BEFORE - dark and heavy furniture weighed the space down
Example of a beach style home design design in Miami

Cameron St Photography
Example of a transitional bathroom design in Toronto

Shop the Look, See the Photo Tour here: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2018/4/3/calabasas-remodel-living-room-reveal?rq=Calabasas%20Remodel Watch the Webisode: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2018/4/3/calabasas-remodel-living-room-2-webisode?rq=Calabasas%20Remodel

Example of a mid-sized trendy formal medium tone wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Tom Crane
Inspiration for a huge contemporary landscaping in Philadelphia.

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/

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Before: Both the outdated finishes and kitchen layout left this space feeling blah. The darker tones weighed down the space, and the room lacked life and cohesion.

Trendy 3/4 powder room photo in New York

This client wanted to experience Santa Fe in Sierra Madre. Challenges were the steep hillside lot, great views, fire concerns and narrow car access. We created a rustic home with a low profile, lush surroundings and an air of quiet tranquility. This rustic southwestern house uses reclaimed vegas and logs for the structural system and asphalt emulsion mud adobe walls for the finish. The house is like an adobe village separated into four structures connected by verandas, courtyards and log bridges.

Designer: Honeycomb Home Design Photographer: Marcel Alain This new home features open beam ceilings and a ranch style feel with contemporary elements.

The home’s two huge decks are complemented by a massive canary palm weighing thousands of pounds, which GDC craned into place over the home.
Mid-sized minimalist backyard tile patio photo in San Diego with no cover

When it comes time to eat, simplicity often goes further than complex design choices. Ramos Design Build has in-house designers that can help you weigh every option.

A view of the roof lantern from the inside of the conservatory. Chandeliers, sought out and installed by the owners and interior designers, weigh over 500 pounds each and are hand made crystal. These chandeliers hang easily from the steel portal frames that support the conservatory structure. The roof lantern windows are leaded and have glass bevels to catch the sunrise and sunset and cast lovely reflections about the room. Photos by Robert Socha

Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in San Francisco

Once dark and weighed down by orange walls, this laundry room has been completely reimagined into a light-filled, uplifting space. New custom cabinetry delivers abundant hidden storage, keeping everyday essentials beautifully organized, while a dedicated laundry sink with a natural stone backsplash brings both function and a touch of luxury. Thoughtful details like pull-out drying racks make daily tasks effortless. The result is a room that feels fresh, bright, and genuinely happy—proof that even the most utilitarian spaces can be a joy to be in.

Living room - rustic formal living room idea with gray walls and a standard fireplace

Lissa Gotwals
Country family room photo in Raleigh

48" steel torchiere light, one of 2 in the room. Forged layers of steel and textured panels. Light weighs 700lbs.
Living room - traditional living room idea in Seattle