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

Photography by Brad Knipstein
На фото: большая угловая деревянная лестница в стиле неоклассика (современная классика) с деревянными ступенями и металлическими перилами

Пример оригинального дизайна: лестница на больцах, среднего размера в современном стиле с деревянными ступенями без подступенок

The staircase once housed a traditional railing with twisted iron pickets. During the renovation, the skirt board was painted in the new wall color, and railings replaced in gunmetal gray steel with a stained wood cap. The end result is an aesthetic more in keeping with the homeowner's collection of contemporary artwork mixed with antiques.

На фото: большая п-образная деревянная лестница в стиле модернизм с деревянными ступенями и стеклянными перилами с

Идея дизайна: изогнутая деревянная лестница среднего размера в стиле фьюжн с деревянными ступенями и перилами из смешанных материалов

The geometry of the stair handrail is a nod to art deco forms; made in black powder coated steel, and capped with a walnut handrail. The stair is flooded with light from a skylight above, illuminating a subtly textured wall covering, that evokes a soft, plaster finish.

Источник вдохновения для домашнего уюта: большая изогнутая деревянная лестница в средиземноморском стиле с деревянными ступенями и металлическими перилами

Joshua McHugh
На фото: большая деревянная лестница на больцах в стиле модернизм с деревянными ступенями и стеклянными перилами с

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Стильный дизайн: большая угловая деревянная лестница в стиле неоклассика (современная классика) с крашенными деревянными ступенями и перилами из смешанных материалов - последний тренд

Beth Singer Photographer, Inc.
На фото: большая прямая лестница в современном стиле с мраморными ступенями и металлическими перилами без подступенок с

Elegant molding frames the luxurious neutral color palette and textured wall coverings. Across from the expansive quarry stone fireplace, picture windows overlook the adjoining copse. Upstairs, a light-filled gallery crowns the main entry hall. Floor: 5”+7”+9-1/2” random width plank | Vintage French Oak | Rustic Character | Victorian Collection hand scraped | pillowed edge | color Golden Oak | Satin Hardwax Oil. For more information please email us at: sales@signaturehardwoods.com

Photo by: Vern Uyetake
Свежая идея для дизайна: п-образная лестница среднего размера в стиле модернизм с ступенями с ковровым покрытием и перилами из тросов без подступенок - отличное фото интерьера

Идея дизайна: угловая деревянная лестница среднего размера в стиле модернизм с деревянными ступенями

The staircase is the focal point of the home. Chunky floating open treads, blackened steel, and continuous metal rods make for functional and sculptural circulation. Skylights aligned above the staircase illuminate the home and create unique shadow patterns that contribute to the artistic style of the home.

На фото: лестница на больцах, среднего размера в современном стиле с деревянными ступенями без подступенок с

Modern staircase, designed by Mark Reilly Architecture
Стильный дизайн: прямая лестница среднего размера в стиле модернизм с деревянными ступенями и перилами из тросов без подступенок - последний тренд

Photo by Ryann Ford
Стильный дизайн: угловая деревянная лестница в скандинавском стиле с деревянными ступенями и кладовкой или шкафом под ней - последний тренд