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

Design Credit: Mary Michael O'Hare (MMO Designs) Photo Credit: Emily O'Brien
Elegant bedroom photo in Boston with blue walls

Alcove bathtub - small 1960s master white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and white floor alcove bathtub idea in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls and wood countertops

Located right off the Primary bedroom – this bathroom is located in the far corners of the house. It should be used as a retreat, to rejuvenate and recharge – exactly what our homeowners asked for. We came alongside our client – listening to the pain points and hearing the need and desire for a functional, calming retreat, a drastic change from the disjointed, previous space with exposed pipes from a previous renovation. We worked very closely through the design and materials selections phase, hand selecting the marble tile on the feature wall, sourcing luxe gold finishes and suggesting creative solutions (like the shower’s linear drain and the hidden niche on the inside of the shower’s knee wall). The Maax Tosca soaker tub is a main feature and our client's #1 request. Add the Toto Nexus bidet toilet and a custom double vanity with a countertop tower for added storage, this luxury retreat is a must for busy, working parents.

This home remodel is a celebration of curves and light. Starting from humble beginnings as a basic builder ranch style house, the design challenge was maximizing natural light throughout and providing the unique contemporary style the client’s craved. The Entry offers a spectacular first impression and sets the tone with a large skylight and an illuminated curved wall covered in a wavy pattern Porcelanosa tile. The chic entertaining kitchen was designed to celebrate a public lifestyle and plenty of entertaining. Celebrating height with a robust amount of interior architectural details, this dynamic kitchen still gives one that cozy feeling of home sweet home. The large “L” shaped island accommodates 7 for seating. Large pendants over the kitchen table and sink provide additional task lighting and whimsy. The Dekton “puzzle” countertop connection was designed to aid the transition between the two color countertops and is one of the homeowner’s favorite details. The built-in bistro table provides additional seating and flows easily into the Living Room. A curved wall in the Living Room showcases a contemporary linear fireplace and tv which is tucked away in a niche. Placing the fireplace and furniture arrangement at an angle allowed for more natural walkway areas that communicated with the exterior doors and the kitchen working areas. The dining room’s open plan is perfect for small groups and expands easily for larger events. Raising the ceiling created visual interest and bringing the pop of teal from the Kitchen cabinets ties the space together. A built-in buffet provides ample storage and display. The Sitting Room (also called the Piano room for its previous life as such) is adjacent to the Kitchen and allows for easy conversation between chef and guests. It captures the homeowner’s chic sense of style and joie de vivre.

custom made vanity cabinet
Freestanding bathtub - large 1960s master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, blue floor and double-sink freestanding bathtub idea in Little Rock with dark wood cabinets, white walls, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a freestanding vanity, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz Writer’s Room, main house Design team: Robert Frank Design
Mid-sized elegant home office photo in Los Angeles

A primary suite should feel like a destination, which fits well with this historic Tudor remodel. Primary suite entry is off the conservatory, which helps separate the space from the rest of the home for added privacy. Our team’s removal of the old study and gym opens up the space for a retreat-style feel. A light wood plank vaulted ceiling softens the room’s volume, and black steel windows and doors open to a new private outdoor living space. Dual his-and-hers primary bathrooms and walk-in closets occupy the remaining square footage.

Organized Living Classica closet design in bisque. Organization tip & image from pro organizer, Amanda LeBlanc: store shoes heel to toe - not only does make it easy to see them, it also help you save space! See more Classica designs: http://organizedliving.com/home/products/classica/inspiration-gallery

Trendy kitchen photo in Toronto

Modern Man's closet with sliding doors
Example of a mid-sized minimalist men's reach-in closet design in Los Angeles

Example of a transitional white tile alcove shower design in DC Metro with white cabinets, gray walls and gray countertops

Alcove shower - contemporary white tile alcove shower idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets

Example of a mid-sized beach style master light wood floor bedroom design in San Diego with white walls

Free standing tub with unique Dahlia wall mural on the wall behind the tub.
Example of a 1950s bathroom design in Phoenix

The clients enjoy having friends over to watch movies or slide shows from recent travels, but they did not want the TV to be a focal point. The team’s solution was to mount a flat screen TV on a recessed wall mounting bracket that extends and swivels for optimal viewing positions, yet rests flat against the wall when not in use. A DVD player, cable box and other attachments remotely connect to the TV from a storage location in the kitchen desk area. Here you see the room when the TV is flat against the wall and out of sight of the camera lens. Interior Design: Elza B. Design Photography: Eric Roth

Blush toned terrazzo style tile sets the stage for a unique mid-century modern style bathroom space.
Inspiration for a 1960s bathroom remodel in Phoenix

A quintessential 1925 bungalow located in the charming neighborhood of Virginia Highland in Atlanta, this project included a renovation of the kitchen, family room and powder room on the first floor, and the laundry and primary bath on the second. The Copper Sky Design + Remodel team reconfigured the first floor to better accommodate additional cabinetry and an island in the kitchen by borrowing space from what was a full bathroom and converting it to a half bath. Upstairs, unfinished attic space was converted to a roomy laundry room while the 200 square foot primary bath remained in its original footprint.