Photos by Whitney Kamman
Large mountain style open concept dark wood floor and brown floor family room photo with a bar, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and gray walls

Basement reno,
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse underground carpeted, gray floor, wood ceiling and wall paneling basement remodel in Minneapolis with a bar and white walls

Leslie Murchie
Inspiration for a mid-century modern galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Detroit with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, an island, an undermount sink and gray countertops

a bathroom was added between the existing garage and home. A window couldn't be added, so a skylight brings needed sunlight into the space. WoodStone Inc, General Contractor Home Interiors, Cortney McDougal, Interior Design Draper White Photography

Tony Colangelo Photography
Laundry room - traditional laundry room idea in Vancouver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Photo by Jeff Herr Photography.
Example of a cottage master dark wood floor bedroom design in Atlanta with white walls and no fireplace

Paul Finkel | Piston Design
Inspiration for a small contemporary master white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor claw-foot bathtub remodel in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and marble countertops

Mid-sized mountain style master brown tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom photo in Sacramento with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount tub, beige walls, quartz countertops and beige countertops

ErIc Rorer
Trendy galley eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Elegant dark wood floor and brown floor foyer photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Sliding barn doors provide privacy between the Guest House Living Room and Bedroom. This mix of wood paneling and drywall offers an alluring feel to the space.

Example of a large minimalist open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room design in Austin with white walls, no fireplace and a tv stand

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

Example of an arts and crafts u-shaped kitchen design in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Jackson Design Build | Photography: NW Architectural Photography
Mid-sized transitional single-wall concrete floor and green floor laundry closet photo in Seattle with an utility sink, wood countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray walls

Inspiration for a tropical dark wood floor living room remodel in Miami with white walls

Example of a mid-sized classic galley dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Birmingham with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls, an island, mosaic tile backsplash and solid surface countertops

Dean Riedel of 360Vip Photography
Example of a classic carpeted family room design in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a media wall

Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in Providence with white walls and a stone fireplace