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

These gorgeous stairs have been treated to one of our bespoke flatweave herringbone runners, featuring Crucial Trading's timeless Alpine, finished with a black linen taped edge.

シドニー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折り返し階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

In this smart home, the space under the basement stairs was brilliantly transformed into a cozy and safe space, where dreaming, reading and relaxing are allowed. Once you leave this magical place and go to the main level, you find a minimalist and elegant staircase system made with red oak handrails and treads and white-painted square balusters. CSC 1976-2020 © Century Stair Company. ® All Rights Reserved.

Custom Stair runner, wool carpet with chevron pattern
ニューヨーク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折り返し階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

ソルトレイクシティ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折り返し階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

ニューヨークにあるお手頃価格の小さなおしゃれな折り返し階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

ロサンゼルス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サーキュラー階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Mike Ciolino
ボスト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かね折れ階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Fibre Devonian Raleigh striped grey carpet fitted as stair runner carpet with whipped edge in Berkshire
ロンドンにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなヴィクトリアン調のおしゃれな直階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Redoing staircases
デンバー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かね折れ階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

The new wide plank oak flooring continues throughout the entire first and second floors with a lovely open staircase lit by a chandelier, skylights and flush in-wall step lighting. Kate Benjamin Photography

Staircase of the new home construction which included installation of staircase with wooden railings and wooden tread and light hardwood flooring.
ロサンゼルス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サーキュラー階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

In this smart home, the space under the basement stairs was brilliantly transformed into a cozy and safe space, where dreaming, reading and relaxing are allowed. Once you leave this magical place and go to the main level, you find a minimalist and elegant staircase system made with red oak handrails and treads and white-painted square balusters. CSC 1976-2020 © Century Stair Company. ® All Rights Reserved.

デンバーにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなラスティックスタイルのおしゃれな直階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

John L. Moore photographer
ボストンにあるお手頃価格の小さなビーチスタイルのおしゃれなかね折れ階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Mark Rowe
オレンジカウンティにあるお手頃価格の小さなビーチスタイルのおしゃれな直階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Homeland Builders LlC
ワシントンD.C.にあるお手頃価格の小さなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな折り返し階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Sfelab
ロンドンにあるお手頃価格の小さなモダンスタイルのおしゃれな直階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真