Maple Stained Brown - Sand on Site
Elegant medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Grand Rapids with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Example of a huge classic privacy and metal railing balcony design in Vancouver with a roof extension

Chinese style furniture match the U type stair of simple style, the space appears very capacious. How do you like it?
Mid-sized minimalist wooden u-shaped open and glass railing staircase photo in San Francisco

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Huge elegant two-story mixed siding house exterior photo in Vancouver

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.

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Example of a huge classic guest dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Vancouver

Inspiration for a large tropical indoor stone and custom-shaped natural pool house remodel in Miami

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Huge elegant two-story mixed siding house exterior photo in Vancouver

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Inspiration for a huge timeless two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Vancouver

Prefinished Hickory flooring in a very rustic setting
Mountain style u-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in Grand Rapids with medium tone wood cabinets and an island

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Huge traditional two-story mixed siding house exterior idea in Vancouver

Hickory Custom Stained - Sand on Site
Inspiration for a timeless light wood floor kitchen remodel in Grand Rapids with stainless steel appliances and an island

Hickory - Sand on Site
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized modern light wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Grand Rapids with beige walls

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Home theater - huge traditional enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor home theater idea in Vancouver

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Great room - huge traditional dark wood floor and brown floor great room idea in Vancouver

Red Oak Stained Dark Brown - Sand on Site House by Todd Rookus
Example of a mid-sized minimalist dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Grand Rapids with blue walls

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Front door - huge traditional concrete floor front door idea in Vancouver with a white front door

Red Oak Stained Dark Brown - Sand on Site House by Todd Rookus
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Grand Rapids with blue walls and a standard fireplace

Photos by Brice Ferre. A traditional design for blissful living.
Staircase - huge traditional carpeted u-shaped mixed material railing staircase idea in Vancouver with wooden risers