This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

Perched high in the mountains of Breckenridge, this striking custom home by F9 Productions redefines what’s possible with modern modular design. Crafted entirely from five 40-foot “High Cube” shipping containers, the 1,600-square-foot residence rises above a two-car carport on a lattice of steel stilts — a bold architectural gesture that captures sweeping views of Colorado’s rugged peaks. The Idea The client envisioned a mountain retreat that was as adventurous as its setting — something efficient, durable, and distinctly modern. F9 Productions embraced the challenge, transforming a set of industrial containers into a refined alpine sanctuary. The containers’ linear forms stack and cantilever with precision, creating a composition that feels at once engineered and organic. Elevated above the ground, the structure seems to float among the trees, framing long panoramas of the Rockies beyond. Design and Craft Constructed from Corten steel, the home’s exterior is built to weather gracefully with time — its warm patina blending with the tones of the surrounding forest. Inside, wood framing and closed-cell spray foam insulation ensure exceptional comfort through Breckenridge’s harsh winters. Large windows and sliding glass doors line the containers’ long edges, drawing in abundant daylight and connecting interior life to the landscape. A 562-square-foot deck extends the living space outward, offering an immersive transition between mountain and home. Inside the Home Within its compact footprint, the house delivers impressive livability. The open kitchen, dining, and living area form the heart of the home, anchored by three bedrooms and three bathrooms designed for family comfort and flexibility. The master suite provides a private retreat, while bunk rooms accommodate guests or children — perfect for weekend gatherings and extended stays. The atmosphere is modern yet warm, combining clean lines with natural textures and the ever-present drama of the mountains outside. Efficiency and Performance True to F9’s ethos of smart, sustainable design, the home’s tight envelope and efficient systems minimize energy use while maximizing comfort. Closed-cell spray foam insulation, combined with the natural strength of steel, creates a highly durable and thermally resilient structure suited for alpine conditions. The Result The Breckenridge Shipping Container House stands as a testament to innovation through restraint — a home that transforms industrial material into architectural art. It’s a mountain retreat with attitude and intelligence, proof that sustainability and luxury can coexist beautifully when design leads the way. Rooted in Colorado craftsmanship and inspired by the spirit of adventure, this project exemplifies F9 Productions’ ability to turn unconventional ideas into extraordinary places to live.

Perched high in the mountains of Breckenridge, this striking custom home by F9 Productions redefines what’s possible with modern modular design. Crafted entirely from five 40-foot “High Cube” shipping containers, the 1,600-square-foot residence rises above a two-car carport on a lattice of steel stilts — a bold architectural gesture that captures sweeping views of Colorado’s rugged peaks. The Idea The client envisioned a mountain retreat that was as adventurous as its setting — something efficient, durable, and distinctly modern. F9 Productions embraced the challenge, transforming a set of industrial containers into a refined alpine sanctuary. The containers’ linear forms stack and cantilever with precision, creating a composition that feels at once engineered and organic. Elevated above the ground, the structure seems to float among the trees, framing long panoramas of the Rockies beyond. Design and Craft Constructed from Corten steel, the home’s exterior is built to weather gracefully with time — its warm patina blending with the tones of the surrounding forest. Inside, wood framing and closed-cell spray foam insulation ensure exceptional comfort through Breckenridge’s harsh winters. Large windows and sliding glass doors line the containers’ long edges, drawing in abundant daylight and connecting interior life to the landscape. A 562-square-foot deck extends the living space outward, offering an immersive transition between mountain and home. Inside the Home Within its compact footprint, the house delivers impressive livability. The open kitchen, dining, and living area form the heart of the home, anchored by three bedrooms and three bathrooms designed for family comfort and flexibility. The master suite provides a private retreat, while bunk rooms accommodate guests or children — perfect for weekend gatherings and extended stays. The atmosphere is modern yet warm, combining clean lines with natural textures and the ever-present drama of the mountains outside. Efficiency and Performance True to F9’s ethos of smart, sustainable design, the home’s tight envelope and efficient systems minimize energy use while maximizing comfort. Closed-cell spray foam insulation, combined with the natural strength of steel, creates a highly durable and thermally resilient structure suited for alpine conditions. The Result The Breckenridge Shipping Container House stands as a testament to innovation through restraint — a home that transforms industrial material into architectural art. It’s a mountain retreat with attitude and intelligence, proof that sustainability and luxury can coexist beautifully when design leads the way. Rooted in Colorado craftsmanship and inspired by the spirit of adventure, this project exemplifies F9 Productions’ ability to turn unconventional ideas into extraordinary places to live.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

