The design that we developed unified the house with the greater landscape by bringing the curved lines of the corner lot (the street curved around the property) to the design of the drive, the front entry walk and the bedlines, while repeating and extending the linearity of the house in the side terrace garden. The terrace paving pattern also linked house and garden as we continued the same paving pattern found in the center hallway in the flagstone and granite terrace. Photos taken by Roger Foley

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

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

Chad Holder
Example of a mid-sized minimalist l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Minneapolis with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash and an island

The client wanted patio space for a chair so she could relax in the sun when the mood struck. The only spot in the yard with any sun is near the fence gate. A full-range New York Bluestone patio was added using 30” x 30” slabs. These slabs are dry-set so leveling was a challenge.

Example of a minimalist concrete floor living room design in Los Angeles with a music area

Photography: Frederic Neema
Open concept kitchen - large contemporary galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, an undermount sink, stainless steel appliances and an island

photography by Trent Bell
Inspiration for a rustic screened-in porch remodel in Portland Maine with decking and a roof extension

Susan Gilmore
Large transitional master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Minneapolis with gray walls and no fireplace

View through clerestory hall with living room and then screened porch on right, room divider to kitchen on left, study at end of hall. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely.

©2011Francis Dzikowski/Esto
Inspiration for a timeless patio remodel in New York with no cover

David Dietrich
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless built-in desk dark wood floor home studio remodel in Other with white walls

Tess Fine © 2013 Houzz
Bedroom - eclectic bedroom idea in Boston with beige walls

Photography Paul Bardagjy
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room remodel in Austin with beige walls

A traditional Malibu Ranch house needed a complete remodel. “This house was left in a very bad condition when the new owners called me to remodel it. Abandoned for several years and untouched, it was the perfect canvas to start new and fresh!” The result is amazing, light bounces through the house, the large french doors gives an indoor-outdoor feeling and let the new inhabitants enjoy the view.

Example of a transitional green tile and glass tile bathroom design in Atlanta

Nestled into sloping topography, the design of this home allows privacy from the street while providing unique vistas throughout the house and to the surrounding hill country and downtown skyline. Layering rooms with each other as well as circulation galleries, insures seclusion while allowing stunning downtown views. The owners' goals of creating a home with a contemporary flow and finish while providing a warm setting for daily life was accomplished through mixing warm natural finishes such as stained wood with gray tones in concrete and local limestone. The home's program also hinged around using both passive and active green features. Sustainable elements include geothermal heating/cooling, rainwater harvesting, spray foam insulation, high efficiency glazing, recessing lower spaces into the hillside on the west side, and roof/overhang design to provide passive solar coverage of walls and windows. The resulting design is a sustainably balanced, visually pleasing home which reflects the lifestyle and needs of the clients. Photography by Andrew Pogue

Imbue Design
Example of a small trendy open concept concrete floor living room design in Salt Lake City

John Cole Photography
Beach style entryway photo in Boston with a glass front door