This is a “right-sized” new home, designed by TBDA in Oak Park, IL. While its space planning and technology are entirely 21st-century, its form echoes the scale and detailing of its bungalow and foursquare neighbors. Indoor-outdoor experience is optimized with a front screened porch, complete with a wood-burning fireplace. This house is LEED for Homes Platinum certified, and pre-certified through the Passive House Institute US PHIUS+2015 program. In addition to the efficiency, durability, and inherent air quality that result from Passive House design and building methods, we have strictly controlled adhesives, caulks, sealants, and paints to minimize VOCs, and have used no-added-formaldehyde cabinetry and insulation. We engage a third party air quality testing agency at the end of construction to provide a report on air quality. The house that was on this lot was deconstructed and some pieces of it were used in this house—a transom window, an old door, and a lot of framing lumber. ERIC HAUSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Architect: Andrew Lister Architect Location: Los Angeles, CA Photographer: Drew Kelly

Photography-Hedrich Blessing Glass House: The design objective was to build a house for my wife and three kids, looking forward in terms of how people live today. To experiment with transparency and reflectivity, removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. To construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. To tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with the nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the concrete beams support the steel beams; and in terms of how the entire house is enveloped in glass as if it was poured over the bones to make it skin tight. To engineer the house to be a smart house that not only looks modern, but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades/blinds, HVAC, communication/audio/video, or security. To develop a planning module based on a 16 foot square room size and a 8 foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The base of the interstitial spaces also become skylights for the basement gallery. This house is all about flexibility; the family room, was a nursery when the kids were infants, is a craft and media room now, and will be a family room when the time is right. Our rooms are all based on a 16’x16’ (4.8mx4.8m) module, so a bedroom, a kitchen, and a dining room are the same size and functions can easily change; only the furniture and the attitude needs to change. The house is 5,500 SF (550 SM)of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 8200 SF (820 SM). The mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hardscapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot.

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Cincinnati with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls and an island

This is the lakeside of a home that combines modern lake house design with a number of sustainable best practices to create a stunning and amazingly comfortable low carbon home. To maximize the view out to the lake, a very large segemented window wall was designed that integrated the structure directly into the window mulls to minimize visual obstructions. Skylights on remotes are set above the great room to encourage natural ventilation. Except for the bedrooms and bathrooms, the rooms are all open to one another, again for natural ventilation. The energy concept for the home was to be all electric to reduce fracked natural gas usage. Natural gas is only used as a starter for the high efficiency, sealed combustion, outside combustion air fireplace and for a back up generator. The 9.8 kW PV 35 Panel array provides 32% of the homes energy usage, with the remaining electricity coming from 100% renewable energy credits from the grid. The mechanical system is provided by a series of all electric, ultra high efficiency mini-splits, controlled by an integrated smart home system. An induction cooktop, hybrid electric water heater and hybrid electric dryer complete the items that typically use natural gas. Lighting is all high efficiency correctly colored LED’s. A home office is included on the second floor complete with a balcony, facing towards the lake. Their zero carbon work commute consists of walking across the 2nd floor hallway.

Tucked away in the backwoods of Torch Lake, this home marries “rustic” with the sleek elegance of modern. The combination of wood, stone and metal textures embrace the charm of a classic farmhouse. Although this is not your average farmhouse. The home is outfitted with a high performing system that seamlessly works with the design and architecture. The tall ceilings and windows allow ample natural light into the main room. Spire Integrated Systems installed Lutron QS Wireless motorized shades paired with Hartmann & Forbes windowcovers to offer privacy and block harsh light. The custom 18′ windowcover’s woven natural fabric complements the organic esthetics of the room. The shades are artfully concealed in the millwork when not in use. Spire installed B&W in-ceiling speakers and Sonance invisible in-wall speakers to deliver ambient music that emanates throughout the space with no visual footprint. Spire also installed a Sonance Landscape Audio System so the homeowner can enjoy music outside. Each system is easily controlled using Savant. Spire personalized the settings to the homeowner’s preference making controlling the home efficient and convenient. Builder: Widing Custom Homes Architect: Shoreline Architecture & Design Designer: Jones-Keena & Co. Photos by Beth Singer Photographer Inc.

For well over a decade, the Horizon Series has expanded its line of diverse, energy efficient, heater-rated fireplaces. A vast collection of quality fronts, beautifully finished surrounds and radiant fire beds have fueled impressive product innovations and excelled performance in the field. Compact in design, the Horizon engine features a range of installation opportunities in both top and rear vent applications. Made of thick gauge aluminized steel and housing a performance enhancing heat exchanger, the Horizon fire box is build to last. Designs range from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. Clean fronts, traditional casting and handcrafted ceramic fire beds all promote the core principle of Valor - that quality matters. Photo by Valor.

Exterior solar shades and awning systems are the most efficient solution to protect your windows and patio areas from the sun's damaging heat and UV rays. Blocking up to 99% of UV, motorized retractable shading systems allow you to block the sun and heat or reverse the strategy to allow in natural light and heat as desired.

