Marvin Windows
Inspiration for a transitional white one-story exterior home remodel in San Luis Obispo

Timmerman Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary brown two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Phoenix with a shed roof

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

KuDa Photography
Example of a mid-sized urban concrete floor dining room design in Portland with no fireplace

Asian bedroom photo in Boston with white walls

48 Layers
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Photography by Lucas Henning.
Inspiration for a small contemporary master green tile and glass tile porcelain tile and beige floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, green walls, an undermount sink, solid surface countertops, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

The Binary House was conceived as part of Hometta's premier collection. It explores several dualities of modern living. Photo Credit: Ben Hill
Example of a minimalist bedroom design in Houston with white walls

Transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Our MOD custom made blown glass multi-pendant light featured above a live edge, hewn wood table top with metal base. The perfect MCM (Mid Century Modern) complement over your dining table. Shown in Clear and Grey Translucent. Contemporary, Custom Glass Lighting perfect for your entryway / foyer, stairwell, living room, dining room, kitchen, and any room in your home. Dramatic lighting that is fully customizable and tailored to fit your space perfectly. No two pieces are the same. Visit our website: www.shakuff.com for more details

Highland Custom Homes
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Robert Schwerdt
Large 1960s 3/4 green tile and cement tile porcelain tile and beige floor freestanding bathtub photo with a trough sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, concrete countertops, beige walls and a two-piece toilet

Example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen design in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and an island

Reverse Shed Eichler This project is part tear-down, part remodel. The original L-shaped plan allowed the living/ dining/ kitchen wing to be completely re-built while retaining the shell of the bedroom wing virtually intact. The rebuilt entertainment wing was enlarged 50% and covered with a low-slope reverse-shed roof sloping from eleven to thirteen feet. The shed roof floats on a continuous glass clerestory with eight foot transom. Cantilevered steel frames support wood roof beams with eaves of up to ten feet. An interior glass clerestory separates the kitchen and livingroom for sound control. A wall-to-wall skylight illuminates the north wall of the kitchen/family room. New additions at the back of the house add several “sliding” wall planes, where interior walls continue past full-height windows to the exterior, complimenting the typical Eichler indoor-outdoor ceiling and floor planes. The existing bedroom wing has been re-configured on the interior, changing three small bedrooms into two larger ones, and adding a guest suite in part of the original garage. A previous den addition provided the perfect spot for a large master ensuite bath and walk-in closet. Natural materials predominate, with fir ceilings, limestone veneer fireplace walls, anigre veneer cabinets, fir sliding windows and interior doors, bamboo floors, and concrete patios and walks. Landscape design by Bernard Trainor: www.bernardtrainor.com (see “Concrete Jungle” in April 2014 edition of Dwell magazine). Microsoft Media Center installation of the Year, 2008: www.cybermanor.com/ultimate_install.html (automated shades, radiant heating system, and lights, as well as security & sound).

Inspiration for a contemporary freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home studio remodel in San Francisco with white walls

VA Home Pics
Freestanding bathtub - transitional beige tile and ceramic tile freestanding bathtub idea with white cabinets and marble countertops

Timmerman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary one-story exterior home remodel in Phoenix

Greg Hadley
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary shade courtyard mulch landscaping in DC Metro.

Interior Design by Sherri DuPont Photography by Lori Hamilton
Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Miami with beige walls