Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Little Rock with painted wood risers and wood railing.

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

Mid-sized transitional wood l-shaped staircase in Atlanta with painted wood risers and mixed railing.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional wood l-shaped staircase in New York with painted wood risers.

Mike Kaskel
Design ideas for a mid-sized country wood l-shaped staircase in Houston with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Custom Stair Runner in Old Bridge, NJ by G. Fried Carpet & Design in Paramus, NJ. Photo Credit: Ivan Bader
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional carpeted l-shaped staircase in New York with carpet risers and wood railing.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary wood l-shaped staircase in San Francisco with mixed railing and metal risers.

Photo of a mid-sized modern wood l-shaped staircase in Chicago with wood risers.

Corey Gaffer Photography
Mid-sized transitional wood l-shaped staircase in Minneapolis with painted wood risers and mixed railing.

Atelier MEP
Mid-sized contemporary wood l-shaped staircase in Paris with metal risers.

Ben Gebo
Photo of a mid-sized transitional wood l-shaped staircase in Boston with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Comfortable carpeted stairs leading down to the basement
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary carpeted l-shaped staircase in Edmonton with carpet risers and mixed railing.

This large full home remodel had every single surface of the home changed from builder grade boring to colorful and modern. The staircase was completely remodeled and changed from traditional bolster style to clean and modern linear. New carpet and luxury vinyl flooring complete the clean look.

This modern farmhouse showcases our studio’s signature style of uniting California-cool style with Midwestern traditional. Double islands in the kitchen offer loads of counter space and can function as dining and workstations. The black-and-white palette lends a modern vibe to the setup. A sleek bar adjacent to the kitchen flaunts open shelves and wooden cabinetry that allows for stylish entertaining. While warmer hues are used in the living areas and kitchen, the bathrooms are a picture of tranquility with colorful cabinetry and a calming ambiance created with elegant fixtures and decor. --- Project designed by Pasadena interior design studio Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home. They serve Pasadena, Bradbury, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Los Angeles, as well as surrounding areas. --- For more about Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home, click here: https://peltierinteriors.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://peltierinteriors.com/portfolio/modern-elegant-farmhouse-interior-design-vienna/

Front Entrance staircase with in stair lighting.
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial carpeted l-shaped staircase in Calgary with carpet risers and mixed railing.

Welcoming foyer and staircase. View plan THD-8743: https://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/polishchuk-residence-8743/

Completed in 2020, this large 3,500 square foot bungalow underwent a major facelift from the 1990s finishes throughout the house. We worked with the homeowners who have two sons to create a bright and serene forever home. The project consisted of one kitchen, four bathrooms, den, and game room. We mixed Scandinavian and mid-century modern styles to create these unique and fun spaces. --- Project designed by the Atomic Ranch featured modern designers at Breathe Design Studio. From their Austin design studio, they serve an eclectic and accomplished nationwide clientele including in Palm Springs, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about Breathe Design Studio, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/bungalow-remodel

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary concrete l-shaped staircase in Bologna with concrete risers and glass railing.

Mid-sized transitional wood l-shaped staircase in Boston with painted wood risers and mixed railing.