I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

Enclosed dining room - mid-sized traditional light wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Raleigh with beige walls

Example of a classic dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room design in Chicago with blue walls and no fireplace

Trendy mudroom photo in Birmingham with white walls

Inspiration for a coastal entryway remodel in Milwaukee

A combination of quarter sawn white oak material with kerf cuts creates harmony between the cabinets and the warm, modern architecture of the home. We mirrored the waterfall of the island to the base cabinets on the range wall. This project was unique because the client wanted the same kitchen layout as their previous home but updated with modern lines to fit the architecture. Floating shelves were swapped out for an open tile wall, and we added a double access countertwall cabinet to the right of the range for additional storage. This cabinet has hidden front access storage using an intentionally placed kerf cut and modern handleless design. The kerf cut material at the knee space of the island is extended to the sides, emphasizing a sense of depth. The palette is neutral with warm woods, dark stain, light surfaces, and the pearlescent tone of the backsplash; giving the client’s art collection a beautiful neutral backdrop to be celebrated. For the laundry we chose a micro shaker style cabinet door for a clean, transitional design. A folding surface over the washer and dryer as well as an intentional space for a dog bed create a space as functional as it is lovely. The color of the wall picks up on the tones of the beautiful marble tile floor and an art wall finishes out the space. In the master bath warm taupe tones of the wall tile play off the warm tones of the textured laminate cabinets. A tiled base supports the vanity creating a floating feel while also providing accessibility as well as ease of cleaning. An entry coat closet designed to feel like a furniture piece in the entry flows harmoniously with the warm taupe finishes of the brick on the exterior of the home. We also brought the kerf cut of the kitchen in and used a modern handleless design. The mudroom provides storage for coats with clothing rods as well as open cubbies for a quick and easy space to drop shoes. Warm taupe was brought in from the entry and paired with the micro shaker of the laundry. In the guest bath we combined the kerf cut of the kitchen and entry in a stained maple to play off the tones of the shower tile and dynamic Patagonia granite countertops.

Ryann Ford
Country two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Austin

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz
Elegant medium tone wood floor entryway photo in San Francisco with a glass front door

Inspiration for a large transitional beige one-story stucco exterior home remodel in Tampa with a shingle roof

Entry | Photo: Mike Seidl
Mid-sized rustic one-story wood exterior home idea in Seattle with a shed roof

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

This entryway bench is wrapped in walnut with built-in cubbies below an upholstered bench, serving as a place to stop and take off shoes and drop your bag. The vertical channel upholstered back in olive green leather makes a statement.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

As seen in this photo, the front to back view offers homeowners and guests alike a direct view and access to the deck off the back of the house. In addition to holding access to the garage, this space holds two closets. One, the homeowners are using as a coat closest and the other, a pantry closet. You also see a custom built in unit with a bench and storage. There is also access to a powder room, a bathroom that was relocated from middle of the 1st floor layout. Relocating the bathroom allowed us to open up the floor plan, offering a view directly into and out of the playroom and dining room.

Benjamin Hill Photography
Contemporary gray exterior home idea in Houston

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to math the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who could not live in a tiny house, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design assistance by Jimmy Thornton

A combination of quarter sawn white oak material with kerf cuts creates harmony between the cabinets and the warm, modern architecture of the home. We mirrored the waterfall of the island to the base cabinets on the range wall. This project was unique because the client wanted the same kitchen layout as their previous home but updated with modern lines to fit the architecture. Floating shelves were swapped out for an open tile wall, and we added a double access countertwall cabinet to the right of the range for additional storage. This cabinet has hidden front access storage using an intentionally placed kerf cut and modern handleless design. The kerf cut material at the knee space of the island is extended to the sides, emphasizing a sense of depth. The palette is neutral with warm woods, dark stain, light surfaces, and the pearlescent tone of the backsplash; giving the client’s art collection a beautiful neutral backdrop to be celebrated. For the laundry we chose a micro shaker style cabinet door for a clean, transitional design. A folding surface over the washer and dryer as well as an intentional space for a dog bed create a space as functional as it is lovely. The color of the wall picks up on the tones of the beautiful marble tile floor and an art wall finishes out the space. In the master bath warm taupe tones of the wall tile play off the warm tones of the textured laminate cabinets. A tiled base supports the vanity creating a floating feel while also providing accessibility as well as ease of cleaning. An entry coat closet designed to feel like a furniture piece in the entry flows harmoniously with the warm taupe finishes of the brick on the exterior of the home. We also brought the kerf cut of the kitchen in and used a modern handleless design. The mudroom provides storage for coats with clothing rods as well as open cubbies for a quick and easy space to drop shoes. Warm taupe was brought in from the entry and paired with the micro shaker of the laundry. In the guest bath we combined the kerf cut of the kitchen and entry in a stained maple to play off the tones of the shower tile and dynamic Patagonia granite countertops.

Terra Forma Design 2013
Traditional exterior home idea in Minneapolis

The custom timber framed entrance over the cedar porch is accessed from the street. Custom landscaping includes limestone retaining walls and brick paved sidewalks. Photo by A&M Photography