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

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

メルボルン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 (ドロップインシンク、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、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、セラミックタイルの床、グレーの床、白いキッチンカウンター、塗装板張りの天井) の写真

A kitchen remodel that incorporates sleek contemporary design with warmth mixing two tone light wood and white cabinets. Multi height counters and hidden appliances keep surfaces clear of clutter. A blackened steel shelf and counter provides a contemporary twist. A double Galley sink with preparation accessories that make work easy.

Roundhouse matt lacquer Urbo kitchen in Plummet by Farrow & Ball and Burnished Bronze Urbo island cabinets with Wholestave American Black Walnut breakfast bar. Worktop in Quartzstone Grey 03 and splashback in white colourblocked toughened glass. Photography by Darren Chung.

Esta cocina abierta que hemos hecho integra perfectamente la premisa del estilo nórdico: sencillez cálida y acogedora. Predomina el color blanco, que aporta mucha luminosidad, y el suave tono natural de la madera en el suelo y la encimera. Al abrirla al comedor, se ha ganado amplitud y luz, y el espacio de mesa conecta perfectamente los dos espacios.

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.

Vista dalla cucina verso la zona giorno. In primo piano la grande vetrata di separazione tra gli ambienti.
ミラノにある高級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 (一体型シンク、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、木材カウンター、木材のキッチンパネル、磁器タイルの床、グレーの床) の写真

シュトゥットガルトにある高級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 (一体型シンク、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、白いキッチンパネル、木材のキッチンパネル、黒い調理設備、塗装フローリング、茶色い床) の写真

central photography
マンチェスターにある高級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 (ダブルシンク、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、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、無垢フローリング) の写真

ダラスにある高級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 (フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、シルバーの調理設備、無垢フローリング、茶色い床、アンダーカウンターシンク、茶色いキャビネット、クオーツストーンカウンター、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル) の写真

ブリスベンにある高級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、白いキャビネット、御影石カウンター、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、淡色無垢フローリング) の写真

Spacecrafting Photography
ミネアポリスにある高級な中くらいなミッドセンチュリースタイルのおしゃれなアイランドキッチン (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、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) の写真

This modern European Kitchen Design utilizes a compact Space with a maximum of practicality. The clean and minimalist off-white Fronts create straight guide lines, while the functional Housing in grain Matched Stone Ash hides away the Refrigerator and Pantry Cabinet. A Bar to the living Room leaves Room to entertain Guests and be functional as the perfect Coffee Bar of the inviting open House Layout.

クリーブランド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、中間色木目調キャビネット、人工大理石カウンター、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、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

A contemporary take on a classic shaker design, for the perfect combination of old and new. An oak topped central island to blend with the oak framed property. Photos byAlton Omar

Hidden walk-in pantry
タンパにある高級な広いモダンスタイルのおしゃれなパントリー (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、御影石カウンター、ベージュキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、磁器タイルの床) の写真

Bethesda, Maryland Transitional Kitchen #JenniferGilmer http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod

Eric Rorer
サンフランシスコにある高級な広いミッドセンチュリースタイルのおしゃれなキッチン (一体型シンク、フラットパネル扉のキャビネット、白いキャビネット、木材カウンター、白いキッチンパネル、ガラス板のキッチンパネル、シルバーの調理設備、無垢フローリング) の写真