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

A clean modern white bathroom located in a Washington, DC condo.

This Zen minimalist master bathroom was designed to be a soothing space to relax, soak, and restore. Clean lines and natural textures keep the room refreshingly simple. Designer: Fumiko Faiman, Photographer: Jeri Koegel

We were called in to update the 80s master bathroom with a carpet, large built-in tub that took up a lot of space and was hardly used, and cabinetry that needed improved functionality. The goal of this project was to come up with a new layout to include, among other things, a makeup area for her and a freestanding tub, and design a sophisticated spa-retreat for the owners.

This bathroom has been completely transformed into a modern spa-worthy sanctuary. Photo: Virtual 360 NY

In this bathroom, the client wanted the contrast of the white subway tile and the black hexagon tile. We tiled up the walls and ceiling to create a wet room feeling.

Designers: Susan Bowen & Revital Kaufman-Meron Photos: LucidPic Photography - Rich Anderson

Photographer: Ryan Gamma

This illustration shows how all the components to your luxury steam spa are hidden in a nearby closet. Any shower can be transformed into an a steam spa.

Ryan Gamma

Project Details Designer: Sarah McDonald Cabinetry: Brookhaven Frameless Cabinetry Wood: Rift Cut Driftwood Finishes: Horizontal Grain Door: Vista Plus Countertop: Quartz Some designers are less than enthusiastic when it comes to bathroom vanities but I love them…particularly when a client wants to maximize both their functionality and beauty. This custom 72” is a great example. Its clean, modern style gracefully floats in the space and behind the doors is an array of unique storage options. To complement the simplicity of the vanity lines, instead of adding another cabinet or armoire, we opted for cool floating drawers and shelves. The lighting and faucet fixtures echo the modern and tailored aesthetic.

This Master Bathroom features high contrasts in color and shapes. Modern black fixtures standout in a backdrop over-sized subway tiles. A custom vanity rests on heated porcelain floors in a faux wood pattern. Carrera marble in a chevron pattern is the star of the shower in the niche and the floor is tiled in a hex pattern. Updating the floor plan allowed for a larger shower and increased storage. The barn door is a fresh update for the closet entrance.

Photography & Design by Petite Harmonie

Avesha Michael