Mid-sized urban l-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Madrid with flat-panel cabinets, no island, wood countertops, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Eclectic open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Spacecrafters
Example of a transitional u-shaped staircase design in Minneapolis

Family room - contemporary underground carpeted and beige floor family room idea in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Bathroom - bathroom idea in Miami

Jeffrey Lendrum / Lendrum Photography LLC
Bedroom - farmhouse dark wood floor bedroom idea with beige walls and no fireplace

Jordan Powers
Walk-in closet - large transitional women's dark wood floor walk-in closet idea with open cabinets and white cabinets

Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical full sun backyard landscaping in Hawaii.

Example of a trendy entryway design in Miami

FIRST PLACE 2018 ASID DESIGN OVATION AWARD / MASTER BATH OVER $50,000. In addition to a much-needed update, the clients desired a spa-like environment for their Master Bath. Sea Pearl Quartzite slabs were used on an entire wall and around the vanity and served as this ethereal palette inspiration. Luxuries include a soaking tub, decorative lighting, heated floor, towel warmers and bidet. Michael Hunter

Country eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets and gray cabinets

Stephanie Russo Photography
Corner shower - small cottage master white tile and mirror tile mosaic tile floor corner shower idea in Phoenix with medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops, a hinged shower door and flat-panel cabinets

Scaglione residence, Miami Springs. Landscape Designer Brent Knoll of Knoll Landscape Design Date Palms in tropical landscape
Design ideas for a tropical landscaping in Miami.

David Heald
Inspiration for a farmhouse landscaping in New York.

The Master Bathroom was reconfigured both enlarging it and creating a master suite. Within is a custom tub and shower enclosure. Custom tub has a ceramic Heath tile surround and du chateau flooring on the wall. Bruce Damonte Photography

Inspiration for a contemporary brown three-story wood flat roof remodel in Los Angeles

Cabinetry by: Esq Design. Interior design by District 309 Photography: Tracey Ayton
Inspiration for a huge farmhouse l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Vancouver with an undermount sink, stainless steel appliances, an island, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops and white backsplash

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