Contribution - Photos & Ideas

The Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU was designed and built to remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. Fortunately, the same great building strategies and design that provide resilience also provide a home that is incredibly comfortable and healthy while also visually stunning. This home’s journey began with a desire to design and build a house that meets the rigorous standards of Passive House. Before beginning the design/ construction process, the homeowners had already spent countless hours researching ways to minimize their global climate change footprint. As with any Passive House, a large portion of this research was focused on building envelope design and construction. The wall assembly is combination of six inch Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) and 2x6 stick frame construction filled with blown in insulation. The roof assembly is a combination of twelve inch SIPs and 2x12 stick frame construction filled with batt insulation. The pairing of SIPs and traditional stick framing allowed for easy air sealing details and a continuous thermal break between the panels and the wall framing. Beyond the building envelope, a number of other high performance strategies were used in constructing this home and ADU such as: battery storage of solar energy, ground source heat pump technology, Heat Recovery Ventilation, LED lighting, and heat pump water heating technology. In addition to the time and energy spent on reaching Passivhaus Standards, thoughtful design and carefully chosen interior finishes coalesce at the Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU into stunning interiors with modern farmhouse appeal. The result is a graceful combination of innovation, durability, and aesthetics that will last for a century to come. Despite the requirements of adhering to some of the most rigorous environmental standards in construction today, the homeowners chose to certify both their main home and their ADU to Passive House Standards. From a meticulously designed building envelope that tested at 0.62 ACH50, to the extensive solar array/ battery bank combination that allows designated circuits to function, uninterrupted for at least 48 hours, the Twin Peaks Passive House has a long list of high performance features that contributed to the completion of this arduous certification process. The ADU was also designed and built with these high standards in mind. Both homes have the same wall and roof assembly ,an HRV, and a Passive House Certified window and doors package. While the main home includes a ground source heat pump that warms both the radiant floors and domestic hot water tank, the more compact ADU is heated with a mini-split ductless heat pump. The end result is a home and ADU built to last, both of which are a testament to owners’ commitment to lessen their impact on the environment.

Summer Chic

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

Nestled in the heart of Bridgehampton, this charming cottage is the quintessential retreat for leisurely summer days, offering effortless access to the breezy, sun-soaked beaches of the Hamptons. At the heart of the home is a thoughtfully designed kitchen that blends sophistication with the soothing tones of nature. Overlooking vibrant, lush landscaping, the kitchen features Bilotta Collection cabinetry—fully custom and hand-crafted, finished in Benjamin Moore’s Storm Cloud Grey. The cabinetry’s cool undertones harmonize seamlessly with surrounding earthy greens, creating an overall calming effect. The countertops, slab backsplash, and integrated farmhouse sink are all crafted from elegant Statuary White marble—a timeless stone prized for its luminous white background and delicate grey veining. Every surface contributes to the clean, sophisticated aesthetic while maintaining a natural, organic feel. Fixtures including hardware from Armac Martin’s MIX Collection and the Watermark faucet are all in an unlacquered brass finish, complementing the warmth of overhead beams. As a final touch, the Thomas Hayes TK Stools in solid oak and brass provide both function and artistry, balancing the modern elegance of the space with handcrafted authenticity. This kitchen collaboration was part of a full home renovation by Lindsey Bonime of L. Bonime Designs and Architect Nancy Howell.

The Cloisters at Charles

Greenleaf Construction | Home

This project wasn't just the ultimate in creating an open concept home -- it was a great team building exercise as well. This massive effort couldn't have succeeded without the contributions of everyone involved, and with a project of this scale it takes the entire team to get every last detail correct from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the structural feat of making a massive 20' tall load bearing wall completely disappear and then seeing the impact natural light can have in an open area. We love challenges like this one! Photo: Alan Gilbert

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Lake Forest Showhouse

Design Tuttoilmondo

The overall design was done by Ewa pasek of The ABL Group. My contribution to this was the stone specification and architectural details.
Example of a small transitional l-shaped multicolored floor kitchen design in Chicago with quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, white countertops, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

South Lake Washington

Ron Mitchell

Example of a 1960s living room design in Seattle

S Garden Ct NE

Beth A. Boswell, Passional Investor & Realtor

Classic front porch idea in Atlanta with decking and a roof extension

Elegant Modern at Estancia | Cantilevered Patio

Drewett Works

The primary goal for this project was to craft a modernist derivation of pueblo architecture. Set into a heavily laden boulder hillside, the design also reflects the nature of the stacked boulder formations. The site, located near local landmark Pinnacle Peak, offered breathtaking views which were largely upward, making proximity an issue. Maintaining southwest fenestration protection and maximizing views created the primary design constraint. The views are maximized with careful orientation, exacting overhangs, and wing wall locations. The overhangs intertwine and undulate with alternating materials stacking to reinforce the boulder strewn backdrop. The elegant material palette and siting allow for great harmony with the native desert. The Elegant Modern at Estancia was the collaboration of many of the Valley's finest luxury home specialists. Interiors guru David Michael Miller contributed elegance and refinement in every detail. Landscape architect Russ Greey of Greey | Pickett contributed a landscape design that not only complimented the architecture, but nestled into the surrounding desert as if always a part of it. And contractor Manship Builders -- Jim Manship and project manager Mark Laidlaw -- brought precision and skill to the construction of what architect C.P. Drewett described as "a watch." Project Details | Elegant Modern at Estancia Architecture: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB Builder: Manship Builders, Carefree, AZ Interiors: David Michael Miller, Scottsdale, AZ Landscape: Greey | Pickett, Scottsdale, AZ Photography: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ Publications: "On the Edge: The Rugged Desert Landscape Forms the Ideal Backdrop for an Estancia Home Distinguished by its Modernist Lines" Luxe Interiors + Design, Nov/Dec 2015. Awards: 2015 PCBC Grand Award: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft. 2015 PCBC Award of Merit: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft. The Nationals 2016 Silver Award: Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec 2015 Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award - Merit Award Photography: Dino Tonn

