Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean master brown tile terra-cotta tile and brown floor alcove bathtub remodel in Los Angeles with beige walls, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets and an undermount sink

Bottles, boxes, and even the iron are stored neatly out of sight within the sturdy, easy-to-clean wire baskets. Adjustable positions let you hold supplies easily, and a soft, silent open/close eliminates needless noise.

Walk-in shower - large transitional gray tile and marble tile marble floor and gray floor walk-in shower idea in Cincinnati with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets and solid surface countertops

Jim Bartsch Photography
Mid-sized master stone tile, brown tile and gray tile slate floor freestanding bathtub photo in Santa Barbara with a drop-in sink, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet, multicolored walls and shaker cabinets

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

Jeremy Bitterman
Minimalist doorless shower photo in Seattle with a vessel sink

Photo: Howard Doughty
Inspiration for a rustic carpeted bedroom remodel in Minneapolis

Spacecrafting
Example of a large country u-shaped brown floor and medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, paneled appliances, an island, solid surface countertops and porcelain backsplash

Kitchen with black fixtures and hardware, ceramic tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and barbell pendant light. Photography by Kyle Born.
Kitchen - small contemporary light wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Stephen Allen Photography
Example of a transitional gender-neutral carpeted nursery design in Orlando with green walls

Example of a classic ceramic tile mudroom design in Chicago with white walls