Product: Authentic Limestone for Exterior Living Spaces. Ancient Surfaces Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' design style as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates into 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, BBQ, fireplace or Jacuzzi pool spa all out of old reclaimed Mediterranean stone pieces is no easy task and shouldn’t be created out of the lowest common denominator of building materials such as concrete, Indian slates or Turkish travertine. The one thing you can bet the farmhouse on is that when the entire process unravels and when your outdoor living space materializes from the architects rendering to real life, you will be guaranteed a true Mediterranean living experience if your choice of construction material was as authentic and possible to the Southern Mediterranean regions. We believe that the coziness of your surroundings brought about by the creative usage of our antique stone elements will only amplify that authenticity. whether you are enjoying a relaxing time soaking the sun inside one of our Jacuzzi spa stone fountains or sharing unforgettable memories with family and friends while baking your own pizzas in one of our outdoor BBQ pizza ovens, our stone designs will always evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that one only gets while being on vacation is some exotic European island surrounded with the pristine beauty of indigenous nature and ancient architecture...

Example of a large transitional white two-story stucco house exterior design in Orlando with a tile roof

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

Emily Minton Redfield
Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor dining room remodel in Denver with gray walls and a standard fireplace

This 1902 San Antonio home was beautiful both inside and out, except for the kitchen, which was dark and dated. The original kitchen layout consisted of a breakfast room and a small kitchen separated by a wall. There was also a very small screened in porch off of the kitchen. The homeowners dreamed of a light and bright new kitchen and that would accommodate a 48" gas range, built in refrigerator, an island and a walk in pantry. At first, it seemed almost impossible, but with a little imagination, we were able to give them every item on their wish list. We took down the wall separating the breakfast and kitchen areas, recessed the new Subzero refrigerator under the stairs, and turned the tiny screened porch into a walk in pantry with a gorgeous blue and white tile floor. The french doors in the breakfast area were replaced with a single transom door to mirror the door to the pantry. The new transoms make quite a statement on either side of the 48" Wolf range set against a marble tile wall. A lovely banquette area was created where the old breakfast table once was and is now graced by a lovely beaded chandelier. Pillows in shades of blue and white and a custom walnut table complete the cozy nook. The soapstone island with a walnut butcher block seating area adds warmth and character to the space. The navy barstools with chrome nailhead trim echo the design of the transoms and repeat the navy and chrome detailing on the custom range hood. A 42" Shaws farmhouse sink completes the kitchen work triangle. Off of the kitchen, the small hallway to the dining room got a facelift, as well. We added a decorative china cabinet and mirrored doors to the homeowner's storage closet to provide light and character to the passageway. After the project was completed, the homeowners told us that "this kitchen was the one that our historic house was always meant to have." There is no greater reward for what we do than that.

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Inspiration for a modern backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Orange County with no cover and a fireplace

Bedroom - mid-sized transitional master bedroom idea in Tampa with no fireplace

Jared Kuzia Photography
Cottage gray floor kitchen photo in Manchester with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, concrete countertops, window backsplash and an island

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.

This Modern Craftsman by Tennyson Homes is now SOLD. This downtown Kirkland neighborhood is within the Lake Washington School District: Peter Kirk Elementary, Kirkland Middle School and Lake Washington High. On the east coast of Lake Washington, the posh suburb of Kirkland has a resort-like feel; yet, is proximate to King County's major employers: Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. If you're in the market to purchase a home in downtown Kirkland, contact Ken Nash.