Completely modernized and changed this previously dated kitchen. We installed a stovetop with downdraft rather than an overhead vent.

A great white makeover! The living room and dining room were opened up to include the kitchen. New white Shaker cabinets, white countertops and a white backsplash transformed this home into a showplace.

Nestled in the former antiques & design district, this loft unites a charismatic history with lively modern vibes. If these walls could talk. We gave this industrial time capsule an urban facelift by enhancing the 19-century architecture with a mix of metals, textures and sleek surfaces to appeal to a sassy & youthful lifestyle. Transcending time and place, we designed this loft to be clearly confident, uniquely refined while maintaining its authentic bones.

photo by Pedro Marti The goal of this renovation was to create a stair with a minimal footprint in order to maximize the usable space in this small apartment. The existing living room was divided in two and contained a steep ladder to access the second floor sleeping loft. The client wanted to create a single living space with a true staircase and to open up and preferably expand the old galley kitchen without taking away too much space from the living area. Our solution was to create a new stair that integrated with the kitchen cabinetry and dining area In order to not use up valuable floor area. The fourth tread of the stair continues to create a counter above additional kitchen storage and then cantilevers and wraps around the kitchen’s stone counters to create a dining area. The stair was custom fabricated in two parts. First a steel structure was created, this was then clad by a wood worker who constructed the kitchen cabinetry and made sure the stair integrated seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen. The treads have a floating appearance when looking from the living room, that along with the open rail helps to visually connect the kitchen to the rest of the space. The angle of the dining area table is informed by the existing angled wall at the entry hall, the line of the table is picked up on the other side of the kitchen by new floor to ceiling cabinetry that folds around the rear wall of the kitchen into the hallway creating additional storage within the hall.

This customer wanted to replace their very outdated kitchen with a very modern style/feel. The results are absolutely gorgeous. It provides a great balance of contrast and the final product looks huge

Alan Wycheck Photography

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

flat panel pre-fab kitchen, glass subway grey tile, carrera whits quartz countertop, stainless steel appliances

Our client is a gourmet cook and she desired a new kitchen in their home that they have lived in for over 30 years. She knew that she wanted minimalist, modern cabinetry, neutral color palettes, and wood accents, her contemporary kitchens has a subtle elegance that will never go out of style. We blended aspects of modern design with other details for a look that's current and sleek, but not sterile. A pop of color show with her accessories we acquired for their home—whether it’s on the furniture, in a bowl of fresh fruit, or in a vase of flowers. These details just add to this clean and modern chef’s kitchen. Hidden treasures are tiered cutlery systems and a pull up mixer so no one has to lift that heavy kitchen aid mix. The overall style ensures that this contemporary kitchen designs still feel warm and welcoming, as do big windows that let in the sun, an architectural light fixture. Photography Sheldon Ivester | IVESTER creative

Anne Matheis Photography

Kitchen uses Walnut with a brown finish for all of the exposed wood surfaces. Walnut used on the slab doors are cut from the same panel to give synchronized pattern that matches vertically. All painted cabinets are made from Alder. Unique detail to note for the kitchen is the single seamless top shelve pieces on the top of the cook top and side wall that extend 12 feet without any gaps. The waterfall edge granite counter top captures initial attention and is the bridge that bring together the Warm walnut kitchen with the white storage and integrated fridge. Project By: Urban Vision Woodworks Contact: Michael Alaman 602.882.6606 michael.alaman@yahoo.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/urban_vision_woodworks Materials Supplied by: Peterman Lumber, Inc. Fontana, CA | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ http://petermanlumber.com/

Project By WDesignLiving, white kitchen, kitchen island, caesarstone countertop, white shakers cabinets, pearl white subway tiles, double oven, microwave hood, french door refrigerator, kitchen counter stools, upholstered counter stools, picture window, kitchen window, view to backyard, white floor, porcelain tile floor, glossy floor, polished floor, gray floor, family room, kids play area, living room, open floor plan, open layout, open concept, dining room, bench, window bench

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield

Open Kitchen with large island. Two-tone cabinetry with decorative end panels. White quartz counters with stainless steel hood and brass pendant light fixtures.

Contemporary kitchen with Mecho Solar Screen Shades & Somfy Motorization for ease of operating the light filtering window treatments!