This ceiling was designed and detailed by dSPACE Studio. We created a custom plaster mold that was fabricated by a Chicago plaster company and installed and finished on-site.

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

ダラス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 (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

ワシントンD.C.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 (白い壁、カーペット敷き、暖炉なし、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

Photography ©2012 Tony Valainis
インディアナポリス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 (竹フローリング、白い壁、横長型暖炉、テレビなし) の写真

他の地域にあるお手頃価格の中くらいな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、タイルの暖炉まわり、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

ニューヨーク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 (標準型暖炉、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、ベージュの壁、無垢フローリング、茶色い床) の写真

他の地域にある広いモダンスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (白い壁、淡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、ベージュの床) の写真

シーダーラピッズにあるコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれなリビング (白い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、テレビなし、ベージュの床) の写真

サンディエゴにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (オレンジの壁、濃色無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、漆喰の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、茶色い床) の写真

ミネアポリス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 (グレーの壁、テレビなし、横長型暖炉、カーペット敷き、石材の暖炉まわり) の写真

Paige Rumore, Photography Lori Paranjape, Designer
ナッシュビルにある高級な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 (白い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、暖炉なし、テレビなし、ベージュの床) の写真

Woodie Williams
アトランタ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 (グレーの壁、標準型暖炉、テレビなし、濃色無垢フローリング、金属の暖炉まわり、茶色い床、グレーとクリーム色) の写真

マイアミにあるラグジュアリーな中くらいな北欧スタイルのおしゃれなリビング (白い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、テレビなし) の写真

This dark Jacobean wood floor really grounds the space and sets off the grey, blue interiors well. The room was very narrow and long so we broke up the space by adding seating and console table between the two ends.

Photo by Grey Crawford
オレンジカウンティにある小さなビーチスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (白い壁、濃色無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、レンガの暖炉まわり、テレビなし) の写真

サンフランシスコ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 (青い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、タイルの暖炉まわり、テレビなし) の写真

This historic room has been brought back to life! The room was designed to capitalize on the wonderful architectural features. The signature use of French and English antiques with a captivating over mantel mirror draws the eye into this cozy space yet remains, elegant, timeless and fresh

ロンドン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 (青い壁、淡色無垢フローリング、暖炉なし、テレビなし、ベージュの床、アクセントウォール) の写真