Search results for "Develop control" in Home Design Ideas

Basement Development – Fort Sask Fitness
The Design Studio | MTS Renovations transformed an unfinished residential basement into a fully functional, home-based fitness gym—Fort Sask. Fitness. This custom-designed space provides an inviting yet high-performance environment tailored for personal training and fitness sessions.
Project Scope & Features:
Design & Permitting - We prepared concept design layouts that we converted to construction drawings. We prepared and submitted all permitting applications for this home based business and provided client representation through each phase of the project up to and including final occupancy inspection.
Space Planning & Layout Optimization – We maximized the existing footprint for optimal functionality, ensuring seamless equipment placement, circulation, and safety.
Flooring Selection – We installed durable, shock-absorbing gym flooring to support high-impact training and reduce noise transfer.
Lighting & Electrical Upgrades – We enhanced brightness and visibility with LED lighting, strategically placed for an energizing atmosphere. We added dedicated electrical circuits to accommodate specialized fitness equipment.
Ventilation & Climate Control – We incorporated efficient HVAC solutions to maintain air quality and temperature for a comfortable workout space.
Custom Storage & Organization – We integrated built-in under-stair equipment shelving and storage solutions for weights, resistance bands, and fitness accessories.
Aesthetic & Branding Integration – We designed a modern, motivating environment with finishes that align with the Fort Sask. Fitness brand identity.
Soundproofing Enhancements – We implemented acoustic treatments to minimize noise impact on the rest of the home.
By blending function with design, this basement transformation created a professional-grade fitness space that caters to both personal and client needs—all within the convenience of a residential setting.

Basement Development – Fort Sask Fitness
The Design Studio | MTS Renovations transformed an unfinished residential basement into a fully functional, home-based fitness gym—Fort Sask. Fitness. This custom-designed space provides an inviting yet high-performance environment tailored for personal training and fitness sessions.
Project Scope & Features:
Design & Permitting - We prepared concept design layouts that we converted to construction drawings. We prepared and submitted all permitting applications for this home based business and provided client representation through each phase of the project up to and including final occupancy inspection.
Space Planning & Layout Optimization – We maximized the existing footprint for optimal functionality, ensuring seamless equipment placement, circulation, and safety.
Flooring Selection – We installed durable, shock-absorbing gym flooring to support high-impact training and reduce noise transfer.
Lighting & Electrical Upgrades – We enhanced brightness and visibility with LED lighting, strategically placed for an energizing atmosphere. We added dedicated electrical circuits to accommodate specialized fitness equipment.
Ventilation & Climate Control – We incorporated efficient HVAC solutions to maintain air quality and temperature for a comfortable workout space.
Custom Storage & Organization – We integrated built-in under-stair equipment shelving and storage solutions for weights, resistance bands, and fitness accessories.
Aesthetic & Branding Integration – We designed a modern, motivating environment with finishes that align with the Fort Sask. Fitness brand identity.
Soundproofing Enhancements – We implemented acoustic treatments to minimize noise impact on the rest of the home.
By blending function with design, this basement transformation created a professional-grade fitness space that caters to both personal and client needs—all within the convenience of a residential setting.

Basement Development – Fort Sask Fitness
The Design Studio | MTS Renovations transformed an unfinished residential basement into a fully functional, home-based fitness gym—Fort Sask. Fitness. This custom-designed space provides an inviting yet high-performance environment tailored for personal training and fitness sessions.
Project Scope & Features:
Design & Permitting - We prepared concept design layouts that we converted to construction drawings. We prepared and submitted all permitting applications for this home based business and provided client representation through each phase of the project up to and including final occupancy inspection.
Space Planning & Layout Optimization – We maximized the existing footprint for optimal functionality, ensuring seamless equipment placement, circulation, and safety.
Flooring Selection – We installed durable, shock-absorbing gym flooring to support high-impact training and reduce noise transfer.
Lighting & Electrical Upgrades – We enhanced brightness and visibility with LED lighting, strategically placed for an energizing atmosphere. We added dedicated electrical circuits to accommodate specialized fitness equipment.
Ventilation & Climate Control – We incorporated efficient HVAC solutions to maintain air quality and temperature for a comfortable workout space.
Custom Storage & Organization – We integrated built-in under-stair equipment shelving and storage solutions for weights, resistance bands, and fitness accessories.
Aesthetic & Branding Integration – We designed a modern, motivating environment with finishes that align with the Fort Sask. Fitness brand identity.
Soundproofing Enhancements – We implemented acoustic treatments to minimize noise impact on the rest of the home.
By blending function with design, this basement transformation created a professional-grade fitness space that caters to both personal and client needs—all within the convenience of a residential setting.
Find the right local pro for your project

