This house in the high Mesa desert of Southwestern Utah is sustainable. It is built with non-combustible fire-resistant materials of steel, concrete, copper and stucco. Water-recapturing, passive heating and passive cooling are used for a low impact on the environment and energy efficiency. Large overhanging eaves provide essential shade in the summer, solid concrete floors release the heat absorbed from the low winter sun. A steel structure allows for deep cantilevered balconies and eaves, which also supports heavy snowfall in winter. The standing seam copper roofing freely allows expansion and contraction from the daily temperature swings. The eaves are covered in copper panels and an integrated copper gutter. The balcony railing made of steel channels and wire was also fabricated by Patrice.

Roof hatch, copper shroud
Inspiration for a timeless deck remodel in Boston

Photos images: Courtesy of the Homeowners At the end of a dirt road in southern Vermont is a stunning timber and stone residence designed to resemble a small medieval Anglo-Norman manor house originally constructed in the 16th century. According to the owners, a husband and wife with a keen interest in both ancient and modern architecture, the 5,000 sq. ft. home was built slowly over eleven years by highly skilled craftsmen in order to complete all of the authentic hand-planed interior details. The craftsmen then spent an additional two years building the adjacent “ancient“ barn. “We always knew we wanted to take down a delapidated 19th-century hay barn and replace it with something of the period of the house,“ the husband said. The owners designed the barn and began to consider zinc for the roof after looking at northern European architecture and discovering that zinc has been used extensively in Europe for 300 years. Approximately 4,200 sq. ft. of RHEINZINK prePATINA bright rolled Double Lock Standing Seam Roof Panels were utilized to roof the white oak structure. The bright rolled material was selected deliberately in order to achieve the “naturally aged look“ that the owners were seeking. “It’s gone almost immediately to a soft grey which is what we hoped would happen. As the years go by, the color of the weathering white oak and the aging zinc will come together in a dusty grey. Seeing this building in the fog five years from now will feel like seeing a 500-year-old ghost barn floating in the hills of Vermont.“ Installation of the RHEINZINK panels was done by Cold Hollow Contracting, Burlington, VT. “These folks had serious zinc-roofing experience and were clearly the most craft-oriented of all the roofers we met with,“ according to the husband. The main focus was getting an “old look“ as quickly as possible, said Tim Heaghney, co-owner of Cold Hollow Contracting. “That’s really what makes the bright rolled so special—it ages quickly. We fabricated the 28 ft. panels on site and did the flashing fabrication in our shop. Many of the normal sheet metal skills apply to the zinc although we relied heavily on the RHEINZINK installation manual as well as personal support from their technical people. We used a radius cut and fold at the eve termination as opposed to the typical detail used in steel and copper where it‘s just cut at the 90 for the drip edge. The roof was steep but we do a lot of steeples and domes so we’re comfortable working at heights.“ The installers also utilized RHEINZINK’s AIR-Z structured underlayment to provide an air-gap behind the zinc. The RHEINZINK distributor on the project was Beacon Sales, Shelburne, VT

Seated home bar - mid-sized traditional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor seated home bar idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops and multicolored backsplash

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: Knotty Alder double entry door; James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Stamped concrete. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Radius wood countertop and custom built cabinetry by Ayr Cabinet Company. Bar Sink: Native Trails Cocina with Kohler Artifacts Faucet. Leathered Black Pearl Granite Countertop. Soho Studios Mirror Bronze 4x12 Beveled tile on backsplash. Luxury appliances. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Home Design by Maple & White Design; Photography by Marie Kinney Photography. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. — with Ferguson, Bob Miller's Appliance, Hoosier Hardwood Floors, and ZStone Creations in Fine Stone Surfaces

Pool elevation featuring cedar gable brackets, Celect Board & Batten and D7 Shake siding in white; Boral trim boards; cedar lined ceilings; cedar brackets; copper gutters and downspouts; metal roofs and GAF Slateline English Gray Slate roofing shingles. Buechel Stone Fond du Lac Cambrian Blend stone used on fireplace and columns. Landscaping by Linton's Enchanted Gardens. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Home Design by Maple & White Design; Photography by Marie Kinney Photography. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

As you enter the home to your right is a gorgeous custom staircase. You then step into the informal dining room which features two beautiful pendant lights and poplar beams. Cabinetry in the dining room hides a small wet bar. Home design by Phil Jenkins, AIA, Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; general contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; interior design by Stacey Hamilton; photos by Dave Hubler Photography.

