Michael Robinson Photography
Inspiration for a mediterranean formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

The client's minimalist style was the inspiration for this custom cellar by using white oak for shelving and cabinetry. The marble top island has multiple slide-out trays for holding vintage wine crates, glassware, or miscellaneous tools for protecting and serving these world-class wines.

Industrial style basement skate / scooter park for kids and Mom and Dad alike. Black industrial steel accents throughout with exposed concrete floors and painted exposed joists above. Mobile trick boxes in the centre of the space and fixed ramps either side. Graffiti and custom black window cages drive the concept home.

This was a challenging project for very discerning clients. The home was originally owned by the client’s father, and she inherited it when he passed. Care was taken to preserve the history in the home while upgrading it for the current owners. This home exceeds current energy codes, and all mechanical and electrical systems have been completely replaced. The clients remained in the home for the duration of the reno, so it was completed in two phases. Phase 1 involved gutting the basement, removing all asbestos containing materials (flooring, plaster), and replacing all mechanical and electrical systems, new spray foam insulation, and complete new finishing. The clients lived upstairs while we did the basement, and in the basement while we did the main floor. They left on a vacation while we did the asbestos work. Phase 2 involved a rock retaining wall on the rear of the property that required a lengthy approval process including municipal, fisheries, First Nations, and environmental authorities. The home had a new rear covered deck, garage, new roofline, all new interior and exterior finishing, new mechanical and electrical systems, new insulation and drywall. Phase 2 also involved an extensive asbestos abatement to remove Asbestos-containing materials in the flooring, plaster, insulation, and mastics. Photography by Carsten Arnold Photography.

This basement window adds a welcome source of natural light to the lower level while keeping the design clean and understated. A deep white sill, crisp trim, and neutral wall color give the window a finished look, helping the basement feel brighter, more comfortable, and less enclosed without distracting from the room’s simple, polished style.

Mid-sized elegant concrete floor and gray floor single front door photo in Baltimore with white walls and a black front door

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

Inspiration for a large timeless underground carpeted basement remodel in St Louis with beige walls

Inspiration for a large timeless underground carpeted basement remodel in St Louis with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman look-out dark wood floor basement remodel in Boston with gray walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy look-out medium tone wood floor basement design in Toronto with beige walls

Traditional brick exterior home idea in Chicago

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Example of a large transitional look-out medium tone wood floor and brown floor basement design in Minneapolis with gray walls

Home design - traditional home design idea in Denver

Home weight room - large traditional carpeted and beige floor home weight room idea in Salt Lake City with gray walls

Large trendy gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor kids' room photo in Philadelphia with beige walls

Pool room and recreation space in the basement with new awning windows we installed. The awesome finished basement with wood floors and a fun pool table and bar area looks gorgeous with these new windows with stylish grilles. Find out more about replacing the windows in your house with Renewal by Andersen of Greater Toronto, serving most of Ontario. Get started replacing your home windows -- Contact Us Today! 844-819-3040

Example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed carpeted family room design in Oklahoma City with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a huge transitional look-out medium tone wood floor and brown floor basement design in Detroit with gray walls