Our inspiration for this home was an updated and refined approach to Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Prairie-style”; one that responds well to the harsh Central Texas heat. By DESIGN we achieved soft balanced and glare-free daylighting, comfortable temperatures via passive solar control measures, energy efficiency without reliance on maintenance-intensive Green “gizmos” and lower exterior maintenance. The client’s desire for a healthy, comfortable and fun home to raise a young family and to accommodate extended visitor stays, while being environmentally responsible through “high performance” building attributes, was met. Harmonious response to the site’s micro-climate, excellent Indoor Air Quality, enhanced natural ventilation strategies, and an elegant bug-free semi-outdoor “living room” that connects one to the outdoors are a few examples of the architect’s approach to Green by Design that results in a home that exceeds the expectations of its owners. Photo by Mark Adams Media

Master Bathroom: Energy Efficient Rooms & Products Check out more design ideas and tips for your home at: www.abdawindowfashions.com Read more about how you can make your home more energy efficient at: http://abdawindowfashions.com/blog/ Relax in the tub after a long day at work! This mosaic tile is the perfect design element for any master bathroom. The honeycomb shades are a must in any bathroom where there is a window above the tub. Have you ever soaked in the tub and been annoyed due to the draft from the window above? Or too much heat? There is good news. Covering your windows with custom fit energy efficient shades not only give you privacy, but can also significantly reduce the solar heat gain in your home. One of the most energy efficient shades is Hunter Douglas’s Architella with its unique construction of a cell within a cell lowering your heat gain to 15%. We also have a motorized options so you can lower or raise the shade with a touch of a button! This makes controlling the light and privacy easy. We look forward to helping you with your next project! We offer FREE In-Home consultations or stop in to our showroom. Give us a call Today! 317-273-8343

Windows: 3/4" Single Cell Sun Up/Sun Down Cellular Shades with Cordless Lift: Sheer Bliss, Buff 2152 (top) and Cosmopolitan, Fireplace Brick 2861 (bottom) Doors: 3/4" Single Cell VertiCell Cellular Shade: Cosmopolitan, Fireplace Brick 2861

Our inspiration for this home was an updated and refined approach to Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Prairie-style”; one that responds well to the harsh Central Texas heat. By DESIGN we achieved soft balanced and glare-free daylighting, comfortable temperatures via passive solar control measures, energy efficiency without reliance on maintenance-intensive Green “gizmos” and lower exterior maintenance. The client’s desire for a healthy, comfortable and fun home to raise a young family and to accommodate extended visitor stays, while being environmentally responsible through “high performance” building attributes, was met. Harmonious response to the site’s micro-climate, excellent Indoor Air Quality, enhanced natural ventilation strategies, and an elegant bug-free semi-outdoor “living room” that connects one to the outdoors are a few examples of the architect’s approach to Green by Design that results in a home that exceeds the expectations of its owners. Photo by Mark Adams Media

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Castillo Housing Corporation, Sustainable, Healthy and Energy Efficient modern home design. Not your average home...If you are looking for something different, and unlike the majority of homes being built, you'll want to show them this beautifully designed modern green home. This home is designed for optimal energy efficiency and a healthier indoor environment. Some of the many features include water saving faucets, strategically placed vinyl low E impact casement windows to allow plenty of natural day light to enter thereby reducing the need for artificial lighting, top quality Mohawk finish flooring, Cambria solid surface counter tops, super insulated and tight thermal envelop reducing air leakage, two 14 SEER Carrier high efficiency heat pumps, master bedroom walk in closet 11'x 10', over sized utility room with built in ironing board, 340 square foot covered lanai overlooking a lovely back yard filled with natural Florida drought resistant landscaping. Other interesting features include a exposed block stair tower designed to act as a thermal chimney allowing hot air to escape through an electronically controlled skylight and drawing cool air from below thereby creating an internal breeze, metal stairs with exposed risers, a rain water harvesting system to allow the use of recycled rain water for plants and garden, and concrete driveway with green dividers to minimize storm water run.

Set in a downtown Kirkland neighborhood, the 1st Street project captures the best of suburban living. The open floor plan brings kitchen, dining, and living space within reach, and rich wood beams, shiplap, and stone accents add timeless texture with a modern twist. Four bedrooms and a sprawling daylight basement create distinct spaces for family life, and the finished covered patio invites residents to breathe in the best of Pacific Northwest summers.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

You don't have to choose between a great design and a safe window covering. Cordless lift and motorized lift options for cellular shades don't use standard cord controls, so they're ideal choices for homes with children or pets. 3/8" Double Cell Cellular Shades with Cordless Lift: Northern Lights, White Cranberry 2444 and Fabric-Wrapped Valance: Eli, Oyster Shell 2881

Exterior solar shades and awning systems are the most efficient solution to protect your windows and patio areas from the sun's damaging heat and UV rays. Blocking up to 99% of UV, motorized retractable shading systems allow you to block the sun and heat or reverse the strategy to allow in natural light and heat as desired.

Inspiration for a contemporary gray tile gray floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Orange County with white walls and a hinged shower door