Living room - transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Los Angeles with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Even with the best of planning, decisions on finishings can lead to changes along the way. In this case, the client's decision on sconces reduced the center area allowed for a stack on the vanity so the design was changed to omit the stack. Adding insets can be a great decorating decision and serve as functional areas to display beauty products. Repurposed barn wood was used to build shelves in the bathroom's insets.

Example of a 1960s l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen design with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photos by TCPeterson Photography.
Example of a mid-sized transitional master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile walk-in shower design in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, solid surface countertops and a hinged shower door

After building their first home this Bloomfield couple didn't have any immediate plans on building another until they saw this perfect property for sale. It didn't take them long to make the decision on purchasing it and moving forward with another building project. With the wife working from home it allowed them to become the general contractor for this project. It was a lot of work and a lot of decision making but they are absolutely in love with their new home. It is a dream come true for them and I am happy they chose me and Dillman & Upton to help them make it a reality. Photo By: Kate Benjamin

Living room with rock wrapped fireplace
Example of a mid-sized open concept carpeted living room design in Seattle with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Converted from an existing detached garage, this Guest Suite is offered as a vacation rental in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of North Portland. An early decision to preserve the garage rafter ties guided the concept of a modern cabin, juxtaposing knotty wood with clean white forms, utilitarian flooring with soft, cozy furnishings. Mindful of its studio-apartment layout, the open vaulted ceiling maximizes the volume and hints to lofted cabin sleeping quarters

Part of a whole-house renovation, Tali & Hillel approached us initially on the recommendation of their interior designer Jo Bevan. Despite the challenges of decision making during the Covid-19 environment, the result is a wonderfully functional kitchen to enjoy for many years.

Part of a whole-house renovation, Tali & Hillel approached us initially on the recommendation of their interior designer Jo Bevan. Despite the challenges of decision making during the Covid-19 environment, the result is a wonderfully functional kitchen to enjoy for many years.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Peter Vanderwarker
Mid-sized minimalist brown one-story wood flat roof photo in Boston

Great outdoor spaces are shaped by early design decisions. This image represents a planning-first approach, where flow, proportion, and long-term use guide every choice before features are added.

The homeowners of this condo sought our assistance when downsizing from a large family home on Howe Sound to a small urban condo in Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver. They asked us to incorporate many of their precious antiques and art pieces into the new design. Our challenges here were twofold; first, how to deal with the unconventional curved floor plan with vast South facing windows that provide a 180 degree view of downtown Vancouver, and second, how to successfully merge an eclectic collection of antique pieces into a modern setting. We began by updating most of their artwork with new matting and framing. We created a gallery effect by grouping like artwork together and displaying larger pieces on the sections of wall between the windows, lighting them with black wall sconces for a graphic effect. We re-upholstered their antique seating with more contemporary fabrics choices - a gray flannel on their Victorian fainting couch and a fun orange chenille animal print on their Louis style chairs. We selected black as an accent colour for many of the accessories as well as the dining room wall to give the space a sophisticated modern edge. The new pieces that we added, including the sofa, coffee table and dining light fixture are mid century inspired, bridging the gap between old and new. White walls and understated wallpaper provide the perfect backdrop for the colourful mix of antique pieces. Interior Design by Lori Steeves, Simply Home Decorating. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography

Master bath with over-sized soaking tub
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman master beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Seattle with a vessel sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile countertops, a two-piece toilet and beige walls

Open floor plan of kitchen and family room seating area. Custom kitchen cabinetry designed to incorporate one large wall and a large island. Centered b an island and to the right a built in hutch cabinet for the dining area. Interior Decisions, Inc

The gift wrapping room is adult art projects plus an office work space. Grandparents can leave their projects out and undisturbed by little ones by simply closing the French doors. Custom Wellborn cabinetry becomes work tables with the addition of wood tops. The impressive floor-to-ceiling hutch cabinet that holds gift wrapping supplies is custom-designed and built by Mosby to fit exact crafting needs. Photo by Toby Weiss

Open floor plan of kitchen and family room seating area. Custom kitchen cabinetry designed to incorporate one large wall and a large island. Centered b an island and to the right a built in hutch cabinet for the dining area. Interior Decisions, Inc

Open floor plan of kitchen and family room seating area. Custom kitchen cabinetry designed to incorporate one large wall and a large island. Centered b an island and to the right a built in hutch cabinet for the dining area. Interior Decisions, Inc

After building their first home this Bloomfield couple didn't have any immediate plans on building another until they saw this perfect property for sale. It didn't take them long to make the decision on purchasing it and moving forward with another building project. With the wife working from home it allowed them to become the general contractor for this project. It was a lot of work and a lot of decision making but they are absolutely in love with their new home. It is a dream come true for them and I am happy they chose me and Dillman & Upton to help them make it a reality. Photo By: Kate Benjamin