Remodeled sleeping porch with built in beds and storage
Bedroom - small traditional guest bedroom idea in Milwaukee with white walls

Kitchen - kitchen idea in Miami

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a small modern gray two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Minneapolis

Mimi Erickson
Alcove shower - country 3/4 multicolored tile and white tile multicolored floor alcove shower idea in Atlanta with dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, a drop-in sink, a hinged shower door and flat-panel cabinets

EROL REYAL
Inspiration for a timeless powder room remodel in Milwaukee with a vessel sink

Dining room - dining room idea in New York

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional carpeted bedroom remodel in Minneapolis with blue walls and no fireplace

Living room - traditional living room idea in Bridgeport

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

Will Doyle
Living room - coastal living room idea in Toronto

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architecture: Rehkamp/Larson Architects | Interior Design: Brooke Voss | Photography | Landmark Photography
Example of an urban blue floor home weight room design in Minneapolis with gray walls

Photo by Ronda Batchelor Old door turned laundry room door. Barn door style.
Inspiration for a coastal laundry room remodel in Salt Lake City

John Magnoski Photography Builder: John Kraemer & Sons
Large arts and crafts medium tone wood floor living room photo in Minneapolis with yellow walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Transitional Townhome Kansas City, MO ​ - Transitional Modern Design - Stacked Slate Fireplace - Retro Lighting - Pops of Blue and Orange Wesley Piercy, Haus of You Photography

Perry Smyre at www.smyre-inc.com
Kids' room - transitional boy kids' room idea in Boston