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

Marco Zanta
ヴェネツィアにある北欧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

One of the real joys of this project was the restoration and refurbishment of the original staircase after many decades of subdivision. This leads from the double-height entrance hall (with new mosaic flooring to match the original) to the top of the house, past a beautiful new stained glass window by Aldo Diana. Photography: Bruce Hemming

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

Roger Oates Flaxman Stone stair runner carpet fitted to white painted staircase in Old Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire
ハンプシャー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かね折れ階段 (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.

ミネアポリスにあるカントリー風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

他の地域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かね折れ階段 (木の蹴込み板、木材の手すり) の写真

Mike Jensen Photography
シアトルにある高級な広い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

Ann-Louise Buck
他の地域にある中くらい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

ロンドンにあるヴィクトリアン調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

Everything! Completely renovated 1890 home...Classic charm with modern amenities. New kitchen including all new stainless appliances, master bathroom, 1/2 bath. Refinished flooring throughout. New furnace, new plumbing and electrical panel box. All new paint interior and exterior.

Chris Snook
ロンドン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トラディショナル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

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

Properly spaced round-metal balusters and simple/elegant white square newels make a dramatic impact in this four-level home. Stain selected for oak treads and handrails match perfectly the gorgeous hardwood floors and complement the white wainscoting throughout the house. CSC 1976-2021 © Century Stair Company ® All rights reserved.

The owners and their designer wanted something totally diffrent. Our trim carpenters built this one of a kind staircase on site.
他の地域にある高級な広いモダン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

Above Door Trim
フィラデルフィアにある高級な中くらいなトラディショナル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