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

Example of a trendy home design design in Cincinnati

Property marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Chic & contemporary 2 bedroom 2 bathroom with private Ipe’ deck & Freedom Tower views in Hoboken's landmark boutique building. Formerly a coconut warehouse, now an in demand visionary LEED GOLD certified building. With 1550 sq. ft. & floor to ceiling windows, this swanky south facing condo has it all; fantastic light, a sleek Italian Valcucine kitchen, Viking refrigerator, integrated Miele DW, Viking 6 burner range with fully vented hood, Viking wine cooler & tempered glass counters. Master suite with walk in closet & spa bath featuring imported Zen soaking tub, separate shower, linen closet, Duravit double sink & Lightolier sconces. Sonos music system, custom closets throughout, bamboo floors, planted green living roof with residents area featuring fabulous NYC & Hudson River views, filtered fresh air system, private storage & bike room. Concrete sub floors and Quiet Rock insulation for soundproofing. Absolutely ideal location, bordered on the western side by the newly established Garden Street Mews pedestrian area, parks, shopping, waterfront and all transportation. NYC bus at door & only 3 blocks to ferry. LEED certified GOLD building.

Smart Systems' mission is to provide our clients with luxury through technology. We understand that our clients demand the highest quality in audio, video, security, and automation customized to fit their lifestyle. We strive to exceed expectations with the highest level of customer service and professionalism, from design to installation and beyond.

Mountain style kitchen photo in San Francisco with multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photos by Country Home Magazine
Cottage medium tone wood floor mudroom photo in Boston with blue walls

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which 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. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Example of a trendy l-shaped concrete floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Located in, Summit Park, Park City UT lies one of the most efficient houses in the country. The Summit Haus – designed and built by Chris Price of PCD+B, is an exploration in design and construction of advanced high performance housing. Seeing a rising demand for sustainable housing along with rising Carbon emissions leading to global warming, this house strives to show that sensible, good design can create spaces adequate for today’s housing demands while adhering to strict standards. The house was designed to meet the very rigid Passiv House rating system – 90% more efficient than a typical home in the area. The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45 degree sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The views range from short, highly wooded views to a long corridor out towards the Uinta Mountain range towards the east. The house was designed and built based off Passiv Haus standards, and the framing and ventilation became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements. Zola triple-pane, tilt-and-turn Thermo uPVC windows contribute substantially to the home’s energy efficiency, and takes advantage of the beautiful surrounding of the location, including forrest views from the deck off of the kitchen. Photographer: Douglas Burke

Smart Systems' mission is to provide our clients with luxury through technology. We understand that our clients demand the highest quality in audio, video, security, and automation customized to fit their lifestyle. We strive to exceed expectations with the highest level of customer service and professionalism, from design to installation and beyond.

High efficiency heating solution with premium on-demand domestic hot water system

Elegant home design photo in Boston

Inspiration for a timeless multicolored tile home design remodel in Denver

Smart Systems' mission is to provide our clients with luxury through technology. We understand that our clients demand the highest quality in audio, video, security, and automation customized to fit their lifestyle. We strive to exceed expectations with the highest level of customer service and professionalism, from design to installation and beyond.

Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Boston

Property marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Chic & contemporary 2 bedroom 2 bathroom with private Ipe’ deck & Freedom Tower views in Hoboken's landmark boutique building. Formerly a coconut warehouse, now an in demand visionary LEED GOLD certified building. With 1550 sq. ft. & floor to ceiling windows, this swanky south facing condo has it all; fantastic light, a sleek Italian Valcucine kitchen, Viking refrigerator, integrated Miele DW, Viking 6 burner range with fully vented hood, Viking wine cooler & tempered glass counters. Master suite with walk in closet & spa bath featuring imported Zen soaking tub, separate shower, linen closet, Duravit double sink & Lightolier sconces. Sonos music system, custom closets throughout, bamboo floors, planted green living roof with residents area featuring fabulous NYC & Hudson River views, filtered fresh air system, private storage & bike room. Concrete sub floors and Quiet Rock insulation for soundproofing. Absolutely ideal location, bordered on the western side by the newly established Garden Street Mews pedestrian area, parks, shopping, waterfront and all transportation. NYC bus at door & only 3 blocks to ferry. LEED certified GOLD building.

Inspiration for a contemporary backyard patio kitchen remodel in New York

Smart Systems' mission is to provide our clients with luxury through technology. We understand that our clients demand the highest quality in audio, video, security, and automation customized to fit their lifestyle. We strive to exceed expectations with the highest level of customer service and professionalism, from design to installation and beyond.

Clean install of a hot water on demand system install