Photo credit: Charles-Ryan Barber Architect: Nadav Rokach Interior Design: Eliana Rokach Staging: Carolyn Greco at Meredith Baer Contractor: Building Solutions and Design, Inc.

Context Norbert and Robin had dreamed of retiring in a Passive House-certified home overlooking the Lubberland Creek Preserve in Southeastern New Hampshire, and they’d done their homework. They were interested in using four integrated Zehnder America (www.zehnderamerica.com) technologies to make the 1,900 square foot home extremely energy efficient. They didn’t miss any opportunity to innovate or raise the bar on sustainable design. Our goals were focused on guaranteeing their comfort in every season, saving them money on a fixed income, and reducing the home’s overall impact on the environment as much as possible. Response The home faces directly south and captures sunlight all winter under tall and vaulted ceilings and a continuous band of slim-lined, Italian triple-pane windows and doors that provide gorgeous views of the wild preserve. A second-story office nook and clerestory provide even deeper views, with a little more privacy. Zehnder, which previously sold its innovative products only in Europe, took on the project as a test house. We designed around Zehnder’s vent-based systems, including a geothermal heat loop that heats and cools incoming air, a heat pump cooling system, electric towel-warmer radiators in the bathrooms, and a highly efficient energy recovery ventilator, which recycles heat and minimizes the need for air conditioning. The house effectively has no conventional heating system—and doesn’t need it. We also looked for efficiencies and smart solutions everywhere, from the lights to the windows to the insulation. The kitchen exhaust hood eliminates, cleans, and recirculates cooking fumes in the home’s unique kitchen, custom-designed to match the ways Norbert likes to prepare meals. There are several countertop heights so they can prep and clean comfortably, and the eat-in kitchen also has two seating heights so people can sit and socialize while they’re working on dinner. An adjacent screened porch greets guests and opens to the view. A roof-mounted solar system helps to ensure that the home generates more energy than it consumes—helped by features such as a heat pump water heater, superinsulation, LED lights and a polished concrete floor that helps regulate indoor temperatures.

These clients, an entrepreneur and a physician with three kids, chose their Tudor home for the neighborhood, though it didn’t match their modern-transitional taste. They asked us to help them transform their into a place to play and entertain with clean lines and lively color, namely her favorites: bold purple and refreshing apple green. Their previous layout had a stifled flow with a large sectional sofa that dominated the room, and an awkward assortment of furniture that they wanted to discard with the exception of a vintage stone dining table from her mother. The living room served as a pass through to both the family and dining rooms. The client wanted the living room to be less like a glorified hallway and become a destination. Our solution was to unify the design of this living space with the related rooms by using repetition of color and by creating usable areas for family game night, entertaining and small get togethers. The generous proportions of the room enabled us to create three functional spaces: a game table with seating for four and adjacent pull up seating for family play; a seating area at the fireplace that accommodates a large group or small conversation; and seating at the front window that provides a view of the street (not seen in the photograph). The space went from awkward to one that is used daily for family activities and socializing. As they were not interested in touching the existing architecture, transformations were made using new light fixtures, paint, distinctive furniture and art. The client had a strict budget but desired the highly styled look of couture design pieces with curves and movement. We accomplished this look by pairing a few distinctive couture items with inspired pieces that are budget balancers. We combined the couture game table with more affordable chairs inspired by a classic klismos style, as one might pair Louboutins with stylish jeans. Right- and left-arm chairs with an interesting castle-like fret base detail flank windows. To help the clients better understand the use of the color scheme, we keyed the floor plan to show how the greens and purples traveled in a balanced manner around the room and throughout the adjacent dining and family rooms. We paired apple green accents with layered hues of lavender, orchid and aubergine. Neutral taupe and ivory tones ground the bold colors. The custom rug in ivory, aubergine, pale taupe, grey-lavender was inspired by a picture the client found, but we dramatically increased the scale of the pattern in proportion to our room size. This curvy movement is echoed in the sophisticated shapes of the furniture throughout the redesigned room—from the curved sofas to the circular cutouts in the cube end table. At the windows the solid sateen panels with contrasting aubergine banding have the hand of silk, and are also cost conscious, creating room in the budget for the stunning custom pillows in Italian embroidered silk. The distinctive color and shapes throughout provide the whimsy the clients' desired with the function they needed, creating an inviting living room that is now a daily destination. Designed by KBK Interior Design www.KBKInteriorDesign.com Photo by Wing Wong

