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

Photography by Michael J. Lee
ボストンにあるラグジュアリーな広い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、横長型暖炉、無垢フローリング、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、茶色い床、折り上げ天井、グレーとクリーム色) の写真

The Gold Fork is a contemporary mid-century design with clean lines, large windows, and the perfect mix of stone and wood. Taking that design aesthetic to an open floor plan offers great opportunities for functional living spaces, smart storage solutions, and beautifully appointed finishes. With a nod to modern lifestyle, the tech room is centrally located to create an exciting mixed-use space for the ability to work and live. Always the heart of the home, the kitchen is sleek in design with a full-service butler pantry complete with a refrigerator and loads of storage space.

Photography: Dustin Halleck
シカゴ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、無垢フローリング、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

Tim Clarke-Payton
ロンドンにあるラグジュアリーな広い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、テレビなし、標準型暖炉、茶色い床) の写真

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Troy Thies, Photography | MDS Remodeling, Home Remodel | Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For info about our work: design@oharainteriors.com

バーリントンにある広いトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (石材の暖炉まわり、ベージュの壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

コロンバスにあるカントリー風のおしゃれな応接間 (白い壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

Living Room Photographer Amy Bartlam
ロサンゼルスにある中くらいな地中海スタイルのおしゃれなLDK (白い壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、漆喰の暖炉まわり、テレビなし) の写真

Embracing the organic, wild aesthetic of the Arizona desert, this home offers thoughtful landscape architecture that enhances the native palette without a single irrigation drip line. Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Clint Miller Architect Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Steve Thompson

A light beige and gray transitional style living room with pops of greens and blues.
シアトルにある中くらいなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな応接間 (グレーの壁、標準型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、テレビなし、無垢フローリング) の写真

ダラ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 (ライブラリー、緑の壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、茶色い床、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし) の写真

Cozy living room with coffered ceiling, wide plank pine flooring, and upholstered wing back chairs. Photo by Mike Kaskel
シカゴにあるラグジュアリーな広いカントリー風のおしゃれなLDK (ライブラリー、白い壁、無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

Designer: Liane Thomas Interior Photography: Michael J. Lee Exterior Photography: Eric Roth
ボストンにあるビーチスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (白い壁、無垢フローリング、テレビなし、ベージュの床) の写真

Flori Engbrecht
他の地域にある広いトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (ベージュの壁、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

Jeff Glotzl
他の地域にある高級な小さなエクレクティックスタイルのおしゃれな独立型リビング (ミュージックルーム、グレーの壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、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

kazart photography
ニューヨークにあるトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (ライブラリー、青い壁、無垢フローリング、テレビなし、窓際ベンチ) の写真

ロンドンにあるトランジショナルスタイルのおしゃれな独立型リビング (ベージュの壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真