Basement Development – Fort Sask Fitness
The Design Studio | MTS Renovations transformed an unfinished residential basement into a fully functional, home-based fitness gym—Fort Sask. Fitness. This custom-designed space provides an inviting yet high-performance environment tailored for personal training and fitness sessions.
Project Scope & Features:
Design & Permitting - We prepared concept design layouts that we converted to construction drawings. We prepared and submitted all permitting applications for this home based business and provided client representation through each phase of the project up to and including final occupancy inspection.
Space Planning & Layout Optimization – We maximized the existing footprint for optimal functionality, ensuring seamless equipment placement, circulation, and safety.
Flooring Selection – We installed durable, shock-absorbing gym flooring to support high-impact training and reduce noise transfer.
Lighting & Electrical Upgrades – We enhanced brightness and visibility with LED lighting, strategically placed for an energizing atmosphere. We added dedicated electrical circuits to accommodate specialized fitness equipment.
Ventilation & Climate Control – We incorporated efficient HVAC solutions to maintain air quality and temperature for a comfortable workout space.
Custom Storage & Organization – We integrated built-in under-stair equipment shelving and storage solutions for weights, resistance bands, and fitness accessories.
Aesthetic & Branding Integration – We designed a modern, motivating environment with finishes that align with the Fort Sask. Fitness brand identity.
Soundproofing Enhancements – We implemented acoustic treatments to minimize noise impact on the rest of the home.
By blending function with design, this basement transformation created a professional-grade fitness space that caters to both personal and client needs—all within the convenience of a residential setting.

This 5,200-square foot modern farmhouse is located on Manhattan Beach’s Fourth Street, which leads directly to the ocean. A raw stone facade and custom-built Dutch front-door greets guests, and customized millwork can be found throughout the home. The exposed beams, wooden furnishings, rustic-chic lighting, and soothing palette are inspired by Scandinavian farmhouses and breezy coastal living. The home’s understated elegance privileges comfort and vertical space. To this end, the 5-bed, 7-bath (counting halves) home has a 4-stop elevator and a basement theater with tiered seating and 13-foot ceilings. A third story porch is separated from the upstairs living area by a glass wall that disappears as desired, and its stone fireplace ensures that this panoramic ocean view can be enjoyed year-round.
This house is full of gorgeous materials, including a kitchen backsplash of Calacatta marble, mined from the Apuan mountains of Italy, and countertops of polished porcelain. The curved antique French limestone fireplace in the living room is a true statement piece, and the basement includes a temperature-controlled glass room-within-a-room for an aesthetic but functional take on wine storage. The takeaway? Efficiency and beauty are two sides of the same coin.

The kitchen was developed as a primary architectural element of the home rather than a standalone room. Cabinetry layout, appliance integration, and material transitions were resolved during the design selection phase to maintain clear sightlines and balanced proportions within the open plan.
A custom wood island introduces controlled warmth against lighter perimeter cabinetry, establishing material contrast without visual disruption. Stone surfaces, integrated storage, and restrained hardware contribute to a disciplined palette that emphasizes continuity and permanence over ornament.
Overscale pendants provide vertical structure and rhythm while preserving openness above the island. The result is a kitchen that reads as architectural millwork — scaled for gathering, built for daily use, and fully integrated into the home’s spatial framework.

