Good House Design & Village
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Upon entering the house, you walk past an accent wall and coat hooks made of reclaimed wood from a local barn.
The large, contemporary open floor plan on the first floor incorporates dining room space plus the kitchen and living room spaces, and the south-facing orientation allows for all of this warm winter light. Conversely, the mudroom, the powder room and the laundry room were placed on the north side, as they don't need the light as much.
Tip: When planning a kitchen, think hard about how many upper cabinets you really need. In this case, the kitchen gains more light and views by sacrificing extra cabinets for a large window over the sink.
Buttery yellow walls, a butcher block–topped island and maple cabinets with a milk wash on their facings keep things even sunnier in the kitchen. The island incorporates lots of room for extra storage, eliminating the need for many upper cabinets.
"The windows are a combination of stationary and casements, because they are better performing than double-hung windows," says Matero.
The home enjoys so much natural winter light that it can play tricks on the eye. "My clients were Skyping with relatives, and they asked why my clients had every light in the house turned on," says Matero. "It was just the natural light."
Floors: Maine-grown yellow birch, FSC certified, Maine Traditions Hardwood Flooring, Katahdin Collection
Floors: Maine-grown yellow birch, FSC certified, Maine Traditions Hardwood Flooring, Katahdin Collection
The home enjoys so much natural winter light that it can play tricks on the eye. "My clients were Skyping with relatives, and they asked why my clients had every light in the house turned on," says Matero. "It was just the natural light."
Floors: Maine-grown yellow birch, FSC certified, Maine Traditions Hardwood Flooring, Katahdin Collection
Floors: Maine-grown yellow birch, FSC certified, Maine Traditions Hardwood Flooring, Katahdin Collection
The master bedroom gets the early-morning sun and the eastern moon's shine. "I love to push a window all the way to a corner," says Matero. "It casts shadows that make different shades of blue all around the room and makes it look larger."
The owners "were so great to work with," he says. "They love promoting the architecture, and everyone who visits the house is very interested in the technology and how it all works — everyone who stops by really enjoys the house."
The owners "were so great to work with," he says. "They love promoting the architecture, and everyone who visits the house is very interested in the technology and how it all works — everyone who stops by really enjoys the house."
Drought-tolerant succulents. Succulents are well suited for vegetating an extensive (shallow soil) living roof. High water-use, low water-demand plants, most succulents can take the punishing heat, blistering sun and shallow soils of the rooftop environment — often with no permanent irrigation and nearly no maintenance.
Note the pattern of the plantings and the band of pebbles around the perimeter of this roof. The pebbles enhance the composition and trap any soil kicked up by driving rain, keeping the soil on the roof where it belongs.
Note the pattern of the plantings and the band of pebbles around the perimeter of this roof. The pebbles enhance the composition and trap any soil kicked up by driving rain, keeping the soil on the roof where it belongs.
Extensive and intensive roofs on the same project. The extensive green roof in the middle ground of this photo has shallow soil and shallow-rooted plants. The rooftop garden in the foreground is comprised of pavers laid over a suspended infrastructure with intensive green roof borders.
Prevegetated mats. Consider prevegetated mats for your green roof project. Modular units of substrate plus rooted plants simplify installation once the proper structure and waterproofing are in place. A carpet of mixed stonecrop (Sedum) varieties creates a low-muss, low-fuss green roof.
Enriched composition. This green roof provides all of the environmental benefits of a living roof and complements the strong lines of this home's modern architecture.
Habitat and a borrowed view. What might have been an unfortunate view of a hot, glaring roof is now a charming vignette. The plant palette on this living roof ties the house to the distant mountains and brings seed-eating birds to eye level.
Rooftop tapestry. Colorful stonecrop varieties contrast with a white-leaf fescue on this colorful green roof.
hen this family of seven let go of the charming yet drafty vacation home they shared with extended family, they wanted a different kind of getaway. All too aware of the exorbitant cost of heating a home in New England, they were easily persuaded by architect Stephanie Horowitz to build a "passive" house — one heated primarily by the sun. Horowitz is a principal architect at ZeroEnergy Design (ZED), a firm that specializes in energy-efficient architecture. "My clients wanted a home that was small, affordable, low maintenance and durable," she says.