Elegant Modern at Estancia | Exterior Corner

Drewett Works

Elegant Modern at Estancia | Driveway

Drewett Works

Deerfield Lane

Safferstone Interiors

Transitional powder room photo in Philadelphia

Avalanche Chalet

Farmer Payne Architects - Sun Valley

Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU

Bellingham Bay Builders

The Boulder House

Andrea Lackie Design

Example of a small mountain style beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and single-sink alcove shower design with quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door, beige countertops and a floating vanity

Horseneck

Bloom Architecture

Starting with a traditional shingled camp on the Slocum River, the Horseneck project transformed this compact vernacular building into a more modernist composition, connecting interior to exterior, overlapping programmatic areas, maximizing available daylight, and prioritizing outdoor living. With the river setting the backdrop, we began the design with an abstract composition of planes and volumes, which would serve to open the house, frame the views, and add depth to the landscape. The new glass wall, floating deck, cube-like pergola, and attenuated cedar planter all contribute to this geometric composition, in stark contrast to the lush wooded surroundings, and rolling hills. The extensive interior renovations included opening the central stair on both sides to serve as a central focal point for the interiors. A new kitchen, two new bathrooms, new lighting, finishes, and color palette rounded off the interior renovations

Modern Tudor Sunroom

Quartersawn Design Build

Transitional patio photo in Minneapolis

This Traditional Atlantic Beach Kitchen is Flaunting its Curves!

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

Your smile is not the only curve in the room when you enter this room. This open and airy traditional Atlantic Beach kitchen flaunts a beautiful curved island in natural cherry which is the focal point of the space. There are occasional times when a homeowner comes to the table with a vision from which the designer can draw his inspiration. Such was the case when Bilotta designer Goran Savic and Interior designer, Catherine Ebert’s mutual client announced that design and an expansive feeling should be prioritized over the prevailing “more storage” maxim. Although the kitchen was opened up to afford a view of the beautiful sculptural staircase, cabinetry was limited to a modest “L”-shaped footprint with an island. But not just any island: curved cabinetry in cherry that references the curves of the staircase and its cherry newel post and railing. While the rounded shape doesn’t contribute much to storage, it provides plenty of room for seating and definitely makes a strong design statement. More seating can be found in the comfy cushioned banquette (with storage drawers below). That’s a perfect spot to grab breakfast or even read a book. The unique piece here is the custom table at the banquette. Its beveled oval cherry base and double stainless-steel column supports are evocative of a luxury Art Deco yacht and echo the curved island. Goran utilized a number of space-enlarging visual devices as part of his design arsenal. Open shelving and glass upper sections on the wall cabinets prevent the frequent claustrophobic effect of all solid doors. Installing the wall cabinets higher than usual created a larger backsplash that helps offset the normal feeling of countertop clutter. Of course, nothing opens up a room like the inclusion of abundant natural light, but choice of materials also plays a huge role. Here we have a bleached stain on the wood floor, white cabinets, pale-colored countertops and backsplash tiles, and clear glass pendants, all of which enhance the airiness of this stunning new room.

Traditional New Build, Dallas

Le Belle Maison Interiors Inc.

Living room - mid-sized traditional open concept light wood floor living room idea in Dallas with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Watelle – Natural Pool in a Historic Garden

Biotop P&P International GmbH

This pool gives you the feeling of swimming into the landscape. The broad, straight line of the horizon and the long, slender vertical lines of the pool underscore the expansiveness of the property, whose size unquestionably contributes to the impact of its natural beauty. The design is rather understated, creating the impression of having been copied directly from the pool’s natural setting. The landscape and the garden have retained their prominent role despite the addition of the natural pool. The pool blends in unassumingly with its surroundings and is sizeable enough to allow for the swimming of long laps. A natural pool is the obvious choice for locations such as this. Natural materials and plant filters are without a doubt the ideal option for gardens like these. The beautiful property certainly contributes a great deal to the overall visual impression, but the pool - as close to nature as possible and reduced to essentials - has the look and feel of a body of water that was created here quite naturally. The addition of the wooden planks and the long, slender shape of the pool are visually very appealing. The water’s edge of the regeneration area blends harmoniously into the landscape and appears as if it had grown there naturally over several years.

Private balcony

Vita Verde

A green space for children in an urban environment to play outside is very valuable. That space can be a nearby playground, a park or even better a balcony, like in this case. Unique decoration that catches the eye of any visitor contributes to the cheerful atmosphere of the balcony. The floor has been covered by artificial grass, which is a safe and appropriate material for the small ones to play on the floor. At the west side there is a vegetables bed with a low bench, which creates a safe limit and can also be used by children. When there is not much time to go to a playground, this balcony is a perfect solution for spending fun moments outside.

Private Residence Natatorium

BASWA acoustic North America

The beautiful natatorium in this French home is unlike the characteristic cacophony box that many pool spaces are. The home utilizes the BASWA Phon Sound Absorbing System on the ceilings of the space to reduce reverberation and create a more tranquil environment, ultimately contributing to wellbeing. The BASWA Phon Sound Absorbing System is integrated without altering the aesthetics of your home and appears just as plaster on walls and ceilings. Furthermore, testing of the material showed no mold growth per ASTM D 3273 Standards, making the system perfect for spas, natatoriums or porte-cochères.