This contemporary conservatory located in Hamilton, Massachusetts features our solid Sapele mahogany custom glass roof system and Andersen 400 series casement windows and doors. Our client desired a space that would offer an outdoor feeling alongside unique and luxurious additions such as a corner fireplace and custom accent lighting. The combination of the full glass wall façade and hip roof design provides tremendous light levels during the day, while the fully functional fireplace and warm lighting creates an amazing atmosphere at night. This pairing is truly the best of both worlds and is exactly what our client had envisioned. Acting as the full service design/build firm, Sunspace Design, Inc. poured the full basement foundation for utilities and added storage. Our experienced craftsmen added an exterior deck for outdoor dining and direct access to the backyard. The new space has eleven operable windows as well as air conditioning and heat to provide year-round comfort. A new set of French doors provides an elegant transition from the existing house while also conveying light to the adjacent rooms. Sunspace Design, Inc. worked closely with the client and Siemasko + Verbridge Architecture in Beverly, Massachusetts to develop, manage and build every aspect of this beautiful project. As a result, the client can now enjoy a warm fire while watching the winter snow fall outside. The architectural elements of the conservatory are bolstered by our use of high performance glass with excellent light transmittance, solar control, and insulating values. Sunspace Design, Inc. has unlimited design capabilities and uses all in-house craftsmen to manufacture and build its conservatories, orangeries, and sunrooms as well as its custom skylights and roof lanterns. Using solid conventional wall framing along with the best windows and doors from top manufacturers, we can easily blend these spaces with the design elements of each individual home. For architects and designers we offer an excellent service that enables the architect to develop the concept while we provide the technical drawings to transform the idea to reality. For builders, we can provide the glass portion of a project while they perform all of the traditional construction, just as they would on any project. As craftsmen and builders ourselves, we work with these groups to create seamless transition between their work and ours. For more information on our company, please visit our website at www.sunspacedesign.com and follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/sunspacedesigninc Photography: Brian O'Connor

This contemporary conservatory located in Hamilton, Massachusetts features our solid Sapele mahogany custom glass roof system and Andersen 400 series casement windows and doors. Our client desired a space that would offer an outdoor feeling alongside unique and luxurious additions such as a corner fireplace and custom accent lighting. The combination of the full glass wall façade and hip roof design provides tremendous light levels during the day, while the fully functional fireplace and warm lighting creates an amazing atmosphere at night. This pairing is truly the best of both worlds and is exactly what our client had envisioned. Acting as the full service design/build firm, Sunspace Design, Inc. poured the full basement foundation for utilities and added storage. Our experienced craftsmen added an exterior deck for outdoor dining and direct access to the backyard. The new space has eleven operable windows as well as air conditioning and heat to provide year-round comfort. A new set of French doors provides an elegant transition from the existing house while also conveying light to the adjacent rooms. Sunspace Design, Inc. worked closely with the client and Siemasko + Verbridge Architecture in Beverly, Massachusetts to develop, manage and build every aspect of this beautiful project. As a result, the client can now enjoy a warm fire while watching the winter snow fall outside. The architectural elements of the conservatory are bolstered by our use of high performance glass with excellent light transmittance, solar control, and insulating values. Sunspace Design, Inc. has unlimited design capabilities and uses all in-house craftsmen to manufacture and build its conservatories, orangeries, and sunrooms as well as its custom skylights and roof lanterns. Using solid conventional wall framing along with the best windows and doors from top manufacturers, we can easily blend these spaces with the design elements of each individual home. For architects and designers we offer an excellent service that enables the architect to develop the concept while we provide the technical drawings to transform the idea to reality. For builders, we can provide the glass portion of a project while they perform all of the traditional construction, just as they would on any project. As craftsmen and builders ourselves, we work with these groups to create seamless transition between their work and ours. For more information on our company, please visit our website at www.sunspacedesign.com and follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/sunspacedesigninc Photography: Brian O'Connor

