This house is discreetly tucked into its wooded site in the Mad River Valley near the Sugarbush Resort in Vermont. The soaring roof lines complement the slope of the land and open up views though large windows to a meadow planted with native wildflowers. The house was built with natural materials of cedar shingles, fir beams and native stone walls. These materials are complemented with innovative touches including concrete floors, composite exterior wall panels and exposed steel beams. The home is passively heated by the sun, aided by triple pane windows and super-insulated walls. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Hallway - mid-sized contemporary porcelain tile and multicolored floor hallway idea in Miami with multicolored walls

Cabinetry designed by Clay Cox, Kitchens by Clay, Naples, FL. Photos: Giovanni Photography, Naples, FL.
Trendy seated home bar photo in Miami with an undermount sink, granite countertops and glass-front cabinets

Photography by Jeff Herr
Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor dining room remodel in Atlanta with gray walls

Located in a seaside village on the Gold Coast of Long Island, NY, this home was renovated with all eco-friendly products. The 90+ year old douglas fir wood floors were stained with Bona Drifast Stain - Provincial and finished with Bona Traffic Semi-Gloss.

Mick Hales
Inspiration for a 1960s patio remodel in New York

Great Room, balcony - Photo: Tim Lee Photography
Example of a large mountain style formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mid-sized trendy 3/4 green tile and ceramic tile white floor and ceramic tile double shower design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, solid surface countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and an integrated sink

Large minimalist white two-story stucco gable roof photo in Orlando with a tile roof

Enhance the look of your garden with our patio string lights!
Inspiration for a rustic patio remodel in Philadelphia

Modern laundry room with undermounted stainless steel single bowl deep sink, Brizo statement faucet of matte black and gold, white subway tile in herringbone pattern, quartz marble looking counters, white painted cabinets and porcelain tile floor. Lights are recessed under the cabinets for a clean look and are LED, Pulls are polished chrome.

The conversion of this iconic American barn into a Writer’s Studio was conceived of as a tranquil retreat with natural light and lush views to stimulate inspiration for both husband and wife. Originally used as a garage with two horse stalls, the existing stick framed structure provided a loft with ideal space and orientation for a secluded studio. Signature barn features were maintained and enhanced such as horizontal siding, trim, large barn doors, cupola, roof overhangs, and framing. New features added to compliment the contextual significance and sustainability aspect of the project were reclaimed lumber from a razed barn used as flooring, driftwood retrieved from the shores of the Hudson River used for trim, and distressing / wearing new wood finishes creating an aged look. Along with the efforts for maintaining the historic character of the barn, modern elements were also incorporated into the design to provide a more current ensemble based on its new use. Elements such a light fixtures, window configurations, plumbing fixtures and appliances were all modernized to appropriately represent the present way of life.

Alcove shower - small country 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor and white floor alcove shower idea in New York with a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and a hinged shower door

Details - Hand polished corners in natural marble Photos by Blackstock Photography
Example of a large classic master gray tile and stone tile marble floor freestanding bathtub design in New York with an undermount sink, furniture-like cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet and white walls

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

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized country u-shaped painted wood floor and white floor eat-in kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, wood backsplash, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for an industrial single front door remodel in Toronto with white walls

View to the Study across the formal parlor.. Furniture, wallcovering, drapes, and rugs provided by Anthony Michael. Photo Credit: Aimée Mazzenga
Transitional living room photo in Chicago

Rob Yagid, Fine Homebuilding Magazine