Hive Modular
Example of a minimalist open concept dark wood floor living room design in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

A backsplash of opaque glass tile expands from floor to ceiling in a herringbone pattern, across the kitchen and wet bar walls.
Large beach style dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Miami with beige cabinets, granite countertops, gray countertops, raised-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, gray backsplash and a peninsula

Great use of the existing hardwood joists in this contemporary bedroom remodel in Denver. Closet storage was updated with great translucent doors and gloss drawers.

Example of a large trendy master white tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor and white floor drop-in bathtub design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, glass countertops, a hinged shower door and blue countertops

Boaz Meiri Photography. double sided glass cabinets, openings to the hallway and playroom to allow visibility form kitchen, live edge wood of dining area, turquoise translucent chairs, desk area in kitchen, wine cooler, copper vent hood, coffee station, strip GFCI in the island, sub-zero fridge, handcrafted light fixtures.

Large mediterranean beige two-story stucco exterior home idea in Houston with a hip roof

Example of an eclectic medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in Chicago with blue walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Hive Modular
Minimalist galley slate floor eat-in kitchen photo in Calgary with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, white walls, an undermount sink and stainless steel appliances

Murray Legge
Example of a minimalist family room design in Austin

Mid-sized mountain style light wood floor and brown floor entry hall photo in Minneapolis with white walls and a glass front door

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

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea

Family room - transitional open concept brown floor family room idea in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Bright, spacious kitchen with stainless steel appliance, white cabinets and countertop, combined with a blue painted island. Large island pendant lighting, and island seating.

Example of a large transitional brown floor and medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands and white countertops

Large elegant master dark wood floor and brown floor drop-in bathtub photo with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls and an undermount sink

This interior design project was customizing a condominium unit to the taste of the new owners, while respecting the budget and priorities thereof. First, the existing bathroom on the mezzanine was enlarged across the width of the room to incorporate a large freestanding bath in the center of a generous and relaxing space. Large translucent sliding doors and an interior window have been added to let as much natural light into space as possible. The bath is highlighted by a wall of wooden slats backlit. All of the bathroom furniture and the new doors and windows were made by a cabinetmaker in the same colors as the slatted wall in order to unify these elements throughout the dwelling. At the entrance, in front of the kitchen, a column of classic inspiration has been replaced by a structural piece of furniture that divides the two spaces while incorporating additional storage and decorative alcoves. Near the ceiling of the cathedral space, a new tinted window allows natural light to enter the skylights at the top of the previously dark office.

From the stairwell side, the cutout pattern of the screen wall is highlighted by light passing through, casting soft shadows on the opposite wall.
Inspiration for a contemporary staircase remodel in Toronto

-Most of residence has glass doors, walls and windows overlooking the ocean, making ceilings the best surface for creating architectural interest -In the renovation, we raise ceiling heights, reduce soffits and integrate drapery pockets in the crown to hide motorized translucent shades, blackout shades and drapery panels, all which help control heat gain and glare inherent in unit’s multi-directional ocean exposure (south, east and north) -Patterns highlight the ceilings in major rooms and accent their light fixtures