This family in Chatham has been an integral piece of our business development. We took great pleasure in constructing this bluestone patio for them. We used all blue bluestone tiles, all sized the same and laid in a herringbone pattern. The sitting walls were faced with cultured stone veneer and capped with 2" bluestone treads. The custom rectangular fireplace is all gas and has an auto-start control box concealed on the side. The lava rock and blue glass pebbles give the fireplace a cool and modern feel. We had the fireplace and curved sitting wall tops custom cut to achieve the perfect fit. We installed LED strip lighting below the sitting wall caps to provide night lighting. The built-in grill station received a Soho Grey quartz counters. The finished product is a beautiful and modern outdoor living space. We wish this amazing family a lot of good times using it and want to thank them for everything they've done for us! #GreatWorkForGreatPeople

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
We Design, Build and Renovate
CHC & Family Developments
Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, Ohio

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.

The Dental Studio is a highly intricate building that uniquely links two separate stands of two neighbourhoods and straddling a four metre broad municipal
servitude. The western part of the neighbourhood is an office precinct consisting of low scaled office buildings set around a communal access street and
parking. It was designed for a leading dental practice with state of the art equipment and progressive philosophy of service.
It presents itself as an uncomplicated rectangular structural mass that elegantly characterise an intersection of a major neighbourhood boulevard and is
notable along the eastern end with an upright circulation tower. The western end on the other hand, is characterised with vertical solar control screens
which serve a dual purpose, that is, sifting low down western sun rays as well as giving a serene appeal to the mass. The daring spotless form of the
building is a truthful reflection of the nature of the sterile dental environment that is housed within. This houses the central vestibule and reception with a
visual interface as well as pedestrian movements along the edge of the building.
Healing and healthcare is a paradox that requires architectural intervention. It is this same paradox that informed measures taken towards developing this
project as a revised prototype. Exacerbated by the need to research a building type that can promote healing environment, the Dental Studio attempts
to create a closer harmony with nature through views, landscape and daylight.

This 5687 sf home was a major renovation including significant modifications to exterior and interior structural components, walls and foundations. Included were the addition of several multi slide exterior doors, windows, new patio cover structure with master deck, climate controlled wine room, master bath steam shower, 4 new gas fireplace appliances and the center piece- a cantilever structural steel staircase with custom wood handrail and treads.
A complete demo down to drywall of all areas was performed excluding only the secondary baths, game room and laundry room where only the existing cabinets were kept and refinished. Some of the interior structural and partition walls were removed. All flooring, counter tops, shower walls, shower pans and tubs were removed and replaced.
New cabinets in kitchen and main bar by Mid Continent. All other cabinetry was custom fabricated and some existing cabinets refinished. Counter tops consist of Quartz, granite and marble. Flooring is porcelain tile and marble throughout. Wall surfaces are porcelain tile, natural stacked stone and custom wood throughout. All drywall surfaces are floated to smooth wall finish. Many electrical upgrades including LED recessed can lighting, LED strip lighting under cabinets and ceiling tray lighting throughout.
The front and rear yard was completely re landscaped including 2 gas fire features in the rear and a built in BBQ. The pool tile and plaster was refinished including all new concrete decking.

The kitchen was developed as a primary architectural element of the home rather than a standalone room. Cabinetry layout, appliance integration, and material transitions were resolved during the design selection phase to maintain clear sightlines and balanced proportions within the open plan.
A custom wood island introduces controlled warmth against lighter perimeter cabinetry, establishing material contrast without visual disruption. Stone surfaces, integrated storage, and restrained hardware contribute to a disciplined palette that emphasizes continuity and permanence over ornament.
Overscale pendants provide vertical structure and rhythm while preserving openness above the island. The result is a kitchen that reads as architectural millwork — scaled for gathering, built for daily use, and fully integrated into the home’s spatial framework.

