Houzz Tour: A Family Commits to Going Green

The kitchen provides plenty of work, storage, and socializing space: "The generous counter space provides ample working area for food prep, seating for everyday use, and a built-in wine rack to cradle each vintage. The result is a clean, expansive working space with friendly aesthetics and ample storage to meet the needs of any chef."

The countertops are quartz, by CaesarStone, and the cork pendant light is Alentejo by Forecast.

How to choose materials for a sustainable home? "Materials were selected with durability, low maintenance, and of course, aesthetics in mind. The exterior is clad in a combination of fiber cement board and cedar siding. Inside, the well-traveled paths connecting the entries to the home are delineated in stone, while the remaining living spaces feature bamboo flooring."

"The vibrant red and orange façade colors were inspired by the site’s autumnal color palette, while the Cape Cod location influenced the selection of shiplapped cedar siding."

The design also prioritized maximizing use of outdoor space: "The covered porch provides a great outdoor space with protection from the elements. It’s the perfect place to be during both harsh sunny days and warm summer rains. The lake-side deck that extends off of the covered porch is bordered by a double step to grade. It’s a great place to site and eliminates the need for a handrail."

The wooden steps serve a second duty as seating for family gatherings.
While we can clearly see some of the sustainable moves made here, I asked Stephanie to tell us some more about other ecologically friendly aspects in the design that we can't see in pictures:
"The high performance building envelope consists of spray foam and rigid insulation, which provides an air tight wall free of thermal bridging. The home’s HVAC system provides exceptional performance with a high efficiency condensing boiler and radiant floor heating. Indoor air quality is maintained with an allergen filtration system and a heat recovery ventilator, which provides fresh air but minimizes energy losses by exchanging heat between incoming and outgoing air streams. Finally, the home’s photovoltaic panels offset one-third of the home’s electricity use...thus the home uses 60% less energy than a code-built equivalent home."

The exterior is a dynamic assemblage of shapes that is further enhanced by the variations in color and materials; I had to ask Stephanie explains how this all works:

"The home’s modern exterior is composed of three forms delineated by both geometry and material. The first floor consists of the Red box, which features the kitchen, living room, breakfast nook, and the Orange Box, which includes the first floor bedrooms and full bath. The second floor Cedar Box houses the master suite and study. The Cedar Box’s cantilevered placement over the Orange Box and its roofline optimally shade the south-facing windows. The relationship between the orange and red forms allows for a front entry that leads directly to the lake front deck."

"The floating vanity opens up the floor area in a small bathroom, leaving an uninterrupted floor
surface and giving the bathroom a more spacious feel."

Rapidly renewable bamboo was used for much of the flooring. This is vertical grain bamboo flooring by Teragren.

"The new home offers year round living, continues the legacy of a modern artistic home, and enhances the connection with the outdoor environment."

This project was a perfect pairing of clients and architects. The home received LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council, earning points for energy efficiency, renewable energy, healthy indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and numerous other features. It's a great example of how to create a home that is functional, sustainable, and beautiful.

More: 20 Spectacular Beach Houses

Browse beach-house photos