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. Photography Eric Roth Photo

Our clients wanted to update the bathroom on the main floor to reflect the style of the rest of their home. The clean white lines, gold fixtures and floating vanity give this space a very elegant and modern look.

This 3/4 bathroom serves the guest apartment in this multi-purpose shop. LVP flooring is warmed with radiant heating.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern 3/4 bathroom in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, vinyl floors, a drop-in sink, laminate benchtops, grey floor, a shower curtain and white benchtops.

Inspiration for a modern 3/4 bathroom in Alicante-Costa Blanca with medium wood cabinets, white tile, white benchtops, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, medium hardwood floors, an undermount sink, beige floor and flat-panel cabinets.

Ph. Simone Cappelletti
Modern bathroom in Other with medium wood cabinets, grey walls, wood benchtops, a wall-mount toilet, light hardwood floors, a vessel sink, beige floor and beige benchtops.

photography by Eckert & Eckert Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern master bathroom in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an open shower, gray tile, porcelain tile, engineered quartz benchtops, a two-piece toilet, white walls, concrete floors, an undermount sink, grey floor and an open shower.

Master bathroom shower is lined with Calacatta marble with a large Fleetwood operable window above for ventilation. The shower features a Graff square low profile Rain showerhead in the ceiling. Cabinets are figured walnut with a clear stain. Philip Liang Photography

Architect: Studio Zerbey Architecture + Design
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master bathroom with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a curbless shower, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, concrete floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and a hinged shower door.

Large modern master bathroom in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a corner shower, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, brown floor and a hinged shower door.

Photo of a large modern master bathroom in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a double shower, gray tile, travertine, grey walls, cement tiles, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and a hinged shower door.

We used wire glass for added visual texture, as well as frosted glass at the lower portion for privacy into the shower on the left and the toilet room on the right. Blackstock Photography

Edward C. Butera
Inspiration for an expansive modern master bathroom in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a double shower, white tile, marble floors and marble benchtops.

Design ideas for a modern master bathroom in Richmond with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, a vessel sink and engineered quartz benchtops.

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern master bathroom in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an open shower, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, pebble tile floors, engineered quartz benchtops and an open shower.

Design ideas for an expansive modern master wet room bathroom in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a two-piece toilet, white tile, glass tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white floor and an open shower.

A Minimal Modern Spa Bathroom completed by Storybook Interiors of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Mid-sized modern master bathroom in Grand Rapids with gray tile, quartzite benchtops, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, a one-piece toilet, ceramic tile, ceramic floors, a vessel sink and multi-coloured walls.

(c) Alain Jaramillo
Mid-sized modern master bathroom in Baltimore with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, beige tile, beige walls, limestone floors, a vessel sink, glass benchtops and limestone.

KuDa Photography
Small modern master bathroom in Portland with furniture-like cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink and engineered quartz benchtops.

The nature-inspired master bath reinforces the connection to the site through the choice of materials. Natural shaped bluestone floor. photo: Haven design+building llc