Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a country alcove shower remodel in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets and beige walls

Amy Bartlam
Example of a large trendy l-shaped ceramic tile and gray floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an island, flat-panel cabinets, marble backsplash, an undermount sink, brown cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, paneled appliances and gray countertops

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Open concept kitchen - transitional open concept kitchen idea in Tampa with shaker cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo in Houston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Jim Schmid Photography
Large elegant dark wood floor kitchen photo in Charlotte with white backsplash, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

The Transitional kitchen has 10' ceilings and features oversized wall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. Other features include a corner built-in pantry and unique WalkerZanger tile backsplash display.

Transitional family room photo in Charlotte with gray walls

Peter Aaron
Inspiration for a coastal outdoor shower deck remodel in New York with a pergola

Example of a mid-sized beach style master multicolored tile and marble tile gray floor, double-sink, shiplap ceiling, shiplap wall and marble floor alcove shower design in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a built-in vanity, a one-piece toilet, quartzite countertops and a niche

Laundry room - coastal laundry room idea in Los Angeles

Photos by SpaceCrafting
Example of a large classic formal and enclosed living room design in Minneapolis with gray walls, a two-sided fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photos by Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a transitional ceramic tile and beige floor mudroom remodel in Minneapolis with white walls

Kitchen - large scandinavian l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, quartzite countertops, marble backsplash and white countertops

Eric Roth Photography
Example of a beach style medium tone wood floor great room design in Boston with yellow walls

Example of a southwest laundry room design in New Orleans with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, gray walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige countertops

Emily Followill
Inspiration for a coastal dining room remodel in Atlanta with beige walls

Family room - mid-sized coastal dark wood floor family room idea in New York with white walls

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

Paul Crosby Architectural Photography
Mid-sized traditional white wood gable roof idea in Minneapolis