This space is perfect for entertaining! When the owners originally moved in, this deck was not here. There were several steps down from the kitchen door, and the stone slabs were a toe-stubbing minefield. We added the deck and designed it perfectly for entertaining. Since we had several large pine trees removed from the property, we increased sun exposure creating a need for more shade. We had this awning custom made by PJ Canvas in Santa Rosa, CA. The awning tucks neatly under the roof of the house during the rainy months.

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Exterior deck doubles the living space for my teeny tiny house! All the wood for the deck is reclaimed from fallen trees and siding from an old house. The french doors and kitchen window is also reclaimed. Photo: Chibi Moku

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Way up North, nestled among pine trees, Melissa Coleman’s cedar-clad A-frame cabin is a modern retreat for outdoor lovers. Coleman, a designer and blogger known as The Faux Martha, completely renovated the dilapidated structure. The dramatic renovation is an homage to Minnesota and cabin culture. As part of her renovation, Coleman replaced permanently fogged windows with products from the Marvin Ultimate collection. She also chose the Marvin Skycove and Marvin Awaken Skylights to fill the previously dim space with natural light and views of the Northwoods. “[The Skycove] looks like it’s always been there. Like it was always supposed to be there,” said Melissa Coleman. “And somehow, a wall of glass windows is incredibly cozy. Just add a cushion and a heavy wool blanket, a good cup of pour-over and a book, and well, you have your weekend plans. If you could install magic in a space, this is the way to do it.” MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Modern Direct Glaze Window Marvin Modern Casement Window Marvin Modern Awning Window Marvin Ultimate Sliding French Door Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door Architecture Firm: The Faux Martha Builder: Taiga Design+Build, LLC

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

Photography by Tommy Kile This project features face frame cabinets from Amazonia Cabinetry, Kolbe windows, hardware selected by Push Pull Open Close, and honed Carrera marble countertops.

This space was completely empty, void of everything except the flooring tiles. All the containers and plantings, the patterned turf in the flooring, ornaments, and fixtures were part of the design. It spans three sides of the penthouse, extending the dining and living space out into the open. Outdoor rooms are created with the alignment of fixtures and placement of furniture. The custom designed water feature is both a wall to separate the dining and living spaces and a work of art on its own. A shade system offers relief from the scorching sun without permanently blocking the view from the dining room. A frosted glass wall on the edge of the kitchen brings privacy and still allows light to filter into the space. The south wall is lined with planters to add some privacy and at night are lit as a focal point.

Brooklyn backyard patio design in Prospect Heights for a young, professional couple who loves to both entertain and relax! This space includes a West Elm outdoor sectional and round concrete outdoor coffee table.

Modern pergola on Chicago rooftop deck. Minimal materials used and clean lines define the space and pergola. Lounge seating under retractable mesh shade panels on a track system. Roof deck materials are composite and built on frame system. Contemporary rooftop deck. Bradley Foto, Chris Bradley

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covered back deck, off Kitchen and Family room.
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