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

Window Quilt (Muskoka) Recommends Hunter Douglas Hunter Douglas Advantage. The Art of Window Dressing... Well-designed window fashions do more than simply cover a window. At Hunter Douglas, form and function are inseparable. Great design is beautiful to live with, provides variable light control, insulates rooms against heat and cold while saving energy, protects your furnishings from damaging UV rays, and even absorbs sound, improving the acoustics in a room. And, our advanced operating systems make using our products a pleasure every day. Now that’s artful window dressing. Lifetime guarantee. Privacy and Light Control Hunter Douglas window fashions are available in a wide variety of product designs with fabrics and materials that come in a range of opacities from sheer to opaque—offering varying degrees of privacy and light control options. Energy Efficiency Up to 50% of your home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through your windows. At Hunter Douglas, we're an industry leader in making a big energy savings difference at the window. Keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer At Hunter Douglas, we're an industry leader in making a big energy savings difference at the window. In 1985, we invented the highly energy-efficient Duette® honeycomb shades in response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s. Our latest innovation is the Duette Architella® honeycomb shades featuring a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency. Today, we continue to think about the impact all of our window fashions can make. Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. Hunter Douglas products help conserve energy at the window in many important ways: Insulation In winter months, your home heating escapes to the outdoors through your windows while in the summertime, the outside heat flows into your home through these same windows. With window treatments that provide insulation, you can reduce energy consumption, save on heating and cooling costs, and create a more comfortable atmosphere. At Hunter Douglas, we're an industry leader in making a big energy savings difference at the window. In 1985, we invented the highly energy-efficient Duette® honeycomb shades in response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s. Our latest innovation is the Duette Architella® honeycomb shades featuring a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency. Today, we continue to think about the impact all of our window fashions can make. Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. Hunter Douglas products help conserve energy at the window in many important ways: The Duette Energy Efficiency Story Video Thumbnail The Duette® Honeycomb Shades Energy Efficiency Story Insulation Icon Insulation In winter months, your home heating escapes to the outdoors through your windows while in the summertime, the outside heat flows into your home through these same windows. With window treatments that provide insulation, you can reduce energy consumption, save on heating and cooling costs, and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Solar Heat Control Icon Solar Heat Control The warmth provided by the sun, its solar energy, may be desirable during the winter to help heat your home, but in the summer, it can make a room overly hot and uncomfortable—driving up air conditioning costs. Many Hunter Douglas window fashions help to control solar heat by allowing it into your home in the winter and minimizing the amount that comes in during the summer. Daylighting Daylighting is the practice of lighting rooms with natural light rather than artificial light.By drawing natural light into a room many of our window treatments reduce the need for other types of lighting, thereby reducing your energy use 5 Tips for Saving Energy at the Window: 1) Ensure your windows and doors are properly weather-stripped. 2) Caulk around basement and storm windows. 3) When heating or cooling, keep windows locked. 4) Open your window coverings during sunny winter days to catch free solar heat then close them at night to keep that heat in. 5) Close your window coverings during summer days to keep the heat out. Innovation: All of our window fashions are designed and custom-assembled in the U.S. Our longstanding commitment to quality and innovation means you’ll enjoy choices at Hunter Douglas that you won’t find anywhere else. Child Safety: From cordless manual and motorized operating systems, retractable lift cords, cord tensioners and wand controls, we offer a wide array of innovative lifting system options for enhanced child and pet safety as well as especially easy operation. Advanced Operating Systems: Power View Motorization-Intelligent Shades that Simply your Life: Our brilliant new wireless operating system gives you the power to control and schedule your Hunter Douglas window treatments from your smartphone, tablet, or a remote control.

