Rob Karosis
Elegant u-shaped kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, beige cabinets, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photographer: Isabelle Eubanks Interiors: Modern Organic Interiors, Architect: Simpson Design Group, Builder: Milne Design and Build
Bathroom - country kids' white tile and subway tile bathroom idea in San Francisco with a trough sink and multicolored walls

Jeff Herr
Trendy kitchen pantry photo in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash and stainless steel appliances

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

Kitchen pantry - contemporary kitchen pantry idea with flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Our take on the Modern Farmhouse! With awesome front fireplace patio perfect for getting to know the neighbours.
Inspiration for a large cottage three-story concrete fiberboard white front door remodel in Calgary with a shingle roof and a glass front door

Dennis Mayer Photography
Example of a classic multicolored floor laundry room design in San Francisco with black cabinets, a farmhouse sink and black countertops

Small danish single-wall dedicated laundry room photo in Grand Rapids with green cabinets, quartzite countertops, white walls, a stacked washer/dryer, white countertops and a single-bowl sink

Looking at this home today, you would never know that the project began as a poorly maintained duplex. Luckily, the homeowners saw past the worn façade and engaged our team to uncover and update the Victorian gem that lay underneath. Taking special care to preserve the historical integrity of the 100-year-old floor plan, we returned the home back to its original glory as a grand, single family home. The project included many renovations, both small and large, including the addition of a a wraparound porch to bring the façade closer to the street, a gable with custom scrollwork to accent the new front door, and a more substantial balustrade. Windows were added to bring in more light and some interior walls were removed to open up the public spaces to accommodate the family’s lifestyle. You can read more about the transformation of this home in Old House Journal: http://www.cummingsarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Old-House-Journal-Dec.-2009.pdf Photo Credit: Eric Roth

This custom laundry room blends efficiency with elevated design. Shaker style wood cabinetry provides generous storage above and below a durable quartz countertop with integrated utility sink. A stacked washer and dryer maximizes floor space, while light porcelain tile flooring and clean white walls keep the room bright, organized, and highly functional within this luxury custom home.

Designs by Amanda Jones Photo by David Bowen
Home design - small farmhouse single-wall brick floor home design idea in New York with an utility sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white walls and a stacked washer/dryer

We undertook a comprehensive bathroom remodel to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the space. To create a more open and spacious layout, we expanded the room by 2 feet, shifted the door, and reconfigured the entire layout. We utilized a variety of high-quality materials to create a simple but timeless finish palette, including a custom 96” warm wood-tone custom-made vanity by Draftwood Design, Silestone Cincel Gray quartz countertops, Hexagon Dolomite Bianco floor tiles, and Natural Dolomite Bianco wall tiles.

Her master closet was designed with very specific needs. It features limestone floors, side lit cabinets and electric rods. Photo by Sam Smeed
Walk-in closet - traditional gray floor walk-in closet idea in Houston with beaded inset cabinets and white cabinets

Melissa Oivanki for Custom Home Designs, LLC
Example of a mid-sized classic single-wall dedicated laundry room design in New Orleans with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, tile countertops, green walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Example of a transitional wooden pull-out kitchen pantry design

Laundry room - modern laundry room idea in Boston

Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a large transitional carpeted home bar remodel in Minneapolis

Enclosed kitchen - eclectic u-shaped enclosed kitchen idea in Orange County with marble countertops, a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, multicolored backsplash and beige countertops