This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

Beach style kitchen photo in Portland Maine

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

This urban infill project is a make-over of a decrepit structure that had been used as a student rental for close to 50 years. Situated on an elevated, 3300 sf lot, nothing in the original house was salvageable and the entire house was stripped down to the studs. Our challenge with this project was to then open up the original interiors, flood them with natural light while creating a design that appealed to the broadest buyer pool possible. We solved this problem by organizing a compact floor plan that resulted in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence organized around a great room on the main level, a family room on the basement level and an additional 2 bedrooms with city views on the upper. By minimizing circulation space, we were able to re-purpose every square foot of floor area while creating a dramatic, light-filled staircase that tied all 3 levels of the house together into a unified living scheme. Clean lines and clean details, this is another of our attempts at a 'Not So Big House.' Marketing of the final product lasted less than 10 days and resulted in 3 full priced offers that netted the developer a tidy profit.

Staircase - large modern wooden curved metal railing staircase idea in Miami with painted risers

Iron work by James Gunnell of Antietam Iron Works, photo by James Gunnell
Deck - traditional deck idea in DC Metro

Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz
Example of a mid-sized country porcelain tile mudroom design in Seattle with green walls

Paul Burk Photography
Staircase - mid-sized modern concrete straight metal railing staircase idea in Baltimore with wooden risers

Living room - traditional formal dark wood floor living room idea in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a media wall

LEED Certification Level: V4 Builder: BPC Green Builders, LLC Architect: Trillium Architects The Taft School faculty home serves as a high performance residence and learning lab for students. The project also earned certification through ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, Water Sense, PHIUS, and Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes with Living Building Challenge Petal recognition pending. The project team was honored with third place in the 2014 Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. Excluding the photovoltaic installation the HERS index was 33, and with the 13.1 kW the HERS index is -14. A year of utility bills show the home is producing more electricity than it uses. Located on a quiet street adjacent to campus the existing, historic home was deconstructed and materials donated or reused where possible. Challenged to find high efficiency windows that were historic commission acceptable, the team installed Klearwall awnings or casements over fixed glass (to mimic double hungs) with simulated divided lites (u-values as low as 0.13). A high solar heat gain coefficient (0.58) facilitates the passive solar gain for winter months, while well designed overhangs and a pergola shade summer sun. Double stud walls have 2¼” closed cell foam plus 8½” dense pack cellulose for a R-49 cavity. The exterior sheathing is R-6.6 Zip Wall System with taped seams to create the continuous air barrier. Inside the solid concrete foundation is 3” closed cell foam behind 2x4 stud walls and R-32 cellulose in the cavity. Prefabricated TJI joists frame the attic floor, an insulated “room” houses the heat recovery ventilator and ductwork, and blown in cellulose blankets it all in R-86. The house tested 0.6ACH50 proving the effectiveness of its air-tight envelope and attention to air sealing. Heating and cooling is provided by efficient air source heat pumps (9.2 HSPF, 16.5 SEER) and delivered by short duct runs which tested extremely tight. A heat pump water heater provides domestic hot water and an on-demand switch, with an occupancy sensor at each bath, ensures hot water is delivered fast and efficiently. Low flow fixtures are WaterSense certified, appliances are Energy Star labeled, and all LED lighting. A Zehnder Novus 300 (93.3% efficient) HRV supplies 112 cfm of continuous fresh air while using only 32 watts of power and running quietly. The homeowners control the mechanical ventilation through the intuitive wall-mounted control pad to shut off or increase the ventilation. Chemicals and contaminants were reduced by using low VOC and GreenGuard certified sealants, adhesives, primers, and paints. A walk-off matt at the side entry and hardwood floors help control dirt and dust. The granite front steps were salvaged and local stone used for the patio and stone walls. Storm water runoff from the roof, patio, and driveway is managed by the rain garden. The native landscaping is low maintenance, a community garden produces vegetables, and the chicken coop is powered by its own roof mounted PV panels. Taft School Director of Environmental Stewardship, Carly Borken has used the design and construction process as a teaching tool for her science classes. With access to the home monitoring system they can virtually access the residents’ consumption.

LEED Certification Level: V4 Builder: BPC Green Builders, LLC Architect: Trillium Architects. The Taft School faculty home serves as a high performance residence and learning lab for students. The project also earned certification through ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, Water Sense, PHIUS, and Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes with Living Building Challenge Petal recognition pending. The project team was honored with third place in the 2014 Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. Excluding the photovoltaic installation the HERS index was 33, and with the 13.1 kW the HERS index is -14. A year of utility bills show the home is producing more electricity than it uses. Located on a quiet street adjacent to campus the existing, historic home was deconstructed and materials donated or reused where possible. Challenged to find high efficiency windows that were historic commission acceptable, the team installed Klearwall awnings or casements over fixed glass (to mimic double hungs) with simulated divided lites (u-values as low as 0.13). A high solar heat gain coefficient (0.58) facilitates the passive solar gain for winter months, while well designed overhangs and a pergola shade summer sun. Double stud walls have 2¼” closed cell foam plus 8½” dense pack cellulose for a R-49 cavity. The exterior sheathing is R-6.6 Zip Wall System with taped seams to create the continuous air barrier. Inside the solid concrete foundation is 3” closed cell foam behind 2x4 stud walls and R-32 cellulose in the cavity. Prefabricated TJI joists frame the attic floor, an insulated “room” houses the heat recovery ventilator and ductwork, and blown in cellulose blankets it all in R-86. The house tested 0.6ACH50 proving the effectiveness of its air-tight envelope and attention to air sealing. Heating and cooling is provided by efficient air source heat pumps (9.2 HSPF, 16.5 SEER) and delivered by short duct runs which tested extremely tight. A heat pump water heater provides domestic hot water and an on-demand switch, with an occupancy sensor at each bath, ensures hot water is delivered fast and efficiently. Low flow fixtures are WaterSense certified, appliances are Energy Star labeled, and all LED lighting. A Zehnder Novus 300 (93.3% efficient) HRV supplies 112 cfm of continuous fresh air while using only 32 watts of power and running quietly. The homeowners control the mechanical ventilation through the intuitive wall-mounted control pad to shut off or increase the ventilation. Chemicals and contaminants were reduced by using low VOC and GreenGuard certified sealants, adhesives, primers, and paints. A walk-off matt at the side entry and hardwood floors help control dirt and dust. The granite front steps were salvaged and local stone used for the patio and stone walls. Storm water runoff from the roof, patio, and driveway is managed by the rain garden. The native landscaping is low maintenance, a community garden produces vegetables, and the chicken coop is powered by its own roof mounted PV panels. Taft School Director of Environmental Stewardship, Carly Borken has used the design and construction process as a teaching tool for her science classes. With access to the home monitoring system they can virtually access the residents’ consumption.

A light and spacious reading room lined with birch IKEA BILLY bookcases gets a warm upgrade with Walnut Studiolo's St. Johns leather tab pulls. Photo credit: Erin Berzel Photography

Gorgeous master bath finished with Dal-Tile's Fabrique porcelain tile in the color Noir Linen polished. Tile size is 12"x24" installed in a brick joint pattern. The floor boasts underfloor heating on a timed thermostat.

Carlsbad new construction; spanish courtyard and edible garden.
Design ideas for a mediterranean courtyard concrete paver landscaping in San Diego.