Example of a mid-sized transitional gray two-story stucco exterior home design in Minneapolis with a hip roof

Trent Teigen
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal and open concept beige floor and travertine floor living room remodel in Other with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Silhouette shades
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining room combo idea in Chicago with green walls

Patrick Barta
Example of a trendy concrete floor bedroom design in Seattle

Dane Cronin
Example of a 1950s master white tile and subway tile green floor alcove shower design in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal master porcelain tile and beige floor bathroom remodel 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

Kitchen
Example of a beach style painted wood floor and multicolored floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, ceramic backsplash, an island and colored appliances

Inspiration for a rustic concrete floor entry hall remodel in Houston with gray walls

Bathroom - large scandinavian master gray tile, white tile and stone slab gray floor and marble floor bathroom idea in New York with white walls, black cabinets, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

Mater bedroom in bay window
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional guest bedroom remodel in Chicago with beige walls

Kitchen - coastal u-shaped kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Large elegant master white tile and stone slab marble floor and white floor bathroom photo in Dallas with raised-panel cabinets, marble countertops, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door

Rosenberg Kolb Architects is proud to announce our renovation of a 1747 timber frame house on Nantucket Island, completed in 2011. The first historic renovation project in Nantucket to receive LEED Gold status. The project was given a Grand Award by Eco Home Magazine in July, 2011. The project included: Restructuring the foundations to align and stabilize the structure in addition to providing for a new insulated crawl space; A 260 square foot addition for a kitchen, bath, and new entry; New cedar shingles, roof shingles, and restored historic windows; The house met the strict regulations of Nantucket's Historic District. On the inside, LEED Gold certification was met through: High R-value insulation and reduced air leakage; High efficiency heating, air conditioning, plumbing fixtures, and appliances; Low-emission paints and finishes as well as a clay wall finish; Using reclaimed materials from the original house and other sites. The project has been published in: N Magazine July 2011 Eco Home Magazine July 2011 New England Home June 2011

Photo: Lucy Call © 2013 Houzz Design: Imbue Design and Sausage Space
Minimalist great room photo in Salt Lake City

Elegant home design photo in Denver

Elegant home design photo in Denver

SpaceCrafting Real Estate Photography
Mid-sized transitional white two-story wood gable roof idea in Minneapolis

Lincoln Barbour
Living room - mid-sized 1960s open concept living room idea in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace