Copyright © 2009 Robert Reck. All Rights Reserved.
Example of a huge southwest master carpeted bedroom design in Albuquerque with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Dallas & Harris Photography
Mid-sized transitional carpeted and gray floor great room photo in Denver with white walls and no fireplace

Grey Crawford Photography
Example of a large beach style porcelain tile living room design in Los Angeles with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Pool - large tropical backyard concrete paver and round infinity pool idea in Hawaii

Doug Dun / BAR Architects
Large beach style living room photo in San Francisco

Custom Home in Jackson Hole, WY Paul Warchol Photography
Deck container garden - small rustic backyard deck container garden idea in Other with no cover

Living room - mid-sized contemporary open concept and formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in Burlington with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Chad Holder
Mid-sized minimalist open concept concrete floor living room photo in Minneapolis with white walls and a tv stand

Photo by Joe Fletcher
Inspiration for a contemporary carpeted bedroom remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Example of a large mountain style two-story mixed siding exterior home design in Other with a shed roof

Example of a tuscan backyard gravel patio design in Orange County with no cover

Genevieve de Manio Photography
Example of a huge classic rooftop rooftop outdoor kitchen deck design in Boston with no cover

Surefield
1960s dark wood floor bedroom photo in Seattle with white walls

Whitney Kamman Photography
Example of a mountain style medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Other with white walls and a standard fireplace

Bedroom - large contemporary master carpeted and white floor bedroom idea in Seattle with blue walls and no fireplace

Photo by Joe Fletcher
Example of a mid-sized trendy dining room design in San Francisco

Design ideas for a huge farmhouse full sun backyard stone landscaping in Boston for summer.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Karl Neumann Photography
Inspiration for a large rustic backyard deck remodel in Other with a fire pit and no cover