The Gun Lake Residence replaces a small, aging, existing house located on a narrow peninsula on Gun Lake, in west Michigan. The peninsula is neatly populated with century-old homes that quietly occupy this uncommon setting. The project site offers extraordinary views of the water in multiple directions and extends to the east with open space, bordering on an historic, 19th-century community ice house. A primary project goal was to reimagine the relationship of the house to its surroundings while remaining sensitive to the communal context of the neighboring properties. The design seed of the new project included rotating the footprint of the existing house 90 degrees to open the long side of the home toward the lake, maximizing views and gaining optimal benefit of the linear site. Drawing inspiration from the traditional lake vernacular of the neighboring houses, the two principal roof forms of the new house reciprocate the setting -- the modern, clean lines of the upper gable roof upholds the clarity and tradition of the neighborhood, while the lower roof mimics the extension of the landscape and invites improvisational use. The horizontal flat roof allows use of the deck in all weather and cantilevers the most used public spaces into the landscape in a band of captured horizontal space. A wood-clad retaining wall refines a cut into the earth and harbors a transitional, outdoor room between the water and the basement. At 2200 finished square feet, the conditioned building envelope is compact. And like the exterior, the interior form responds directly to its use. The upper floor is a monastic repetition of modest sleeping cells and bathrooms with unique directional views, combined with a grand central stair and master bedroom at each corner that captures myriad views of the water, over the trees, in all directions. The main floor utilizes a core of small, functional spaces to shield the adjacent road, and forms a backdrop to the open interior spaces. Aided by the reaching, cedar-bellied roof, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces spill to the outdoors through an unusually porous exterior wall. Three sliding glass doors–including one at 20 feet wide–and a finished, surrounding ground plane cohere the landscape to the main living level. Super-insulated wood-framed walls, triple-paned aluminum-clad wood windows, and a structurally insulated roof panels make-up the core of the building envelope, and additional exterior high-performance design features include geothermal heating/cooling and a green roof. Cementitious lap siding, concrete panels, hardwood decking, cedar soffits, and river rock comprise the exterior finish. In addition to cedar ceilings, interior finishes include porcelain ceramic tile, cork flooring, tight pile wool carpet, and neutral painted walls -- designed in quiet tones to highlight the most important interior ingredient: views outside.

The Gun Lake Residence replaces a small, aging, existing house located on a narrow peninsula on Gun Lake, in west Michigan. The peninsula is neatly populated with century-old homes that quietly occupy this uncommon setting. The project site offers extraordinary views of the water in multiple directions and extends to the east with open space, bordering on an historic, 19th-century community ice house. A primary project goal was to reimagine the relationship of the house to its surroundings while remaining sensitive to the communal context of the neighboring properties. The design seed of the new project included rotating the footprint of the existing house 90 degrees to open the long side of the home toward the lake, maximizing views and gaining optimal benefit of the linear site. Drawing inspiration from the traditional lake vernacular of the neighboring houses, the two principal roof forms of the new house reciprocate the setting -- the modern, clean lines of the upper gable roof upholds the clarity and tradition of the neighborhood, while the lower roof mimics the extension of the landscape and invites improvisational use. The horizontal flat roof allows use of the deck in all weather and cantilevers the most used public spaces into the landscape in a band of captured horizontal space. A wood-clad retaining wall refines a cut into the earth and harbors a transitional, outdoor room between the water and the basement. At 2200 finished square feet, the conditioned building envelope is compact. And like the exterior, the interior form responds directly to its use. The upper floor is a monastic repetition of modest sleeping cells and bathrooms with unique directional views, combined with a grand central stair and master bedroom at each corner that captures myriad views of the water, over the trees, in all directions. The main floor utilizes a core of small, functional spaces to shield the adjacent road, and forms a backdrop to the open interior spaces. Aided by the reaching, cedar-bellied roof, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces spill to the outdoors through an unusually porous exterior wall. Three sliding glass doors–including one at 20 feet wide–and a finished, surrounding ground plane cohere the landscape to the main living level. Super-insulated wood-framed walls, triple-paned aluminum-clad wood windows, and a structurally insulated roof panels make-up the core of the building envelope, and additional exterior high-performance design features include geothermal heating/cooling and a green roof. Cementitious lap siding, concrete panels, hardwood decking, cedar soffits, and river rock comprise the exterior finish. In addition to cedar ceilings, interior finishes include porcelain ceramic tile, cork flooring, tight pile wool carpet, and neutral painted walls -- designed in quiet tones to highlight the most important interior ingredient: views outside.

Photography by Jim Tetro This house, built in the 1960s, sits southfacing on a terrific wooded lot in Bethesda, Maryland. The owners desire a whole-house renovation which would improve the general building fabric and systems, and extend the sense of living out of doors in all seasons. The original sixties-modern character is preserved and the renovation extends the design forward into a contemporary, modern approach. Connections to and through the site are enhanced through the creation of new larger window and door openings. Screened porches and decks perch above the sloped and wooded site. The new kitchen and bathrooms allow for opportunities to feel out-of -doors while preparing, cooking, dining, and bathing. Smart passive strategies guide the environmental choices for this project, including envelope improvements, updated mechanical systems, and on-site stormwater management.