This display showcased the use of prefabricated glass block shower walls (one curved and one straight in a step down design) along with high gloss wall panels (which are less expensive and easier to work with than back painted glass) and a low threshold solid surface shower pan.

Low-profile threshold shower bases are ideal for easy access. The MTSB-SS7236HD is constructed of MTI's proprietary Engineered Solid Stone™ material, which is a mixture of ground minerals and high-performance resins that are liquefied, poured and then hardened. The matte surface meets ANSI standards for slip resistance.

Landscape Architect: Gunn Landscape Architecture Photography: Alex Herring
Trendy patio photo in New York with a pergola

Outstanding kitchen installed in Dracut, MA. Black Pearl leather granite on top of white cabinets and Silver Cloud granite complementing the island. Great combination!

With the addition of matching Bertch storage cabinetry to the wall in the Breakfast Nook, the Kitchen now looks triple the size of the original and the spaces feel cohesive and flow as an extension of one another. Benjamin Moore “Cumulus Cloud” #1550 paint was used throughout the Kitchen.

Pool - mediterranean rectangular pool idea in Orange County with decking

This roll in shower combines style and function seamlessly. This wet room design uses a "base former" which is set directly on the joists to make a one level room without having to modify a homes framing - very cool design. The glass enclosure keeps the water contained - but the larger opening makes the space wheelchair friendly.

Using clean, White Thassos marble as a base for the bathroom, we introduced the KOHLER Alberry vanity, accenting with Vibrant Brushed Bronze Pinstripe fixtures and Cloud Nine Marble water jet cut tile to finish the room.

Silver Cloud Granite Kitchen Counter Top!
Trendy home design photo in Boston

Artemis table base in kitchen.
Mid-sized minimalist travertine floor and beige floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in Chicago with white walls

Pull out drawers create accessible storage solution in a tall pantry cabinet.
Inspiration for a small contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry remodel in Richmond with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, green backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

The island is packed with tons of additional storage, as well as a Sharp microwave drawer with flip display. Wickham red oak hardwood from the "Domestic" collection in a "Walnut" satin finish gives the entire Main Level a new feel with the added benefit it is durable for the family dog who also happens to be the same color! Behind the island, the wall was opened up between the Kitchen and relocated Dining Room which adds to the open feel of the remodeled Main Level.

Custom gas fireplace. The slightly tinted glass runs around the entire enclosure and all the way to the ceiling.
Example of a trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor living room design in Boston with white walls and a two-sided fireplace

Treve Johnson Photography Dura Supreme Cabinets
Inspiration for a large transitional staircase remodel in San Francisco

Fiat LUX...versions WHITE, CAPPUCCINO, BLACK, CREAM, BLACK CHERRY, PEARL, CHOCOLATE and TURQUOISE. Harmonious and refined design, innovative colors with glossy effect and imprint youth. LUX is a complete model with high composability features; it is based on a full development of the operative concept, together with Accessories and electric appliance of very high quality. Finally, we would like to highlight the solutions based on low worktop for snack, which give a touch of modernity to the indoor design of your home.

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows the remodel of a small 1950's vintage home master bathroom. 8"" x 18" Calcutta gold marble tile was used on the shower walls and floor wall base and ceramic gray penny tile on the floor. Shower includes curbless pan / floor, dual shower boxes, frameless glass slider, trough duel fixture sink and chrome fixtures.