trim. Quartersawn white oak floors replace the old linoleum and blend beautifully with the original pine floors on the rest of the first floor. Warm brass hardware and fixtures are a lovely contrast against the dark cabinetry. A fluted white fireclay farm sink is a functional statement piece in a small space. An Acacia wood island with stainless steel top adds practical warmth. Period-appropriate trim was brought back into the modern kitchen to maintain the historic integrity of the home.

Tommy White, Boone NC
Example of a small mountain style powder room design in Charlotte with a vessel sink and gray countertops

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

Matthew Niemann Photography
Example of a transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in Austin with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, white countertops, quartz countertops, white cabinets and stone tile backsplash

Photo by Amanda Kirkpatrick
Bathroom - industrial concrete floor bathroom idea in Austin with a console sink, a one-piece toilet and white walls

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

Andrew McKinney Photography Not every kitchen on houzz is enormous! Here's a 10' x 10' kitchen. It seems that painted white kitchens never go out of favor. While the cabinets, faucets and hardware lean toward a more traditional look, that look is tempered by the modern lines of grey glass tile and the chimney hood. And instead of carrara marble counter tops, the client opted for quartz for a similar look (Cambria's "Torquay").

Angle Eye Photgraphy
Inspiration for a large timeless l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops and stone slab backsplash

Architect: Becker Henson Niksto General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Example of a trendy concrete floor and gray floor powder room design in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, solid surface countertops and gray countertops

Mark Lohman Photography
Elegant kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Alyssa Lee
Inspiration for a large timeless l-shaped medium tone wood floor dedicated laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, granite countertops, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer and medium tone wood cabinets

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel. Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com

A complete overhaul of a French Country home without changing the footprint of the floorplan resulted in the perfect home for a young bachelor. Clean lines and darker palettes call this out as a masculine environment without taking away from the home’s European charm.