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

URRUTIA DESIGN Photography by Matt Sartain
Transitional enclosed living room photo in San Francisco with gray walls and a standard fireplace

Yankee Barn Homes - The owners uniquely use the post and beam frame to keep track of their children's' growth. Northpeak Photography
Example of a large mountain style wooden u-shaped open staircase design in Portland Maine

This new 6400 s.f. two-story split-level home lifts upward and orients toward unobstructed views of Windy Hill. The deep overhanging flat roof design with a stepped fascia preserves the classic modern lines of the building while incorporating a Zero-Net Energy photovoltaic panel system. From start to finish, the construction is uniformly energy efficient and follows California Build It Green guidelines. Many sustainable finish materials are used on both the interior and exterior, including recycled old growth cedar and pre-fabricated concrete panel siding. Photo by: www.bernardandre.com

restored old growth redwood wall with whitewashed redwood ceiling photo bruce damonte
Mid-century modern dark wood floor dining room photo in San Francisco

Little Heath andromeda has pink new growth in spring Le jardinet

We crafted these shelves out of old growth redwood with extremely tight wood grain for a young couple in Sacramento. They love this new bar in their dining room to showcase their love of traditional Corsican drinks. Lumber from trees like this do not exist anymore - you can only find it through reclaiming old lumber from buildings.

The transparent Kitchen hutch, built of salvaged old growth heart pine, while demising the Kitchen and Dining, is transparent enough to permit visual connection of the spaces. photo: Rob Karosis

Design ideas for a traditional backyard stone landscaping in Minneapolis.

Randall Perry Photography Paint - SW7556 Crème Carpet Upstairs Bedrooms: Product: Larkin, Color: Deerfield
Mid-sized elegant girl carpeted and beige floor nursery photo in New York with yellow walls

This new and distinctive nandina is an improved selection of 'GulfStream'. With it's compact, dense growth habit, and brilliant red new foliage, 'Obsession' is a great easy care choice for your garden or containers. Features Feature/Bloom Bright red young foliage spring to fall Evergreen or Deciduous evergreen USDA Zones Hardy to -10°F USDA Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Sunset Zones 3-33 Special Features Dwarf, winter/fall foliage color, year-round interest, water-wise Landscape Use Border, container, firescaping/fire wise, hedge, mass planting Exposure Full sun to part shade Bloom Season None Dimension 2-3 ft H x 2-3 ft W Growth Rate Moderate Plant Type evergreen About the Collection Brought to you by the authority on Western gardening, the Sunset Western Garden Collection is an exclusive plant collection of top performing plants for the Western Gardener.

Photo Credits to Charlie Cannon Photography
Elegant kids' room photo in Atlanta

Photo Credits to Charlie Cannon Photography
Elegant kids' room photo in Atlanta

Gurusurya Photography
Home design - industrial home design idea in San Francisco

Jewett Farms + Co’s Old Growth Wormy Red Oak flooring gets its name from the tree’s inhabitants during its post growth period. After the tree has died or fallen small insects make their way into it and leave behind their tiny worm holes. Typically only found in the high end Wormy Chestnut, these interesting little marks make for an authentically aged feeling oak floor. Our Old Growth Wormy Red Oak flooring displays a contrast of dark reddish heartwood with wheat colored sap wood. It features some natural sounds checking and knot holes in addition to a smattering of tiny insect holes. Strong, striking and definitely a conversation piece. Jewett Farms + Co’s Old Growth Wormy Red Oak wide plank flooring is available to be shipped throughout the United States from our New England headquarters.

Jewett Farms + Co’s Old Growth Walnut plank flooring is harvested from fallen and dead trees that are over 100 years old. The walnut planks are milled with an antique 60 inch saw blade to replicate the original milling process giving our Old Growth American Gunstock Walnut has a truly authentic, historic feel. Jewett Farms + Co’s Old Growth American Gunstock Walnut has a deep purplish chocolate hue with some lighter tones mixed in from the outer sapwood. Walnut is strong and durable with a tight grain pattern and some knots and sound checking. Jewett Farms + Co’s Old Growth “American Gunstock, Circular Sawn” Walnut wide plank flooring is available to be shipped throughout the United States from our New England headquarters.

Dianella are the ultimate easy care plants. This tough new hybrid gets strong upright Phormium like growth from one parent, and deep blue color from the other. Plays well with succulents, and makes a great container plant. Features Feature/Bloom Year round blue foliage Evergreen or Deciduous evergreen USDA Zones Root Hardy to 10°F USDA Zones 8-11 Sunset Zones Sunset Zones 5,8,9, 14-24 Special Features Year-round interest, easy care, dwarf, deer resistant, disease/pest resistant, drought tolerance Landscape Use Accent, border, container, rock gardens, mass planting, slope Exposure Full coastal sun to part shade inland Bloom Season Spring, summer, fall, winter Dimension 24”-30”Height x 18”-24” Width Growth Rate Slow in winter, moderate spring to fall Plant Type evergreen About the Collection Brought to you by the authority on Western gardening, the Sunset Western Garden Collection is an exclusive plant collection of top performing plants for the Western Gardener.

Rodgersia 'Rotlaub' with bronze colored spring growth contrasts with Little Heath andromeda which also has pink new growth in spring Le jardinet

Eagle ATX - Reclaimed Old Growth Pine conference table also avail. similar dining tables - call Steve ph 512 577-8237 - Structure construction: custom welded steel frame work and solid wood with special oil features natural color and satin finish.