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

The homeowners wanted to open up their living and kitchen area to create a more open plan. We relocated doors and tore open a wall to make that happen. New cabinetry and floors where installed and the ceiling and fireplace where painted. This home now functions the way it should for this young family!

This new traditional kitchen with an earth-tone palette, boasts a large island with cooktop, oven and surround seating. Whether it's family or friends, all can gather around to enjoy the cooking and dining experience. Starmark shaker-style custom cabinets, herringbone backsplash and Rosslyn Cambria quartz adorn the perimeter walls. The island boasts Starmark shaker-style custom cabinets and Windermere Cambria quartz. Hardware, faucet and sink selections have oil-rubbed bronze finishes. Photography by Michael Giragosian

メルボルンにあるトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、シルバーの調理設備、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、無垢フローリング、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

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、白いキャビネット、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、パネルと同色の調理設備、無垢フローリング、茶色い床、グレーのキッチンカウンター) の写真

他の地域にある低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 (ドロップインシンク、インセット扉のキャビネット、青いキャビネット、テラゾーカウンター、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、テラゾーの床、白い床、白いキッチンカウンター、格子天井) の写真

シドニーにあるラグジュアリー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 (ダブルシンク、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、大理石カウンター、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、パネルと同色の調理設備、無垢フローリング、茶色い床、グレーのキッチンカウンター、表し梁) の写真

Mid-century meets modern – this project demonstrates the potential of a heritage renovation that builds upon the past. The major renovations and extension encourage a strong relationship between the landscape, as part of daily life, and cater to a large family passionate about their neighbourhood and entertaining.

The main kitchen is a combination of real oak veneer and matte laminate cabinets. A textured wood ceiling delineates the kitchen area from the main living and dining areas. The raised area of the island is an oak cantilevered section that provides seating on each side.

Integrated bespoke cabinetry, butlers pantry and feature island bench are just some of the features of this functional and beautiful kitchen.
シドニーにある高級な広いビーチスタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、大理石カウンター、白いキッチンカウンター、三角天井、塗装板張りの天井、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、パネルと同色の調理設備、無垢フローリング、茶色い床) の写真

ワシントンD.C.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II型キッチン (フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、中間色木目調キャビネット、オレンジのキッチンパネル、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、アイランドなし、茶色い床、白いキッチンカウンター) の写真

ロサンゼルス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、中間色木目調キャビネット、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、無垢フローリング、茶色い床、黒いキッチンカウンター) の写真

Scott Burrows
ブリスベンにあるお手頃価格の小さなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなII型キッチン (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、クオーツストーンカウンター、白いキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、茶色い床、白いキッチンカウンター、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、無垢フローリング) の写真

デトロイトにある高級な広いトラディショナル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、シェーカースタイル扉のキャビネット、木材カウンター、緑のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、無垢フローリング、中間色木目調キャビネット、ガラスまたは窓のキッチンパネル、窓) の写真

Transitional kitchen featuring: Open floorplan, Exposed beams, Statuario Maximus engineered quartz by Caesarstone, Walnut Floating Shelves and Bar Top, Hickory Plank Wood Flooring, Large Island with bar sink, Farmhouse sink by Kohler, Brizo faucets, White and green shaker style cabinetry, Two-Toned windows, Cook-top, Pot filler, Pantry, Restoration Hardware LED light fixture, Pendant lighting, Wood bar stools, Photo by: Kim Rodgers Photography

Leanna Rathkelly Cabinets: Rift Cut White Oak - Crystal Stain by Thetis Cove Joinery, Victoria, BC Countertop: Caesarstone "Bianco Drift" by StoneAge Marble and Granite Backsplash: Neolith by Thesize Gama Colorfeel - Nieve Paint: Benjamin Moore - Strand of Pearls- CSP - 395

Manufacturer: Golden Eagle Log Homes - http://www.goldeneagleloghomes.com/ Builder: Rich Leavitt – Leavitt Contracting - http://leavittcontracting.com/ Location: Mount Washington Valley, Maine Project Name: South Carolina 2310AR Square Feet: 4,100

The new pantry is located where the old pantry was housed. The exisitng pantry contained standard wire shelves and bi-fold doors on a basic 18" deep closet. The homeowner wanted a place for deocorative storage, so without changing the footprint, we were able to create a more functional, more accessible and definitely more beautiful pantry! Alex Claney Photography, LauraDesignCo for photo staging