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

グランドラピッズにある中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (ベージュの壁、濃色無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、金属の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

island Paint Benj Moore Kendall Charcoal Floors- DuChateau Chateau Antique White
サンフランシスコにあるラグジュアリーな中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (グレーの壁、淡色無垢フローリング、テレビなし、グレーの床、グレーとクリーム色) の写真

Tricia Shay Photography
ミルウォーキー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リビング (金属の暖炉まわり、白い壁、濃色無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

カンザスシティにある中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (グレーの壁、標準型暖炉、レンガの暖炉まわり、淡色無垢フローリング、テレビなし) の写真

ハンプシャーにある中くらいなカントリー風のおしゃれなLDK (グレーの壁、濃色無垢フローリング、薪ストーブ、漆喰の暖炉まわり、据え置き型テレビ、三角天井、黒い天井) の写真

Зона гостиной. Дизайн проект: Семен Чечулин Стиль: Наталья Орешкова
サンクトペテルブルクにある中くらいなインダストリアルスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (ライブラリー、グレーの壁、クッションフロア、埋込式メディアウォール、茶色い床、板張り天井、コンクリートの壁) の写真

ロサンゼルスにある中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (白い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、漆喰の暖炉まわり、埋込式メディアウォール、板張り壁) の写真

Small modern apartments benefit from a less is more design approach. To maximize space in this living room we used a rug with optical widening properties and wrapped a gallery wall around the seating area. Ottomans give extra seating when armchairs are too big for the space.

フェニックスにある中くらいなエクレクティックスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (青い壁、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

Michelle Drewes
サンフランシスコにある中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (グレーの壁、濃色無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、茶色い床、壁掛け型テレビ、グレーの天井、グレーとブラウン) の写真

ヒューストンにある中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (茶色い壁、無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

The original masonry fireplace, with brick veneer and floating steel framed hearth. The hearth was re-surfaced with a concrete, poured in place counter material. Low voltage, MR-16 recessed lights accent the fireplace and artwork. A small sidelight brings natural light in to wash the brick fireplace as well. Photo by Christopher Wright, CR

サンディエゴにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (ベージュの壁、トラバーチンの床、標準型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、壁掛け型テレビ、ベージュの床) の写真

Photography by kate kunz Styling by jaia talisman
カルガリーにある中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (グレーの壁、クッションフロア、標準型暖炉、石材の暖炉まわり) の写真

The seamless blend of styles in this sitting space conveys a contemporary feel with an organic mix of vintage, rustic and glamour. Sophisticated drama would probably be the best way to describe the arrangement of this gorgeous room, where every detail has been accounted for. David Giles

Photography by Paul Dyer
サンフランシスコにある中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (標準型暖炉、コンクリートの暖炉まわり、テレビなし、グレーとクリーム色) の写真

アトランタにある中くらいなラスティックスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし) の写真

ナッシュビルにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (グレーの壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、テレビなし、グレーとクリーム色、塗装板張りの暖炉まわり) の写真