Inspiration for a traditional exterior in Melbourne.

Traditional exterior in Sydney.

Photo of a traditional house exterior in Melbourne.

Inspiration for a traditional exterior in Melbourne.

Photography by Jeff Herr
This is an example of a traditional two-storey grey house exterior in Atlanta with a hip roof and a shingle roof.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey blue house exterior in Jacksonville with vinyl siding.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional two-storey grey house exterior in Chicago with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Photo of a traditional exterior in Cincinnati with stone veneer.

Photo of a traditional three-storey grey house exterior in Boston with mixed siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and clapboard siding.

This is an example of a traditional two-storey white house exterior in DC Metro with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Scott Chester
Mid-sized traditional two-storey grey house exterior in Atlanta with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Brick and Cast Stone Exterior
Inspiration for a large traditional two-storey brick exterior in Dallas with a gable roof.

How do you make a split entry not look like a split entry? Several challenges presented themselves when designing the new entry/portico. The homeowners wanted to keep the large transom window above the front door and the need to address “where is” the front entry and of course, curb appeal. With the addition of the new portico, custom built cedar beams and brackets along with new custom made cedar entry and garage doors added warmth and style. Final touches of natural stone, a paver stoop and walkway, along professionally designed landscaping. This home went from ordinary to extraordinary! Architecture was done by KBA Architects in Minneapolis.

This is an example of a traditional exterior in New Orleans.

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Photo of a large traditional two-storey white house exterior in Nashville with a hip roof and a shingle roof.

We put a new roof on this home in Frederick that was hit with hail last summer. The shingles we installed are GAF Timberline HD shingles in the color Pewter Gray.

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.

Front entrance of a Colonial Revival custom (ground-up) residence with traditional Southern charm. The window-lined exterior provides natural illumination throughout the house, and segments the transition from the indoor spaces to the exterior, front porch. Photograph by Laura Hull.

Inspiration for a large traditional two-storey brick white exterior in Other with a gable roof.