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

サンフランシスコにある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、濃色木目調キャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、セラミックタイルの床、茶色い床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

他の地域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、淡色木目調キャビネット、シルバーの調理設備、コンクリートの床、グレーの床、アンダーカウンターシンク、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル) 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

オースティンにあるラグジュアリーな巨大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、クオーツストーンカウンター、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、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、三角天井) の写真

ニューカッスルにあるお手頃価格の小さなビーチ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、クオーツストーンカウンター、白いキッチンパネル、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、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

A black steel backsplash extends from the kitchen counter to the ceiling. Floating steel shelves free up counterspace while emphasizing the feature wall.The kitchen counter is topped with a white Caeserstone and a stained oak base.

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

Settled within a graffiti-covered laneway in the trendy heart of Mt Lawley you will find this four-bedroom, two-bathroom home. The owners; a young professional couple wanted to build a raw, dark industrial oasis that made use of every inch of the small lot. Amenities aplenty, they wanted their home to complement the urban inner-city lifestyle of the area. One of the biggest challenges for Limitless on this project was the small lot size & limited access. Loading materials on-site via a narrow laneway required careful coordination and a well thought out strategy. Paramount in bringing to life the client’s vision was the mixture of materials throughout the home. For the second story elevation, black Weathertex Cladding juxtaposed against the white Sto render creates a bold contrast. Upon entry, the room opens up into the main living and entertaining areas of the home. The kitchen crowns the family & dining spaces. The mix of dark black Woodmatt and bespoke custom cabinetry draws your attention. Granite benchtops and splashbacks soften these bold tones. Storage is abundant. Polished concrete flooring throughout the ground floor blends these zones together in line with the modern industrial aesthetic. A wine cellar under the staircase is visible from the main entertaining areas. Reclaimed red brickwork can be seen through the frameless glass pivot door for all to appreciate — attention to the smallest of details in the custom mesh wine rack and stained circular oak door handle. Nestled along the north side and taking full advantage of the northern sun, the living & dining open out onto a layered alfresco area and pool. Bordering the outdoor space is a commissioned mural by Australian illustrator Matthew Yong, injecting a refined playfulness. It’s the perfect ode to the street art culture the laneways of Mt Lawley are so famous for. Engineered timber flooring flows up the staircase and throughout the rooms of the first floor, softening the private living areas. Four bedrooms encircle a shared sitting space creating a contained and private zone for only the family to unwind. The Master bedroom looks out over the graffiti-covered laneways bringing the vibrancy of the outside in. Black stained Cedarwest Squareline cladding used to create a feature bedhead complements the black timber features throughout the rest of the home. Natural light pours into every bedroom upstairs, designed to reflect a calamity as one appreciates the hustle of inner city living outside its walls. Smart wiring links each living space back to a network hub, ensuring the home is future proof and technology ready. An intercom system with gate automation at both the street and the lane provide security and the ability to offer guests access from the comfort of their living area. Every aspect of this sophisticated home was carefully considered and executed. Its final form; a modern, inner-city industrial sanctuary with its roots firmly grounded amongst the vibrant urban culture of its surrounds.