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

シドニーにある高級な広いモダンスタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、無垢フローリング、クオーツストーンカウンター、白いキッチンパネル、白いキッチンカウンター、茶色い床) の写真

メルボルンにある高級な中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、グレーのキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、無垢フローリング、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

Large Kitchen Island Has Open and Concealed Storage. The large island in this loft kitchen isn't only a place to eat, it offers valuable storage space. By removing doors and adding millwork, the island now has a mix of open and concealed storage. The island's black and white color scheme is nicely contrasted by the copper pendant lights above and the teal front door.

アデレードにある広いコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、淡色無垢フローリング、アンダーカウンターシンク、黒いキャビネット、グレーのキッチンパネル、ベージュの床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

サンフランシスコにある高級な中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、淡色木目調キャビネット、大理石カウンター、白いキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、淡色無垢フローリング、ベージュの床、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、グレーのキッチンカウンター) の写真

オークランドにあるコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、青いキャビネット、グレーのキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、グレーの床) の写真

Anita Fraser
ロンドンにある高級な広いコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、青いキャビネット、珪岩カウンター、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、無垢フローリング) の写真

Explore this open-plan space of sophistication and style with a dark-coloured kitchen. For this project in Harpenden, the client wanted a cooking space to suit their family requirements but also with a chic and moody feel. This kitchen features Nobilia's 317 Touch and 340 Lacquer Laminate in Black Supermatt for a luxurious yet understated allure. The sleek 12mm ceramic worktop complements the deep tones, providing a modern touch to the space. A focal point is the bronze mirror backsplash, a stunning creation by Southern Counties Glass, adding depth to the space. High-end appliances from AEG, Bora, Blanco, and Quooker seamlessly blend functionality with aesthetics to elevate the kitchen's performance. These appliances add efficiency to daily cooking activities. At the heart of this space stands a large central island for dining and entertaining, while serving as an additional workspace for meal preparation. Suspended above, gold ambient lighting casts a warm glow, adding a touch of glamour to the space. Contrasting with the dark backdrop, teal counter stools inject a pop of colour and vibrancy, creating a delightful visual balance. Does this Dark Luxurious Kitchen inspire you? Get in touch with us if you want to transform your cooking space.

ミラノにあるお手頃価格の中くらいな北欧スタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、人工大理石カウンター、木材のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、淡色無垢フローリング、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

A modern minimalist kitchen in New Malden. The two tone handleless kitchen furniture from German manufacturer Leicht, is off set perfectly with a back painted glass splashback. The Kubus sink and Quooker tap are set below the large kitchen window that floods the room with light. Appliances from Siemens maintain the very modern finish along with Philips Hue lighting. Both the island and worktops are finished with engineered stone from Caesarstone.

コーンウォールにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (ピンクのキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、淡色無垢フローリング、アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、グレーのキャビネット、グレーの床、白いキッチンカウンター、三角天井) の写真

ロンドンにあるインダストリアルスタイルのおしゃれなコの字型キッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、グレーのキャビネット、茶色いキッチンパネル、木材のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、アイランドなし、グレーの床、黒いキッチンカウンター) の写真

A creative approach to volume and placement proved key to unlocking green belt and planning restrictions for the extension to the Coach House. Surplus outbuildings were demolished and their footprint redistributed into the extension of the main house, while the material palette and site layout respect the style of a traditional farmstead courtyard. Double-height glazed links visually separate newer elements, minimising the impact on the original listed structure and enhancing views to the surrounding countryside.

Roundhouse Urbo handle less painted matt lacquer bespoke kitchen in Farrow & Ball Downpipe with painted box shelves, solid Oak breakfast bar, Blanco Zeus composite stone work top and glass splashback. Photography by Darren Chung.

Central photography
マンチェスターにあるラグジュアリーな中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、グレーのキャビネット、珪岩カウンター、メタリックのキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、磁器タイルの床、白い床、グレーのキッチンカウンター) の写真

ブリスベンにあるコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (アンダーカウンターシンク、コンクリートの床、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、濃色木目調キャビネット、グレーのキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、グレーの床、グレーのキッチンカウンター) の写真

shiplap walls Benjamin Moore 'Bavarian Cream' Dunn Edwards 'Hay Day' reclaimed pine shelves on steel brackets John Boos maple butcher block Access lighting custom cabinetry

In 1949, one of mid-century modern’s most famous NW architects, Paul Hayden Kirk, built this early “glass house” in Hawthorne Hills. Rather than flattening the rolling hills of the Northwest to accommodate his structures, Kirk sought to make the least impact possible on the building site by making use of it natural landscape. When we started this project, our goal was to pay attention to the original architecture--as well as designing the home around the client’s eclectic art collection and African artifacts. The home was completely gutted, since most of the home is glass, hardly any exterior walls remained. We kept the basic footprint of the home the same—opening the space between the kitchen and living room. The horizontal grain matched walnut cabinets creates a natural continuous movement. The sleek lines of the Fleetwood windows surrounding the home allow for the landscape and interior to seamlessly intertwine. In our effort to preserve as much of the design as possible, the original fireplace remains in the home and we made sure to work with the natural lines originally designed by Kirk.