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.

Jane Beiles Photography
Traditional three-storey white exterior in New York with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

A new Tudor bay added to the front of an existing red brick home using new stone to integrate the base with the existing stone base. Fir windows and cedar trim are stained complementary colors. The darker window color draws out the dark "clinker" bricks. The roof is Certainteed Grand Manor asphalt shingles designed to appear as slate. The gutters and downspouts are copper. The paint of the stucco is Benjamin Moore Exterior low luster in color: “Briarwood”. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan. http://pickellbuilders.com. Solid White Oak Arched Top Glass Double Front Door with Blue Stone Walkway. Stone webwall with brick soldier course and stucco details. Copper flashing and gutters. Cedar shed dormer and brackets.

Stately American Home - Classic Dutch Colonial Photography: Phillip Mueller Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional three-storey exterior in Minneapolis with wood siding.

Rob Karosis Photography www.robkarosis.com
Design ideas for a traditional three-storey exterior in Burlington with wood siding and a gable roof.

Mid-sized traditional three-storey brick beige house exterior in Milwaukee with a gable roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and shingle siding.

View from rear garden
Inspiration for a large traditional three-storey stucco white duplex exterior in Other with a hip roof and a tile roof.

This is an example of an expansive traditional three-storey brick red house exterior in Other with a shingle roof and a hip roof.

This is an example of a traditional three-storey white exterior in Chicago with stone veneer and a flat roof.

Greg Premru
Photo of a mid-sized traditional three-storey white house exterior in Boston with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Traditional three-storey brick white house exterior in DC Metro with a shingle roof.

HISTORIC DISTRICT OF KALORAMA, A THREE-STORY BRICK CITY HOME IS RENOVATED AND ADDED TO. A DARK CONSERVATORY FORM IS ADDED CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE BACK OF THE HOUSE SOLVING CIRCULATION ISSUES AND ADDING SPACE FOR A BREAKFAST ROOM. THE ADDITION REFERENCES CONSERVATORIES DESIGNED DURING THE TIME, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC HOME AND THE NEW CONTRASTING ADDITION IS CLEAR. THE UPPER LANDING OF THE MAIN STAIRWAY WAS CHANGED TO WINDERS. THE BENEFIT OF WHICH PURCHASES ENOUGH RISE TO ALLOW CIRCULATION BELOW THE WINDERS ALLOWING ACCESS AND VIEW TO THE BACK GARDENS. INFORMAL KITCHEN, FAMILY AND BREAKFAST WERE OPENED UP TO ADDRESS MODERN LIVING, THE PARENTHESIS OF THE ORIGINAL ROOMS WAS LEFT CLEARLY DEFINED. BRICK WALLS ARE ALSO ADDED TO THE FRONT ACT AS A BASE ON THE FRONT.

On this site, an existing house was torn down and replaced with a beautiful new wood-framed brick house to take full advantage of a corner lot located in a walkable, 1920’s Atlanta neighborhood. The new residence has four bedrooms and four baths in the main house with an additional flexible bedroom space over the garage. The tower element of the design features an entry with the master bedroom above. The idea of the tower was to catch a glimpse of a nearby park and architecturally address the corner lot. Integrity® Casement, Awning and Double Hung Windows were the preferred choice—the windows’ design and style were historically correct and provided the energy efficiency, sustainability and low-maintenance the architect required.

Builder: Artisan Custom Homes Photography by: Jim Schmid Photography Interior Design by: Homestyles Interior Design
Inspiration for a large traditional three-storey grey house exterior in Charlotte with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof and a mixed roof.

Photo of a large traditional three-storey brick red exterior in Phoenix with a gable roof.

Photo of a large traditional three-storey grey exterior in New York with concrete fiberboard siding and a flat roof.

Large traditional three-storey blue exterior in Cincinnati with concrete fiberboard siding and a gable roof.

Built by Sanford Custom Builders and custom designed by Jan Gleysteen Architects, this classical shingle and stone home offers finely crafted architectural details throughout. The home is situated on a gentle knoll and is approached by a circular receiving court. Amenities include 5 en-suite bedrooms including a master bedroom with adjoining luxurious spa bath, walk up office suite with additional bath, media/movie theater room, step-down mahogany family room, first floor office with wood paneling and barrel vaulted ceilings. On the lower level there is a gym, wet bar and billiard room.