J Kratzer
Alcove shower - mid-sized modern master stone tile marble floor alcove shower idea in DC Metro with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, an undermount tub, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in DC Metro

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Boston

Example of a classic laundry room design in Boston

The white washed wood-inspired Granicrete flooring in this bathroom is NSF certified so cleaning is a breeze and bacteria is no concern. The homeowner's small space is complimented by functional flooring that doesn't demand a lot of attention. Photographer Credit - Becky Ankeny Design

Leger Wanaselja Architecture
Entryway - eclectic entryway idea in San Francisco

Example of a classic hallway design in Boston

Inspiration for a small contemporary master white tile and subway tile ceramic tile and white floor bathroom remodel in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount tub, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and black countertops

Example of a classic kitchen design in New York

Inspiration for a timeless closet remodel in Boston

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Wine cubes double as a household organization center. Mullion-style Aristokraft Winstead glass-panel cabinet doors showcase the prettiest of serving dishes.

Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with gray walls

Example of a classic closet design in Boston

Inspiration for a small modern loft-style bedroom remodel in DC Metro with gray walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a timeless home office remodel in Boston

Interior and exterior decorating by Coventry Homes for construction by CLM Enterprises.
Inspiration for a large timeless beige two-story brick exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Minimalist kitchen photo in DC Metro

Freshly filled - the water will clear within 24 hours.
Patio fountain - small transitional front yard patio fountain idea in Seattle