Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Energy-Efficient, 'Lean' House in Maine
Sustainable architecture and amazing light draw an environmentally conscious family to a new home
As a developer, it can be tricky to build a new house when you don't have a buyer yet. "You have to imagine fake clients and what their needs will be," says architect David Matero. In this case, he teamed up with a group of developers and real estate agents to market sustainable, LEED-certified homes in a development in Maine where the lots had not been generating loads of interest. Their efforts drew 220,000 hits to the website and perfect buyers for the first home: a like-minded couple who worked at the Nature Conservancy, an environmental group.
One draw of this house was its flexible and energy-efficient plan. A basement option with bath was available, and an upstairs loft can serve as an office, a craft room or a third bedroom. The plan also left room on the site for a future master bedroom and screened-in porch, avoiding the need for a move if the owners' needs changed. The homeowners signed on before construction and changed very little from the proposed plans.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David and Anne and their young son, Colden
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Size: About 2,000 square feet; 2 to 4 bedrooms (loft and basement can be converted), 2.5 baths
Year built: 2011
That's interesting: Matero's wife, Cathy, came up with the name, The Lean Too House. "The original design was with a mono slope roof, looking like a lean-to, close to earth. But then being lean has other connotations, such as not wasteful and simple also: lean, too," says Matero.
One draw of this house was its flexible and energy-efficient plan. A basement option with bath was available, and an upstairs loft can serve as an office, a craft room or a third bedroom. The plan also left room on the site for a future master bedroom and screened-in porch, avoiding the need for a move if the owners' needs changed. The homeowners signed on before construction and changed very little from the proposed plans.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David and Anne and their young son, Colden
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Size: About 2,000 square feet; 2 to 4 bedrooms (loft and basement can be converted), 2.5 baths
Year built: 2011
That's interesting: Matero's wife, Cathy, came up with the name, The Lean Too House. "The original design was with a mono slope roof, looking like a lean-to, close to earth. But then being lean has other connotations, such as not wasteful and simple also: lean, too," says Matero.
Orientation was key. The house and windows were placed to make the most of solar gain during the winter, and Douglas fir sunshades block the direct sunlight in the summer. "I was here last week when it was 90 degrees outside, but the temperature inside the house was 73 degrees, thanks to the sunshades," attests Matero. And no, the house does not have air conditioning.
The shades also add an interesting architectural element to the home's facade, connecting it to its wooded surroundings.
The shades also add an interesting architectural element to the home's facade, connecting it to its wooded surroundings.
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.
The right side of the island incorporates more salvaged barn wood.
The right side of the island incorporates more salvaged barn wood.
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
Upstairs, a loft overlooks the living room. Cable railings contribute to the open feeling.
This space is one of the flexible parts of the plan; it's currently used as an office but could be turned into a closed-off bedroom as needs change. The rest of the upstairs consists of two bedrooms and a full bathroom. All south-facing windows are protected by the roof overhang.
This space is one of the flexible parts of the plan; it's currently used as an office but could be turned into a closed-off bedroom as needs change. The rest of the upstairs consists of two bedrooms and a full bathroom. All south-facing windows are protected by the roof overhang.
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."
Carpet: Kraus Flooring, Green Choice Collection
See more guides to green building
More:
Easy Green: Discover the Appeal of 'Ecovillages'
Project Tour: New Urbanism in Colorado
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."
Carpet: Kraus Flooring, Green Choice Collection
See more guides to green building
More:
Easy Green: Discover the Appeal of 'Ecovillages'
Project Tour: New Urbanism in Colorado
Sponsored
Loudoun's Expert Kitchen & Bath Renovation Firm I Best of Houzz 2018
Matero used low-maintenance and durable materials such as a metal roof and fiber cement siding. The facade is broken up by board and batten accents.
"The galvalume roof changes from grays to blues. It's very organic. It looks like metal but reflects the color of the sky," says Matero.