Crystal Bedside Lamps by Decorative Crafts! Photography By: Morgan Howarth
Bedroom - traditional carpeted bedroom idea in DC Metro with gray walls

Informal dining room with rustic round table, gray upholstered chairs, and built in window seat with firewood storage Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography

This home is a custom home built by Homes by Tradition located in Lakeville, MN. Our showcase models are professionally staged. Please contact Ambiance at Home for information on furniture - 952.440.6757 Thank you!

Bill Taylor
Example of a classic wooden curved staircase design in Boston

Christopher Stark Photography
Mid-sized transitional dark wood floor enclosed dining room photo in San Francisco with beige walls

Kevin Lein Photography
Mid-sized elegant dark wood floor and brown floor dining room photo in New York with beige walls and no fireplace

The open plan Living/Dining room is flooded with light from the rear patio. Rug bought in Marrakech is a classic Beni Ourain black and white Berber wool. The Malm orange fireplace dates from the 1960's and was sourced from the Rose Bowl. All furniture is vintage and reupholstered: Harvey Probber Cubo sectional in Perennials narrow stripe, Pair of French slipper chairs from the Marche aux Puces in Paris, redone in two fabrics by Kathryn M Ireland, Pair of Florence Knoll white Formica round coffee tables, and Spanish Colonial tile end tables, hold a pair of tall Italian gilt lamps (Borghese style) with custom shades in avocado. Pillows and throws from Morocco, and Kanthas from India. Photo by Bret Gum for Flea Market Decor Magazine

Mountain style guest bedroom photo in Denver with beige walls

Edward Gohlich
Living room - formal living room idea in San Diego with gray walls

Family Room
Example of a trendy family room design in DC Metro with beige walls

Chimney sits atop hardwood floor.
Transitional brown floor living room photo in Chicago with green 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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Layering neutrals, textures, and materials creates a comfortable, light elegance in this seating area. Featuring pieces from Ligne Roset, Gubi, Meridiani, and Moooi.

Sometimes the simplest things can be some of the most challenging. We built the base and top of this out of solid white oak. The shape seems simple enough but the way this is built required 48 different sides to line up nicely on the pedestal with floating mortise and tenon joinery to support it. All that on compound angles that are tapered. The top is connected and supported via steel c channels that are recessed into the table top. This has the added benefit of keeping the table top flat on over the large cantilever. A lot of math and planning but the end result was so amazing to see come together. And the space that it sat in was such a wonderful backdrop. We couldn't be happier with it. As with all of our pieces, this custom dining table was hand made in San Diego, CA.

Casual dining area in a Dallas home featuring a round table, black spindle-back chairs, and abstract artwork, creating a light-filled, relaxed space for everyday meals and gathering.

Janine Dowling Design, Inc. www.janinedowling.com Photographer: Michael Partenio
Mid-sized beach style light wood floor and beige floor dining room photo in Boston with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized beach style master dark wood floor bedroom design in Orange County with white walls

Taylor Photography
Elegant dark wood floor living room photo in Philadelphia with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Almost every room in the house offers stunning views of the outdoor living space and golf course. The dining room is subtly elegant creating an intimate dining space but also a space to enjoy looking outdoors. The custom chairs have a curved back design to contrast with the linear dining table. The host and hostess chairs add texture and Texas chic with their velvet alligator skin fabric. Permanently set, the tableware sparkles under the crystal chandelier revitalized by a talented faux finisher. Erika Barczak, By Design Interiors Inc. Photo Credit: Daniel Angulo www.danielangulo.com Builder: Kichi Creek Builders