This 5687 sf home was a major renovation including significant modifications to exterior and interior structural components, walls and foundations. Included were the addition of several multi slide exterior doors, windows, new patio cover structure with master deck, climate controlled wine room, master bath steam shower, 4 new gas fireplace appliances and the center piece- a cantilever structural steel staircase with custom wood handrail and treads.
A complete demo down to drywall of all areas was performed excluding only the secondary baths, game room and laundry room where only the existing cabinets were kept and refinished. Some of the interior structural and partition walls were removed. All flooring, counter tops, shower walls, shower pans and tubs were removed and replaced.
New cabinets in kitchen and main bar by Mid Continent. All other cabinetry was custom fabricated and some existing cabinets refinished. Counter tops consist of Quartz, granite and marble. Flooring is porcelain tile and marble throughout. Wall surfaces are porcelain tile, natural stacked stone and custom wood throughout. All drywall surfaces are floated to smooth wall finish. Many electrical upgrades including LED recessed can lighting, LED strip lighting under cabinets and ceiling tray lighting throughout.
The front and rear yard was completely re landscaped including 2 gas fire features in the rear and a built in BBQ. The pool tile and plaster was refinished including all new concrete decking.

Welcome to the Promontory! These original owners worked with the developer to make custom changes & upgrades to this one bedroom, one-bathroom luxury condo. Upon entry, you will see the well thought out coat closet & laundry room with handy built-ins. The hallway flows into a stunning kitchen with added cupboards & a chic backsplash, Miele appliances, built-in wine rack, a waterfall style island with quartz countertop, upgraded doors & drawer handles. Custom high-end lighting with wireless remote-controlled dimmer switches throughout. The floor-to-ceiling windows let the natural light pour in, but if you prefer to sleep in, there are blackout blinds too! The bedroom wall was thoughtfully removed to make for a huge living space when needed, but also have installed a high-end Murphy bed with modern pull out nightstands, drawers & cabinets. From the balcony, you will experience breathtaking views such as fireworks, ocean, mountain, city views, & more. All this plus parking stall, storage locker, air conditioning, gym, bonus room, bike storage & concierge! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties| www.KarenLove.com |

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
We Design, Build and Renovate
CHC & Family Developments
Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, Ohio

Welcome to the Promontory! These original owners worked with the developer to make custom changes & upgrades to this one bedroom, one-bathroom luxury condo. Upon entry, you will see the well thought out coat closet & laundry room with handy built-ins. The hallway flows into a stunning kitchen with added cupboards & a chic backsplash, Miele appliances, built-in wine rack, a waterfall style island with quartz countertop, upgraded doors & drawer handles. Custom high-end lighting with wireless remote-controlled dimmer switches throughout. The floor-to-ceiling windows let the natural light pour in, but if you prefer to sleep in, there are blackout blinds too! The bedroom wall was thoughtfully removed to make for a huge living space when needed, but also have installed a high-end Murphy bed with modern pull out nightstands, drawers & cabinets. From the balcony, you will experience breathtaking views such as fireworks, ocean, mountain, city views, & more. All this plus parking stall, storage locker, air conditioning, gym, bonus room, bike storage & concierge! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties| www.KarenLove.com |

Although less common than projects from our other product lines, a Sunspace Design pool enclosure is one of the most visually impressive products we offer. This custom pool enclosure was constructed on a beautiful four acre parcel in Carlisle, Massachusetts. It is the third major project Sunspace Design has designed and constructed on this property. We had previously designed and built an orangery as a dining area off the kitchen in the main house. Our use of a mahogany wood frame and insulated glass ceiling became a focal point and ultimately a beloved space for the owners and their children to enjoy. This positive experience led to an ongoing relationship with Sunspace.
We were called in some years later as the clients were considering building an indoor swimming pool on their property. They wanted to include wood and glass in the ceiling in the same fashion as the orangery we had completed for them years earlier. Working closely with the clients, their structural engineer, and their mechanical engineer, we developed the elevations and glass roof system, steel superstructure, and a very sophisticated environment control system to properly heat, cool, and regulate humidity within the enclosure.
Further enhancements included a full bath, laundry area, and a sitting area adjacent to the pool complete with a fireplace and wall-mounted television. The magnificent interior finishes included a bluestone floor. We were especially happy to deliver this project to the client, and we believe that many years of enjoyment will be had by their friends and family in this new space.

