wallpapered headboard wall, upholstered bed,

Brycen Fischer Photography

You don’t need to take a vacation anywhere with a sun-soaked master suite addition like this. So serene. • Whole Home Renovation + Addition, 1879 Built Home Wellesley, MA

Upon stepping into this master bedroom for the first time a few design issues immediately struck me. One being the bed placement against what was the original fireplace in the room. The second was the wall and area rug color and the general blandness of the yellow especially against the white of the original paneled door and window moldings. Thirdly, the general fussiness and extensive amount of stuff everywhere. There needed to a more organized way to stay on top of the day to day clutter that accumulates regularly. Photo: Ward Roberts

Teenage boy's bedroom with gray and red color palette. Red accents on pillows, in bedspread and on lampshades. Built in cabinetry surrounds window and window seat. Peter Rymwid Photography

Jacquie Dunton

Photo: Kristin Laing © 2018 Houzz

Raquel Langworthy

Raquel Langworthy

Restoration and interior design : Richard and Dina Dwyer. Photo : Michael Hospelt

Евгений Дементьев

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

The Indio Residence, located on an ocean side bluff in Shell Beach, is a clean, contemporary home. Taking cues from the Florin Residence, an earlier project completed for the same client, the Indio Residence is much larger with additional amenities to meet the client’s needs. At the front door, guests are greeted by floor to ceiling glass with views straight out to the ocean. Tall, grand ceilings throughout the entry and great room are highlighted by skylights, allowing for a naturally lit interior. The open concept floor plan helps highlight the custom details such as the glass encased wine room and floor to ceiling ocean-facing glass. In order to maintain a sense of privacy, the master suite and guests rooms are located on opposite wings of the home. Ideal for entertaining, this layout allows for maximum privacy and shared space alike. Additionally, a privately accessed caretakers apartment is located above the garage, complete with a living room, kitchenette, and ocean facing deck.