Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.

Cati Teague Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Atlanta with blue walls

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

Transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

sethbennphoto.com 2013
Example of a transitional bedroom design in Minneapolis with gray walls

Inspiration for a scandinavian light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Birmingham with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a rustic built-in desk carpeted study room remodel in Philadelphia with white walls

Kids' room - transitional boy carpeted kids' room idea in Los Angeles

The Rushmore 50 Gas Fireplace with TruFlame Technology by White Mountain Hearth produces flames that mimic a wood burning fire. The impressive ceramic glass front with InvisiMesh provides a 50-inch viewing area.

Modular Sectional Sleeper Sofa Alpine by Nordholtz. The Alpine sectional sofa delivers the luxurious seating experience for the whole family. Rich in durable fabric/microfiber or genuine leather, this artistic sectional features adjustable pillow arms and plump cushions to offer rejuvenating comfort as the top stitching and tufting deliver a well tailored appeal. Enjoy the comfortable and relaxing experience of the Alpine sectional sofa with your friends and family. Provide the ideal comfort for your guests with the feeling of sleeping in their own bed. Alpine sofa bed is comfortable, firmly built and easy to transform. Apart from the iconic design and unprecedented comfort, Alpine comes with additional comfort features such as headrest that is adjustable, large storage space integrated inside the chaise, comfortable sofa bed, armrest pillows that are adjustable as well as adjustable depth of the seat. Please contact our office to get necessary help with customization of this sectional sofa. Features: Wooden frame with Sinuous Spring (Wave Spring) System. Heavy-duty, S-shaped wires stretched across the frame from front to back provide the entire seating area with uniform comfort and support and prevent sagging Cushions in feathers Can be ordered with or without Bed and Storage Can be ordered in Fabric or thick genuine Leather Adjustable headrests and armrest Choose from standard or deep seating Modular sofa that allows to build a Sectional Sofa (L or U shape), regular Sofa, and Loveseat The starting price is for the Alpine U-Shape Sectional Sofa with Bed and Storage, Upholstered in Fabric+Leatherette (in configuration and color shown in the main picture). Dimensions: Sectional Sofa (as shown): W(74" x 153" x 102") x D47" x H31"/38"

Tricia Shay Photography
Large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in Cleveland with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, white walls and no tv

Painting by artist Beth Robinson. Jesse Prezza Photography.
Inspiration for a farmhouse living room remodel in Jacksonville

Living room at Logan's Residence, by Restructure Studio
Example of a transitional living room design in Austin

Transitional brown floor and dark wood floor living room photo in Charlotte with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stacked stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Greg Reigler
Mid-sized beach style master dark wood floor bedroom photo in Miami with blue walls and no fireplace

Addition and whole house renovation to 1940's Arlington colonial home; doubling the square-footage. Includes new Kraftmaid Cabinets, new appliances, new dining area, new living room area, full basement playroom, new master, and new guest room.

Ryann Ford
Bedroom - large transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Austin with gray walls

Living room - contemporary formal and open concept living room idea in San Francisco with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Transitional l-shaped kitchen photo in Manchester with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and an island