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: Knotty Alder double entry door; James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Stamped concrete. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

Radius wood countertop and custom built cabinetry by Ayr Cabinet Company. Bar Sink: Native Trails Cocina with Kohler Artifacts Faucet. Leathered Black Pearl Granite Countertop. Soho Studios Mirror Bronze 4x12 Beveled tile on backsplash. Hinkley Lighting Cartwright large drum pendants. Luxury appliances. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Home Design by Maple & White Design; Photography by Marie Kinney Photography. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. — with Ferguson, Bob Miller's Appliance, Hoosier Hardwood Floors, and ZStone Creations in Fine Stone Surfaces

Radius wood countertop and custom built cabinetry by Ayr Cabinet Company. Bar Sink: Native Trails Cocina with Kohler Artifacts Faucet. Leathered Black Pearl Granite Countertop. Soho Studios Mirror Bronze 4x12 Beveled tile on backsplash. Hinkley Lighting Cartwright large drum pendants. Luxury appliances. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Home Design by Maple & White Design; Photography by Marie Kinney Photography. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. — with Ferguson, Bob Miller's Appliance, Hoosier Hardwood Floors, and ZStone Creations in Fine Stone Surfaces

Three-level lake home built for entertaining. Offers storage for sailboat, boat launch, balconies, decks, patios and outdoor kitchen. Gated and secure entrance. Cute custom built garden shed is a duplicate of the gorgeous lake home. Products: Knotty Alder double entry door; James Hardie HardieShingle siding; Buechel Fon Du Lac stone; Atlas Pinnacle shingles in Pewter; Azek trim and deck products. Stamped concrete. Marvin windows and patio doors. Metal and copper roofs. Design by Lorraine Bruce of Lorraine Bruce Design; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Photos by Marie Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission.

This kitchen started life as a wide-open and airy space with somewhat drab cabinets. Its bones were great, some of the details were interesting – the pendant lights, the high vaulted ceiling and the soffit bridges, but the blonde oak cabinets, white tile counters, and vinyl flooring dragged the space back into the realm of the mundane. When the homeowners came to San Luis Kitchen they were seeking to add a bold richness to their home. They fell in love with our cherry cabinets in a deep red finish called ‘Fireside Heirloom Black’ which has black glaze and fleck distressing to bring out the details of the style. Our designers helped them to organize the kitchen – changing the cook-top to a range and sliding it to the left for symmetry and increased work space (eliminating the combo wall oven/microwave), adding an arched valance over the window to tie the halves of the kitchen together, and reconfiguring the refrigerator and microwave thus gaining 24” of counter in the corner. San Luis Kitchen explored several island layouts with the homeowners – we wanted to add a prep sink, a double trash cabinet, more storage, display cabinetry for glassware and crystal, and a seating/eating bar. We added buffet cabinets to the bay window, replaced the white appliances with stainless, and added a copper hood and apron sink for rich detailing. Now the homeowners have a great room that includes a GREAT kitchen. Life’s good! Credits: Kitchen design by San Luis Kitchen Co. Custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry: Brookhaven's Andover Contracting by Ayers Construction Window treatments by Laura Powers

Radius wood countertop and custom built cabinetry by Ayr Cabinet Company. Bar Sink: Native Trails Cocina with Kohler Artifacts Faucet. Leathered Black Pearl Granite Countertop. Soho Studios Mirror Bronze 4x12 Beveled tile on backsplash. Luxury appliances. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Home Design by Maple & White Design; Photography by Marie Kinney Photography. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. — with Ferguson, Bob Miller's Appliance, Hoosier Hardwood Floors, and ZStone Creations in Fine Stone Surfaces

This kitchen has a beautiful built-in corner bench seat with pull out storage drawers below. The bench seat is made of reclaimed American chestnut which is now extinct. The flooring is wide plank character grade white oak. All of the large knots in the floor were filled with pigmented epoxy and the floor was finished with four coats of Waterlox Original for an antique color tone.

Photo © Christopher Barrett Architect: Brininstool + Lynch Architecture Design
Entryway - large modern granite floor entryway idea in Chicago with black walls and a metal front door