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

The Port Ludlow Residence is a compact, 2400 SF modern house located on a wooded waterfront property at the north end of the Hood Canal, a long, fjord-like arm of western Puget Sound. The house creates a simple glazed living space that opens up to become a front porch to the beautiful Hood Canal. The east-facing house is sited along a high bank, with a wonderful view of the water. The main living volume is completely glazed, with 12-ft. high glass walls facing the view and large, 8-ft.x8-ft. sliding glass doors that open to a slightly raised wood deck, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space. During the warm summer months, the living area feels like a large, open porch. Anchoring the north end of the living space is a two-story building volume containing several bedrooms and separate his/her office spaces. The interior finishes are simple and elegant, with IPE wood flooring, zebrawood cabinet doors with mahogany end panels, quartz and limestone countertops, and Douglas Fir trim and doors. Exterior materials are completely maintenance-free: metal siding and aluminum windows and doors. The metal siding has an alternating pattern using two different siding profiles. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and rain protection; metal siding (recycled steel) for maximum durability, and a heat pump mechanical system for maximum energy efficiency. Sustainable interior finish materials include wood cabinets, linoleum floors, low-VOC paints, and natural wool carpet.

This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. The vertical grain fir ceilings were reclaimed, refinished, and reinstalled. The floors were a special epoxy blend to imitate terrazzo floors that were so popular during this period. The quartz countertops waterfall on both ends and the handmade tile accents the backsplash. Reclaimed light fixtures, hardware, and appliances put the finishing touches on this remodel. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios

Источник вдохновения для домашнего уюта: параллельная кухня-гостиная среднего размера в стиле неоклассика (современная классика) с двумя и более островами, врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, мраморной столешницей, техникой из нержавеющей стали, паркетным полом среднего тона и фасадами цвета дерева среднего тона

The walls on either side of the island are cut back to the bottom of the upper cabinets which allows a full view through the kitchen. Andrea Rugg Photography

На фото: большая параллельная кухня в современном стиле с обеденным столом, врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, фасадами цвета дерева среднего тона, мраморной столешницей, белым фартуком, фартуком из каменной плиты, островом, бежевым полом, белой столешницей, техникой под мебельный фасад и двухцветным гарнитуром

Josefotoinmo, OOIIO Arquitectura
Идея дизайна: прямая кухня в скандинавском стиле с плоскими фасадами, деревянной столешницей, белым фартуком, фартуком из плитки кабанчик, белой техникой, островом, бежевой столешницей, одинарной мойкой, белыми фасадами, бежевым полом и двухцветным гарнитуром

© Bertrand Fompeyrine La cuisine a entièrement été faite sur mesure. Les façades de la cuisine sont laquées en cabine.
Источник вдохновения для домашнего уюта: угловая кухня в современном стиле с обеденным столом, врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, бежевыми фасадами, белым фартуком, паркетным полом среднего тона, коричневым полом, белой столешницей, красивой плиткой и мойкой у окна без острова

Bench top fabricated using Trethewey Stones exclusive Purestone stone range, colour 'Oriental Bay' mitred to 60mm
Стильный дизайн: параллельная кухня в современном стиле с столешницей из кварцевого агломерата, островом, врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, белыми фасадами, серым фартуком, техникой из нержавеющей стали, паркетным полом среднего тона, коричневым полом и серой столешницей - последний тренд

Идея дизайна: кухня в стиле модернизм с врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, мраморной столешницей, техникой под мебельный фасад, бетонным полом и серым полом без острова

Пример оригинального дизайна: п-образная кухня среднего размера в стиле кантри с кладовкой, плоскими фасадами, фасадами цвета дерева среднего тона, столешницей из акрилового камня, полом из керамогранита и серым полом без острова

На фото: большая прямая кухня в стиле модернизм с обеденным столом, плоскими фасадами, серыми фасадами, столешницей из акрилового камня, коричневым фартуком, техникой из нержавеющей стали, бетонным полом, островом и двойной мойкой с

Nick Springett Photography
Свежая идея для дизайна: большая угловая кухня-гостиная в современном стиле с врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, техникой из нержавеющей стали, островом, серыми фасадами, столешницей из кварцевого агломерата, белым фартуком, фартуком из мрамора, полом из керамогранита и бежевым полом - отличное фото интерьера

Felipe Tozzato, Phillip Banks Construction
На фото: параллельная кухня в современном стиле с врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, белыми фасадами, техникой из нержавеющей стали, мраморной столешницей, белым фартуком и полом из керамической плитки без острова

Photography by Trent Bell
Стильный дизайн: огромная угловая кухня-гостиная в современном стиле с врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, темными деревянными фасадами, техникой из нержавеющей стали, двумя и более островами, бежевым полом и белой столешницей - последний тренд

Beginning this full home remodel in the kitchen, we added a cozy banquette, built-in custom cabinets, and a PentalQuartz Super White countertop for a contemporary vibe. The kitchen’s central feature is an inset bar in rich macassar ebony and Flavor Paper’s Monaco gold foil wallpaper that was formerly a fireplace.

Lake Front Country Estate Kitchen, designed by Tom Markalunas, built by Resort Custom Homes. Photography by Rachael Boling
На фото: огромная угловая кухня в классическом стиле с обеденным столом, с полувстраиваемой мойкой (с передним бортиком), плоскими фасадами, белыми фасадами, гранитной столешницей, белым фартуком, фартуком из плитки кабанчик, техникой из нержавеющей стали, светлым паркетным полом и островом с

Стильный дизайн: маленькая, узкая отдельная, параллельная, светлая кухня в стиле неоклассика (современная классика) с врезной мойкой, плоскими фасадами, белыми фасадами, белым фартуком, техникой из нержавеющей стали и темным паркетным полом без острова для на участке и в саду - последний тренд

Ocular Proof
Пример оригинального дизайна: кухня в современном стиле с обеденным столом, плоскими фасадами, темными деревянными фасадами, белым фартуком, фартуком из каменной плитки и техникой из нержавеющей стали