Thus, ZED created a flexible living space where one owner, a writer, could feel cozy and inspired when she comes here to work, where the family could host big parties and where they could all sleep comfortably without wasting square footage on the bedrooms. The result is a comfortable 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath retreat with vast beautiful agrarian views. And the house consumes less than 420 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month on average, a number that could go down to zero if the family opts for solar panels in the future.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: The New England coast
Who gets away here: A family of 7
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping loft, 2 baths plus separate tub room
That's interesting: The home consumes one-tenth of the energy for heating compared to a similar new home built to code requirements
Thus, ZED created a flexible living space where one owner, a writer, could feel cozy and inspired when she comes here to work, where the family could host big parties and where they could all sleep comfortably without wasting square footage on the bedrooms. The result is a comfortable 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath retreat with vast beautiful agrarian views. And the house consumes less than 420 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month on average, a number that could go down to zero if the family opts for solar panels in the future.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: The New England coast
Who gets away here: A family of 7
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping loft, 2 baths plus separate tub room
That's interesting: The home consumes one-tenth of the energy for heating compared to a similar new home built to code requirements
Passive design makes the most of the sun; the house is oriented so that specially glazed, high-performance windows face south. With a tight envelope, the house is very well insulated and doesn't leak heat.
However, the most important aspect of successful architecture is always livability, which in this case meant creating a comfortable house that took advantage of landscape views and was sized appropriately.
However, the most important aspect of successful architecture is always livability, which in this case meant creating a comfortable house that took advantage of landscape views and was sized appropriately.
The south-facing side harnesses energy from the sun in the winter through specially glazed, high-performance windows and doors by Schuco. Cedar siding will weather naturally into a silvery gray.
Given the home's small footprint, the main living space needs to serve several functions and be flexible. In this floor plan, the center of the house incorporates the dining room, the kitchen and the living room spaces, and each end of the house contains one bedroom.
"This is more of a retreat than a vacation home," says Horowitz. While the writer in the family sometimes uses the house midweek as a studio, the whole family gathers here on weekends and during vacation weeks.
"This is more of a retreat than a vacation home," says Horowitz. While the writer in the family sometimes uses the house midweek as a studio, the whole family gathers here on weekends and during vacation weeks.
The iconic gable form and bold red color used outside appear again on opposite ends of the indoor living space. The exposed ductwork assists with the small amount of backup heat the family requires beyond the passive heat, as well as air conditioning for those rare days when natural ventilation can't handle a heat wave. Both come from a small, single system.
"We needed to create a sense of entry within the living space," explains Horowitz; the small, low walls to the left provide this.
"We needed to create a sense of entry within the living space," explains Horowitz; the small, low walls to the left provide this.
To the left of the front door is an efficient mudroom with lots of storage by Poggenphol, a bench for putting on and taking off shoes, coat hooks and good spots for storing Wellies
"The dining room table from their former family home is the one piece my clients wanted me to design around," says Horowitz. She tucked a built-in banquette in a small bay, providing an ample dining space that doesn't encroach upon the main living room.
The traditional trestle table, contemporary chairs and gooseneck barn sconce give the room a touch of modern farmhouse style
The traditional trestle table, contemporary chairs and gooseneck barn sconce give the room a touch of modern farmhouse style
The thick entry wall offered an opportunity for a niche with shelves at the end of the table. The centerpiece flowers came from the meadows nearby.
The challenge is in the balancing act between performance and design," says Horowitz. This north-facing high-performance glass door was part of the balance between energy efficiency and livability; the family enjoys extensive farm landscape views through it.
Concrete floors absorb heat and then radiate it into the space, offsetting any loss of warmth from this door
Concrete floors absorb heat and then radiate it into the space, offsetting any loss of warmth from this door
We ordered the cabinets and the island from Poggenpohl's Quick Ship line and then customized them," says Horowitz. "We added casters to the island so that it can be moved out of the way when large groups are over. When working within such a small footprint, you have to maximize flexibility."
The white walls, polished concrete floor and bright natural light keep the focus on the country views.
The white walls, polished concrete floor and bright natural light keep the focus on the country views.
There is one room in the house that serves just one function: soaking. "Everyone in this family enjoys a tub, so that was an important part of the design," says Horowitz. She created a separate sun-filled tub room that the whole family uses.
Paint: Waterfall 2050-50, Benjamin Moore; bathtub
The master bedroom is "a room with a bed in it, and it functions quite well," declares Horowitz. It was designed for a bed to fit into the corner, with a deep windowsill on the left designed to serve as a bedside table. The result is a cozy room with wonderful views.
A library ladder that angles out from the wall makes the climb to the sleeping loft much easier than a straight ladder would
Up top, grab bars help climbers make it up those last few feet. "We tried to use off-the-shelf products throughout the house," says Horowitz. A hinged board covers the hole in the loft floor for safety.
The loft overlooks the living space and has beds and a dedicated playspace for children. The floor is a subflooring product painted in a no-VOC floor paint by Ecos. "This paint comes in fun colors and is a great way to finish an attic space," says Horowitz.
Replace (or modify) old windows. Single-pane windows are a major culprit of heat loss during the winter months. Upgrading to low-U-value, low-E windows can save you up to 25 percent of your heating bill, according to the DOE. If new windows are not in the cards, you can still improve efficiency by covering single-pane windows with storm windows in winter and white shades in summer to reflect heat away from the home.
