Phtography by Morgan Howarth
Home office - traditional home office idea in DC Metro

This house was designed as a second home for a Bay Area couple as a summer retreat to spend the warm summer months away from the fog in San Francisco. Built on a steep slope and a narrow lot, this 4000 square foot home is spread over 3 floors, with the master, guest and kids bedroom on the ground floor, and living spaces on the upper floor to take advantage of the views. The main living level includes a large kitchen, dining, and living space, connected to two home offices by way of a bridge that extends across the double height entry. This bridge area acts as a gallery of light, allowing filtered light through the skylights above and down to the entry on the ground level. All living space takes advantage of grand views of Lake Washington and the city skyline beyond. Two large sliding glass doors open up completely, allowing the living and dining space to extend to the deck outside. On the first floor, in addition to the guest room, a “kids room” welcomes visiting nieces and nephews with bunk beds and their own bathroom. The basement level contains storage, mechanical and a 2 car garage. Photographer: Aaron Leitz

Ansel Olson
Trendy master white tile and ceramic tile freestanding bathtub photo in Richmond with a vessel sink and white walls

The blue subway tile provides a focal point in the kids bathroom. The ceiling detail conceals an HVAC access panel. Blackstock Photography
Trendy kids' white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and white floor alcove bathtub photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a wall-mount toilet

Peter Medilek
Alcove bathtub - small transitional white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub idea in San Francisco with a wall-mount sink, a one-piece toilet and white walls

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Transitional tile porch idea in Atlanta with a roof extension

Susie Soleimani Photography :: theeyebehindthelens.com
Living room - contemporary underground ceramic tile living room idea in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Trendy white tile and mosaic tile gray floor alcove shower photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

Transitional medium tone wood floor great room photo in Los Angeles

Freestanding bathtub - contemporary gray tile medium tone wood floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub idea in New York with medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops, brown countertops and flat-panel cabinets

View of stair hall with Juliet Balcony from dining area and skylights above . Architecture & Interior Design by : Princeton Design Collaborative 360pdc.com photo by Jeffery Edward Tryon

Workshop room in industrial basement. Custom work table, custom light made from 1900's skylight.
Large urban freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home studio photo in Denver

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz Design: Imbue Design
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept concrete floor living room remodel in Salt Lake City with blue walls, no fireplace and no tv

Game room - mid-sized craftsman enclosed dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling game room idea in Boston with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

Example of an urban open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Chicago with red walls

Warm neutrals bathroom with rustic wood vanity and hidden wall storage.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 gray tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, gray floor and single-sink alcove shower remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door, beige countertops, a niche and a freestanding vanity

Example of a small transitional white tile and subway tile white floor corner shower design in Vancouver with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink and white countertops

Busy Bees Photography
Example of a mid-sized danish open concept light wood floor family room design in Copenhagen with white walls