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

The staircase once housed a traditional railing with twisted iron pickets. During the renovation, the skirt board was painted in the new wall color, and railings replaced in gunmetal gray steel with a stained wood cap. The end result is an aesthetic more in keeping with the homeowner's collection of contemporary artwork mixed with antiques.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional wood straight staircase in Orange County with painted wood risers and wood railing.

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Corey Gaffer Photography
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transformation d'un escalier classique en bois et aménagement de l'espace sous escalier en bureau contemporain. Création d'une bibliothèques et de nouvelles marches en bas de l'escalier, garde-corps en lames bois verticales en chêne

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Photo of a small transitional wood u-shaped staircase in Vancouver with painted wood risers, wood railing and decorative wall panelling.

Placed in a central corner in this beautiful home, this u-shape staircase with light color wood treads and hand rails features a horizontal-sleek black rod railing that not only protects its occupants, it also provides visual flow and invites owners and guests to visit bottom and upper levels. CSC © 1976-2020 Century Stair Company. All rights reserved.

Projet de rénovation intégrale d'une maison. Accompagnement pour la sélection de l'ensemble des revêtements et couleur afin de donner un nouveau visage et lumière à chaque pièce. L'envie des motifs classiques et géométriques se marient parfaitement bien avec les camaïeux des bleus et pastel. Le sol en hexagone tricolore dans le gris et rose pâle de la cuisine est contrasté avec les matériaux nobles et naturels tels que le granit noir du Zimbabwe, l'acajou, les façades blanches et la structure en métal noire de la verrière.

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Leonid Furmansky
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metal stringer with black powder coating metal stringer and post with matt black powder coating 3/16" stainless steel cable railing 2"x2" stainless steel post

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An existing stair in the middle of the house was upgraded to an open stair with glass and wood railing. Walnut trim and details frame the stair including a vertical slat wood screen.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Chicago with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional wood u-shaped staircase in New York with painted wood risers and metal railing.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional wood curved staircase in New York with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Sam Van Fleet
Mid-sized industrial wood l-shaped staircase in Orange County with open risers and metal railing.