The Dental Studio is a highly intricate building that uniquely links two separate stands of two neighbourhoods and straddling a four metre broad municipal
servitude. The western part of the neighbourhood is an office precinct consisting of low scaled office buildings set around a communal access street and
parking. It was designed for a leading dental practice with state of the art equipment and progressive philosophy of service.
It presents itself as an uncomplicated rectangular structural mass that elegantly characterise an intersection of a major neighbourhood boulevard and is
notable along the eastern end with an upright circulation tower. The western end on the other hand, is characterised with vertical solar control screens
which serve a dual purpose, that is, sifting low down western sun rays as well as giving a serene appeal to the mass. The daring spotless form of the
building is a truthful reflection of the nature of the sterile dental environment that is housed within. This houses the central vestibule and reception with a
visual interface as well as pedestrian movements along the edge of the building.
Healing and healthcare is a paradox that requires architectural intervention. It is this same paradox that informed measures taken towards developing this
project as a revised prototype. Exacerbated by the need to research a building type that can promote healing environment, the Dental Studio attempts
to create a closer harmony with nature through views, landscape and daylight.

Welcome to the Promontory! These original owners worked with the developer to make custom changes & upgrades to this one bedroom, one-bathroom luxury condo. Upon entry, you will see the well thought out coat closet & laundry room with handy built-ins. The hallway flows into a stunning kitchen with added cupboards & a chic backsplash, Miele appliances, built-in wine rack, a waterfall style island with quartz countertop, upgraded doors & drawer handles. Custom high-end lighting with wireless remote-controlled dimmer switches throughout. The floor-to-ceiling windows let the natural light pour in, but if you prefer to sleep in, there are blackout blinds too! The bedroom wall was thoughtfully removed to make for a huge living space when needed, but also have installed a high-end Murphy bed with modern pull out nightstands, drawers & cabinets. From the balcony, you will experience breathtaking views such as fireworks, ocean, mountain, city views, & more. All this plus parking stall, storage locker, air conditioning, gym, bonus room, bike storage & concierge! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties| www.KarenLove.com |

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
We Design, Build and Renovate
CHC & Family Developments
Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, Ohio

Welcome to the Promontory! These original owners worked with the developer to make custom changes & upgrades to this one bedroom, one-bathroom luxury condo. Upon entry, you will see the well thought out coat closet & laundry room with handy built-ins. The hallway flows into a stunning kitchen with added cupboards & a chic backsplash, Miele appliances, built-in wine rack, a waterfall style island with quartz countertop, upgraded doors & drawer handles. Custom high-end lighting with wireless remote-controlled dimmer switches throughout. The floor-to-ceiling windows let the natural light pour in, but if you prefer to sleep in, there are blackout blinds too! The bedroom wall was thoughtfully removed to make for a huge living space when needed, but also have installed a high-end Murphy bed with modern pull out nightstands, drawers & cabinets. From the balcony, you will experience breathtaking views such as fireworks, ocean, mountain, city views, & more. All this plus parking stall, storage locker, air conditioning, gym, bonus room, bike storage & concierge! | Karen Love* (250) 727-5868 | RE/MAX Island Properties| www.KarenLove.com |

The Dental Studio is a highly intricate building that uniquely links two separate stands of two neighbourhoods and straddling a four metre broad municipal
servitude. The western part of the neighbourhood is an office precinct consisting of low scaled office buildings set around a communal access street and
parking. It was designed for a leading dental practice with state of the art equipment and progressive philosophy of service.
It presents itself as an uncomplicated rectangular structural mass that elegantly characterise an intersection of a major neighbourhood boulevard and is
notable along the eastern end with an upright circulation tower. The western end on the other hand, is characterised with vertical solar control screens
which serve a dual purpose, that is, sifting low down western sun rays as well as giving a serene appeal to the mass. The daring spotless form of the
building is a truthful reflection of the nature of the sterile dental environment that is housed within. This houses the central vestibule and reception with a
visual interface as well as pedestrian movements along the edge of the building.
Healing and healthcare is a paradox that requires architectural intervention. It is this same paradox that informed measures taken towards developing this
project as a revised prototype. Exacerbated by the need to research a building type that can promote healing environment, the Dental Studio attempts
to create a closer harmony with nature through views, landscape and daylight.

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.
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