Elegant single-wall travertine floor home design photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops and beige backsplash

James Ray Spahn
Country patio photo in DC Metro with a fire pit

Chuck Choi Architectural Photography
Indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court - huge contemporary light wood floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court idea in Boston with beige walls

Mid-sized trendy 3/4 black tile, gray tile, white tile and glass tile porcelain tile and black floor alcove bathtub photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Elegant light wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Butlers pantry Photo credit- Alicia Garcia Staging- one two six design
Example of a large transitional l-shaped light wood floor kitchen pantry design in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray backsplash

Carolyn Bates Photography
Inspiration for a timeless slate floor mudroom remodel in Burlington with white walls

1/2 basketball court James Dixon - Architect, Keuka Studios, inc. - Cable Railing and Stair builder, Whetstone Builders, Inc. - GC, Kast Photographic - Photography

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

Rebecca Lehde
Example of a transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile walk-in shower design with light wood cabinets, gray walls and an undermount sink

Kitchen - transitional dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and white countertops

Eat-in kitchen - large contemporary u-shaped marble floor, gray floor and wood ceiling eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, black backsplash, an island, solid surface countertops, stone tile backsplash and black appliances

Design ideas for a farmhouse landscaping in San Francisco.

Powder Room. Photo by Clark Dugger
Example of a small trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor powder room design in Los Angeles with a wall-mount sink, white walls and a two-piece toilet

Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS
Alcove bathtub - mid-sized traditional master white tile and subway tile marble floor alcove bathtub idea in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray walls and recessed-panel cabinets

On the ground level we installed another indoor/outdoor space with built in TV, custom fire pit and therapeutic swim spa. The addition of a custom cement bar area with refrigerator and blackened steel custom shelving is accessed seamlessly from the family room via a fold-away open corner door system that stacks inside the walls.

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a coastal l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in St Louis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, solid surface countertops, beige backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Hear what our clients, Lisa & Rick, have to say about their project by clicking on the Facebook link and then the Videos tab. Hannah Goering Photography