Example of a small trendy u-shaped enclosed kitchen design with white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a farmhouse sink

Example of a bedroom mountain style gender-neutral light wood floor kids' bedroom design with white walls

Kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor, brown floor and tray ceiling bedroom remodel in Salt Lake City with white walls

Greg Hadley
Inspiration for a large industrial medium tone wood floor family room remodel in DC Metro with a tv stand, white walls and no fireplace

Douglas Hill Luxe Family Home | Santa Monica
Example of a classic kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical white two-story wood gable roof remodel in Miami with a metal roof

A farmhouse style was achieved in this new construction home by keeping the details clean and simple. Shaker style cabinets and square stair parts moldings set the backdrop for incorporating our clients’ love of Asian antiques. We had fun re-purposing the different pieces she already had: two were made into bathroom vanities; and the turquoise console became the star of the house, welcoming visitors as they walk through the front door.

Frank Ooms
Living room - modern open concept living room idea in Austin with white walls

Photo by Chris Clemens
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete paver patio remodel for fall in Denver with a fire pit

Laundry room - rustic laundry room idea in Minneapolis

Small transitional l-shaped porcelain tile kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, shaker cabinets and a peninsula

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 large transitional single-wall light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photography by Chuck Heiney
Kitchen/dining room combo - contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Grand Rapids with white walls and no fireplace

Doorless shower - mid-sized modern 3/4 gray tile marble floor doorless shower idea in Miami with gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, wood countertops, a vessel sink and flat-panel cabinets

Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean partial sun stone formal garden in San Francisco.

Unit Realty Group
Trendy kids' dark wood floor bathroom photo in Boston with a wall-mount sink and black walls

Nicole Franzen
Staircase - transitional wooden metal railing staircase idea in San Francisco with wooden risers