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

シーダーラピッズ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リビング (ベージュの壁、淡色無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、木材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、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

シカゴにある高級な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 (ベージュの壁、無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、漆喰の暖炉まわり、茶色い床) の写真

ミネアポリ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オープンリビング (白い壁、無垢フローリング、横長型暖炉、漆喰の暖炉まわり、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

アトランタ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、茶色い床、黒いソファ) の写真

Photo Credits: Brian Vanden Brink
ボストンにある中くらいなビーチスタイルのおしゃれなリビング (緑の壁、無垢フローリング、石材の暖炉まわり、テレビなし、標準型暖炉、茶色い床) の写真

Daniel Newcomb
マイアミ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、濃色無垢フローリング、暖炉なし、テレビなし、茶色い床、グレーと黒) の写真

This LVP driftwood-inspired design balances overcast grey hues with subtle taupes. A smooth, calming style with a neutral undertone that works with all types of decor. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

東京都下にあるお手頃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リビング (グレーの壁、無垢フローリング、暖炉なし、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床、クロスの天井、壁紙、グレーの天井、グレーと黒) の写真

Country farmhouse with joined family room and kitchen.
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなカントリー風のおしゃれなオープンリビング (白い壁、無垢フローリング、暖炉なし、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床、塗装板張りの壁) の写真

ビルバオ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 (ライブラリー、グレーの壁、ラミネートの床、暖炉なし、茶色い床、表し梁、壁紙) の写真

ミネアポリスにあるお手頃価格の中くらいな北欧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、木材の暖炉まわり、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

デンバーにある中くらいなラスティックスタイルのおしゃれなLDK (濃色無垢フローリング、標準型暖炉、石材の暖炉まわり、茶色い床、茶色い壁) の写真

Гостиная
モスクワ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独立型リビング (ライブラリー、ベージュの壁、無垢フローリング、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真

This living room got an upgraded look with the help of new paint, furnishings, fireplace tiling and the installation of a bar area. Our clients like to party and they host very often... so they needed a space off the kitchen where adults can make a cocktail and have a conversation while listening to music. We accomplished this with conversation style seating around a coffee table. We designed a custom built-in bar area with wine storage and beverage fridge, and floating shelves for storing stemware and glasses. The fireplace also got an update with beachy glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern and a rustic pine mantel. The homeowners are also love music and have a large collection of vinyl records. We commissioned a custom record storage cabinet from Hansen Concepts which is a piece of art and a conversation starter of its own. The record storage unit is made of raw edge wood and the drawers are engraved with the lyrics of the client's favorite songs. It's a masterpiece and will be an heirloom for sure.

Vibrant living room room with tufted velvet sectional, lacquer & marble cocktail table, colorful oriental rug, pink grasscloth wallcovering, black ceiling, and brass accents. Photo by Kyle Born.

This house features an open concept floor plan, with expansive windows that truly capture the 180-degree lake views. The classic design elements, such as white cabinets, neutral paint colors, and natural wood tones, help make this house feel bright and welcoming year round.

James Meyer Photography
ミルウォーキー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オープンリビング (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、壁掛け型テレビ、茶色い床) の写真