This was an open staircase that we enclosed and finished to match. Underneath, the space was insulated and vapour barried with a sealed glass front wall added to create a climate-controlled cellar. Photo Credit: Sebastian Burzynski

Starry Nights Farm, an organic cattle farm in southern Wisconsin, requested a home in line with their sustainability goals: net zero energy, health-promoting, and a functional farmhouse. Durability and resilience were also priorities, so we chose Insulated Concrete Forms as the wall system, and in addition to heat-pump space conditioning, added a pellet stove for supplemental and backup heating.

To add a bit of modern flair, these homeowners chose Clopay's Modern Steel Insulated Garage Doors. Notice the contemporary windows arranged vertically as well the Ultra Grain Cypress finish. Fantastic look in a premium low maintenance product! | Project and Photo Credits: ProLift Garage Doors of Denver

Starry Nights Farm, an organic cattle farm in southern Wisconsin, requested a home in line with their sustainability goals: net zero energy, health-promoting, and a functional farmhouse. Durability and resilience were also priorities, so we chose Insulated Concrete Forms as the wall system, and in addition to heat-pump space conditioning, added a pellet stove for supplemental and backup heating.

Starry Nights Farm, an organic cattle farm in southern Wisconsin, requested a home in line with their sustainability goals: net zero energy, health-promoting, and a functional farmhouse. Durability and resilience were also priorities, so we chose Insulated Concrete Forms as the wall system, and in addition to heat-pump space conditioning, added a pellet stove for supplemental and backup heating.

Starry Nights Farm, an organic cattle farm in southern Wisconsin, requested a home in line with their sustainability goals: net zero energy, health-promoting, and a functional farmhouse. Durability and resilience were also priorities, so we chose Insulated Concrete Forms as the wall system, and in addition to heat-pump space conditioning, added a pellet stove for supplemental and backup heating.

Starry Nights Farm, an organic cattle farm in southern Wisconsin, requested a home in line with their sustainability goals: net zero energy, health-promoting, and a functional farmhouse. Durability and resilience were also priorities, so we chose Insulated Concrete Forms as the wall system, and in addition to heat-pump space conditioning, added a pellet stove for supplemental and backup heating.

There were two areas of the basement such as this space that only required us ta add the necessary drywall as this part had already been framed in.

We removed part of the roof from this home and added a full second floor. We used Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) so to allow for vaulted clear span ceilings.

AFTER- We replaced all of the windows and added proper insulation in the walls and ceiling. The woodwork was stained to match the rest of the home, creating a space that looks original to this 1920's Craftsman home.

Porches provide a place to interact with street life and add character to the front facade Photo by Robin Schaefer
This is an example of a traditional porch design in DC Metro.

Finished photos (compliments of Union Eleven Photographers) of our completed overhaul of this Manor Park home in Ottawa. The focus was on energy efficiency, and with the help of Mach Design we tightened the building envelope significantly, added triple glazed windows, and 2" of exterior Roxul insulation to the exterior walls of the envelope 3 1/2" of foam on the roof. All of that is finished off with some beautiful Maibec siding and a new front porch complete with heat treated ash decking.

This additional space now allows for a full sized garage, an additional bedroom above the garage, a foyer and powder room on the main floor. Stucco, adds an insulating factor and can completely change the appearance of that old look.

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage white two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Philadelphia with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Adds a fresh dimension to a time-honored classic. Without the center stile, the door is left with a cleaner and more contemporary look while maintaining the classic charm of the Short Panel Carriage design.

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

This homeowner wanted to add contemporary flair to his 1990s ranch home. Since the three-car garage is such a prominent feature on the house, he chose insulated garage doors from Clopay's Modern Steel Collection to make an instant statement from the curb. Opaque windows let daylight into the space but still provide ample privacy.

This quality custom home is found in the Willowdale neighbourhood of North York, in the Greater Toronto Area. It was designed and built by Avvio Fine Homes in 2015. Built on a 44' x 130' lot, the 3480 sq ft. home (+ 1082 sq ft. finished lower level) has 4 + 1 bedrooms, 4 + 1 bathrooms and 2-car at-grade garage. Avvio's Vincent Gambino designed the home using Feng Shui principles, creating a smart layout filled with natural light, highlighted by the spa-like master ensuite and large gourmet kitchen and servery. Photo Credits: 360SkyStudio

Bedroom - large coastal master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in DC Metro with gray walls