Michael Hunter Photography
Living room - cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

A beautiful contemporary modern open concept living room featuring our fused glass Tanzania pendant light chandelier in the stairwell.
Example of a trendy formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Kitchen - transitional l-shaped kitchen idea in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and window backsplash

Inspiration for a large rustic open concept living room remodel in Denver with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Living room. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Large trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Seattle with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a metal fireplace

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

Inspiration for a huge modern open concept light wood floor living room remodel in New York with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

FIRM: JS Interiors Group | PRODUCT: Baltimore, Novelda Cream
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets and a vessel sink

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

fire pit creates a visual and physical connection from the sunken sitting area to the modern play house at the end of the backyard. the tigerwood ceiling opens itself to a spacious ipe deck that leads down to conversation pit surrounding the fire or the outdoor kitchen patio. the space provides entertainment space for both the young and the old. designed & built by austin outdoor design photo by ryann ford

Example of a large trendy master carpeted and gray floor bedroom design in Chicago with white walls and a two-sided fireplace

Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room remodel in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Powder room - transitional gray tile powder room idea in Miami with dark wood cabinets and white countertops

John Granen
Living room - mid-sized modern open concept light wood floor living room idea with a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace

Living room - large coastal dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a concealed tv

Alex Hayden
Example of a trendy master carpeted bedroom design in Seattle with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace

Stephanie James: “Understanding the client’s style preferences, we sought out timeless pieces that also offered a little bling. The room is open to multiple dining and living spaces and the scale of the furnishings by Chaddock, Ambella, Wesley Hall and Mr. Brown and lighting by John Richards and Visual Comfort were very important. The living room area with its vaulted ceilings created a need for dramatic fixtures and furnishings to complement the scale. The mixture of textiles and leather offer comfortable seating options whether for a family gathering or an intimate evening with a book.” Photographer: Michael Blevins Photo

Family room - mid-sized traditional enclosed dark wood floor family room idea in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Bedroom - large contemporary master bamboo floor and beige floor bedroom idea in Boston with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace