The Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU was designed and built to remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. Fortunately, the same great building strategies and design that provide resilience also provide a home that is incredibly comfortable and healthy while also visually stunning. This home’s journey began with a desire to design and build a house that meets the rigorous standards of Passive House. Before beginning the design/ construction process, the homeowners had already spent countless hours researching ways to minimize their global climate change footprint. As with any Passive House, a large portion of this research was focused on building envelope design and construction. The wall assembly is combination of six inch Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) and 2x6 stick frame construction filled with blown in insulation. The roof assembly is a combination of twelve inch SIPs and 2x12 stick frame construction filled with batt insulation. The pairing of SIPs and traditional stick framing allowed for easy air sealing details and a continuous thermal break between the panels and the wall framing. Beyond the building envelope, a number of other high performance strategies were used in constructing this home and ADU such as: battery storage of solar energy, ground source heat pump technology, Heat Recovery Ventilation, LED lighting, and heat pump water heating technology. In addition to the time and energy spent on reaching Passivhaus Standards, thoughtful design and carefully chosen interior finishes coalesce at the Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU into stunning interiors with modern farmhouse appeal. The result is a graceful combination of innovation, durability, and aesthetics that will last for a century to come. Despite the requirements of adhering to some of the most rigorous environmental standards in construction today, the homeowners chose to certify both their main home and their ADU to Passive House Standards. From a meticulously designed building envelope that tested at 0.62 ACH50, to the extensive solar array/ battery bank combination that allows designated circuits to function, uninterrupted for at least 48 hours, the Twin Peaks Passive House has a long list of high performance features that contributed to the completion of this arduous certification process. The ADU was also designed and built with these high standards in mind. Both homes have the same wall and roof assembly ,an HRV, and a Passive House Certified window and doors package. While the main home includes a ground source heat pump that warms both the radiant floors and domestic hot water tank, the more compact ADU is heated with a mini-split ductless heat pump. The end result is a home and ADU built to last, both of which are a testament to owners’ commitment to lessen their impact on the environment.

Example of a trendy mudroom design in Chicago

Bernard Andre
Example of a trendy galley kitchen design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, red backsplash, glass sheet backsplash and an island

This large bathroom was designed to offer an open, airy feel, with ample storage and space to move, all the while adhering to the homeowner's unique coastal taste. The sprawling louvered cabinetry keeps both his and hers vanities accessible regardless of someone using either. The tall, above-counter linen storage breaks up the large wall space and provides additional storage with full size pull outs.

Photography by Eirik Johnson
Mid-sized trendy enclosed concrete floor living room photo in Seattle with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace and no tv

Mid-sized trendy freestanding desk carpeted and brown floor study room photo in DC Metro with beige walls

Minimal, mindful design meets stylish comfort in this family home filled with light and warmth. Using a serene, neutral palette filled with warm walnut and light oak finishes, with touches of soft grays and blues, we transformed our client’s new family home into an airy, functionally stylish, serene family retreat. The home highlights modern handcrafted wooden furniture pieces, soft, whimsical kids’ bedrooms, and a clean-lined, understated blue kitchen large enough for the whole family to gather.

Stripped of its original charm with sagging floors and water leaks, this 1900 row house was prime for a full renovation. While the staircase and marble fireplace are original, everything from the white oak flooring, crown, applied, and base moldings, to the archways and brass door hardware is new; yet they all feel original to the house. Other projects included removing soffits and tucking away randomly placed support beams and posts, relocating and expanding the kitchen, renovating each bathroom – and adding a new one, upgrading all the mechanical, electric and plumbing systems, removing a fireplace, and regrading the back patio for proper drainage and added greenery. The project is a perfect study of juxtaposing new and old, classic and modern. Photography Stacy Zarin Goldberg

RealTourCast
Bedroom - traditional carpeted bedroom idea in Louisville with beige walls

Rob Karosis
This is an example of a traditional porch design in New York with a roof extension.

This luxury bathroom design is a harmonious blend of classic elegance and modern refinement. A double vanity featuring a sleek gray stone countertop over modern white cabinetry is elevated by elegant brass hardware. Contemporary oval mirrors with brass trim are flanked by contemporary sconces. The walls and floors are wrapped in a stunning light gray mosaic tile. A large glass-fronted shower with a window creates a sense of openness and light. Brass bath fixtures on oversized softly veined white tiles maintain the tranquil, spa-like palette.

The gorgeous modern primary bath is everything the homeowners had hoped for, including heated floors, a glass enclosed walk in shower, marble flooring and wainscot and a freestanding soaking tub. The double vanity is custom designed for the homeowners storage needs and the new windows bring lots of natural light into this new space.

Small rustic exterior home idea in Atlanta

Inspiration for a transitional home office remodel in Minneapolis

Example of a classic dark wood floor enclosed dining room design in Charleston with beige walls

Situated on the edge of New Hampshire’s beautiful Lake Sunapee, this Craftsman-style shingle lake house peeks out from the towering pine trees that surround it. When the clients approached Cummings Architects, the lot consisted of 3 run-down buildings. The challenge was to create something that enhanced the property without overshadowing the landscape, while adhering to the strict zoning regulations that come with waterfront construction. The result is a design that encompassed all of the clients’ dreams and blends seamlessly into the gorgeous, forested lake-shore, as if the property was meant to have this house all along. The ground floor of the main house is a spacious open concept that flows out to the stone patio area with fire pit. Wood flooring and natural fir bead-board ceilings pay homage to the trees and rugged landscape that surround the home. The gorgeous views are also captured in the upstairs living areas and third floor tower deck. The carriage house structure holds a cozy guest space with additional lake views, so that extended family and friends can all enjoy this vacation retreat together. Photo by Eric Roth

This was one of those special projects in which we were able to build not only a incredibly insulated and efficient home, but were also able to incorporate a bunch of custom woodworking, metal work, stone work and historical details into the project. We adhered to “Efficiency Vermont’s’ rigorous High Performance Home standards in the construction of this project. In addition, this was a Duplex and as a result required extra attention to special code requirements surrounding multi-family construction. We also tried to recreate the exterior details to match with the historical period of early Vermont.

Gibeon Photography
Inspiration for a large rustic open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Other with black walls, a stone fireplace and no tv

Exterior home photo in Chicago