Add a source of renewable energy. Remember, a zero-energy home must balance the energy used with energy produced. That means it's time to start producing some of your own energy! Installing photovoltaic panels (solar panels) is the best known option for homeowners today, though in some regions you can actually choose to purchase renewable energy from your local power company.
WhisperGreen-Lite Ventilation Fan - $384
WhisperGreen-Lite Ventilation Fan - $384.00 [ Link ]
This little fan is the workhorse of exhaust fans. It's Energy Star rated, but is up to 621 percent more energy efficient than current Energy Star standards, is rated for 60,000 hours of continuous run time, and reportedly quiet as a mouse.
This little fan is the workhorse of exhaust fans. It's Energy Star rated, but is up to 621 percent more energy efficient than current Energy Star standards, is rated for 60,000 hours of continuous run time, and reportedly quiet as a mouse.
eremy and Amber Scardina lived for 11 years across the street from the spot where they eventually built their dream house. "We loved the area we lived in so much that when we saw a for-sale sign appear in the empty lot across the street one day, we thought it just made sense to build there," says Jeremy. "The timing was great." The couple decided to take advantage of the space's huge (9,000-square-foot) lot, building a sleek and contemporary home with plenty of outdoor space for themselves and their three kids.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeremy and Amber Scardino, daughter Madison, sons Baron and Rider, dogs Gumbo and Emmylou, and cats Sebastian and Munchkin
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet plus 600-square-foot detached garage, on 9,000-square-foot lot; 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeremy and Amber Scardino, daughter Madison, sons Baron and Rider, dogs Gumbo and Emmylou, and cats Sebastian and Munchkin
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet plus 600-square-foot detached garage, on 9,000-square-foot lot; 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
The couple was determined to get the most out of the huge lot, so they built just a couple square feet under the maximum floor-to-area ratio allowed by Austin's McMansion Ordinance.
"It's very difficult to ever have a perfectly timeless design, and by no means could we ever assume our design is actually timeless. We tried to design the house in such a way that in 20 years from now it would be hard to tell it was constructed in 2012," Jeremy says. "We wanted to try for something that could be interesting to look at but neutral enough to work next to other designs in the future."
Add to ideabook
by Kara Mosher
by Kara Mosher
The family loves living so close to downtown, but they pay the price with more traffic and less privacy. "With our narrow yet deep lot, we faced a challenge that proved to be a blessing in disguise," says Jeremy. A large open courtyard between the garage and the home helped solve their privacy concerns and made for a unique landscape design
"It's very difficult to ever have a perfectly timeless design, and by no means could we ever assume our design is actually timeless. We tried to design the house in such a way that in 20 years from now it would be hard to tell it was constructed in 2012," Jeremy says. "We wanted to try for something that could be interesting to look at but neutral enough to work next to other designs in the future."
Add to ideabook
by Kara Mosher
by Kara Mosher
The family loves living so close to downtown, but they pay the price with more traffic and less privacy. "With our narrow yet deep lot, we faced a challenge that proved to be a blessing in disguise," says Jeremy. A large open courtyard between the garage and the home helped solve their privacy concerns and made for a unique landscape design
We have always loved color on our walls in the past, but in this house we went with white walls to help feature our art collection," Jeremy says.
The couple made it a goal to hang every piece of art they own and have art on every wall throughout the house. "We went for an open and clean layout, balanced with a mix of vintage and new decor, adding splashes of color by way of art," he adds.
The couple made it a goal to hang every piece of art they own and have art on every wall throughout the house. "We went for an open and clean layout, balanced with a mix of vintage and new decor, adding splashes of color by way of art," he adds.
The open living room connects to the kitchen with a comfortable and family-friendly kitchen table. "In the kitchen, we went with a light celery-green glass tile as a backsplash, which we feel adds a hard-to-miss splash of color but does so in a comforting, appetizing kind of way," says Amber.
Stainless steel appliances reflect the same timeless and clean lines seen throughout the home.
Brown tufted leather furniture helps create the living room's inviting feel. Dark wood cabinetry and Santos mahogany floors create warmth that's balanced with clean white countertops and hardware in the living room.
A large gas fireplace, one of the family's favorite items, sits in the center of the living room. Built-in wooden shelves match the kitchen cabinets.
The bold blue paint color on the walls in the downstairs bathroom inspired a vintage pendant light with blue glass. A Moroccan-style glass tile fills the back accent wall with five different shades of blue.
Amber and Jeremy detached their garage, which allowed them to build a large porch and oversize glass doors on the front of the house where the garage would have been. "Instead of a traditional backyard, we ended up with a large (by city standards) private courtyard in the front of the house that our open floor plan virtually spills into," says Jeremy. The open layout allows the entire family to enjoy indoor and outdoor living spaces, all within view of one another