Timmerman Photography
Example of a trendy japanese bathtub design in Phoenix

Conceptually the Clark Street remodel began with an idea of creating a new entry. The existing home foyer was non-existent and cramped with the back of the stair abutting the front door. By defining an exterior point of entry and creating a radius interior stair, the home instantly opens up and becomes more inviting. From there, further connections to the exterior were made through large sliding doors and a redesigned exterior deck. Taking advantage of the cool coastal climate, this connection to the exterior is natural and seamless Photos by Zack Benson

Eric Roth
Example of a large trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor living room design in Boston with a two-sided fireplace, white walls, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Leslie Fine Design
Example of a trendy freestanding desk study room design in Boston with beige walls and no 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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Timmerman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary drought-tolerant landscaping in Phoenix.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Seattle

Peter Murdock
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in New York

Example of a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor sunroom design with no fireplace and a skylight

Davenport Maple is a new door style for 2014 shown here in our Drift Stain. Drift is a translucent stain that pays tribute to the naturalist movement that is so prevalent in today's designs. A chameleon of sorts - Drift has the ability to work well with grays, browns and greens with ease.

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz In the master bathroom, the steam shower's enclosure mirrors the framework of the windows and doors used elsewhere in the home. Large white tile work organized in a subway pattern round out the period style, but with a decidedly modern edge. Making the shower large and curbless was a consideration with the future in mind. "We may need to be able to wheel in and out of there one day!" Stacy jokes. To the right of the shower, the wall opens up to reveal a concealed linen closet.

Seated home bar - large rustic galley dark wood floor seated home bar idea in Denver with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets and mirror backsplash

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2016 Houzz Design: Kelly Mack Home
Eclectic bedroom photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a small contemporary 3/4 blue tile, white tile and glass tile ceramic tile alcove shower remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

William Maccollum, Art Grey Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary white tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Los Angeles with a trough sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and black walls

Architect: Portuondo Perotti Architects Photography: Carlos Domenech “This is well detailed and consistent inside and out. It is a classic Mediterranean Revival in the Floridian tradition of Mizner.” This single-family residential home in Gables Estates, Coral Gables, Florida, successfully pays respect to the architecture of the Mediterranean and Renaissance Italian styles. From the use of courtyards to the high level of detailing, this project emphasizes the most picturesque and expressive qualities of these styles. The residence reflects the visions of two of Coral Gables’ first architects, who designed beautiful and timeless architecture in this garden city to become a lasting piece in the landscape. This project not only captures the breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay, but with timeless style and lush landscaping, it creates a centerpiece for the view from the bay to Coral Gables. The home is designed as a long gallery, with spaces connected by courtyards and public realms. Another large inspiration for this project was the idea of the garden and landscape. With Coral Gables as a garden city, landscape became an integral part of the conception and design. The durability of Marvin products, their ability to stand up to the South Florida climate, as well as the Marvin attention to detail and proportion, made them the perfect choice to employ in a project of such high standards. The range of products allowed the freedom of design to explore all possibilities and turn visions into reality. The result was a lasting piece of architecture that would reflect a level of detail in every part of its structure. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Round Top Window Marvin Ultimate Arch Top French Door Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door Marvin Ultimate Venting Picture Window Marvin Casemaster

Example of a trendy gray tile and stone tile doorless shower design in Tampa with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and concrete countertops

Uneek Image
Walk-in shower - large traditional master white tile and stone tile marble floor walk-in shower idea in Orlando with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and purple walls

Inspiration for a contemporary master beige tile beige floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door