The Gun Lake Residence replaces a small, aging, existing house located on a narrow peninsula on Gun Lake, in west Michigan. The peninsula is neatly populated with century-old homes that quietly occupy this uncommon setting. The project site offers extraordinary views of the water in multiple directions and extends to the east with open space, bordering on an historic, 19th-century community ice house. A primary project goal was to reimagine the relationship of the house to its surroundings while remaining sensitive to the communal context of the neighboring properties. The design seed of the new project included rotating the footprint of the existing house 90 degrees to open the long side of the home toward the lake, maximizing views and gaining optimal benefit of the linear site. Drawing inspiration from the traditional lake vernacular of the neighboring houses, the two principal roof forms of the new house reciprocate the setting -- the modern, clean lines of the upper gable roof upholds the clarity and tradition of the neighborhood, while the lower roof mimics the extension of the landscape and invites improvisational use. The horizontal flat roof allows use of the deck in all weather and cantilevers the most used public spaces into the landscape in a band of captured horizontal space. A wood-clad retaining wall refines a cut into the earth and harbors a transitional, outdoor room between the water and the basement. At 2200 finished square feet, the conditioned building envelope is compact. And like the exterior, the interior form responds directly to its use. The upper floor is a monastic repetition of modest sleeping cells and bathrooms with unique directional views, combined with a grand central stair and master bedroom at each corner that captures myriad views of the water, over the trees, in all directions. The main floor utilizes a core of small, functional spaces to shield the adjacent road, and forms a backdrop to the open interior spaces. Aided by the reaching, cedar-bellied roof, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces spill to the outdoors through an unusually porous exterior wall. Three sliding glass doors–including one at 20 feet wide–and a finished, surrounding ground plane cohere the landscape to the main living level. Super-insulated wood-framed walls, triple-paned aluminum-clad wood windows, and a structurally insulated roof panels make-up the core of the building envelope, and additional exterior high-performance design features include geothermal heating/cooling and a green roof. Cementitious lap siding, concrete panels, hardwood decking, cedar soffits, and river rock comprise the exterior finish. In addition to cedar ceilings, interior finishes include porcelain ceramic tile, cork flooring, tight pile wool carpet, and neutral painted walls -- designed in quiet tones to highlight the most important interior ingredient: views outside.

The Gun Lake Residence replaces a small, aging, existing house located on a narrow peninsula on Gun Lake, in west Michigan. The peninsula is neatly populated with century-old homes that quietly occupy this uncommon setting. The project site offers extraordinary views of the water in multiple directions and extends to the east with open space, bordering on an historic, 19th-century community ice house. A primary project goal was to reimagine the relationship of the house to its surroundings while remaining sensitive to the communal context of the neighboring properties. The design seed of the new project included rotating the footprint of the existing house 90 degrees to open the long side of the home toward the lake, maximizing views and gaining optimal benefit of the linear site. Drawing inspiration from the traditional lake vernacular of the neighboring houses, the two principal roof forms of the new house reciprocate the setting -- the modern, clean lines of the upper gable roof upholds the clarity and tradition of the neighborhood, while the lower roof mimics the extension of the landscape and invites improvisational use. The horizontal flat roof allows use of the deck in all weather and cantilevers the most used public spaces into the landscape in a band of captured horizontal space. A wood-clad retaining wall refines a cut into the earth and harbors a transitional, outdoor room between the water and the basement. At 2200 finished square feet, the conditioned building envelope is compact. And like the exterior, the interior form responds directly to its use. The upper floor is a monastic repetition of modest sleeping cells and bathrooms with unique directional views, combined with a grand central stair and master bedroom at each corner that captures myriad views of the water, over the trees, in all directions. The main floor utilizes a core of small, functional spaces to shield the adjacent road, and forms a backdrop to the open interior spaces. Aided by the reaching, cedar-bellied roof, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces spill to the outdoors through an unusually porous exterior wall. Three sliding glass doors–including one at 20 feet wide–and a finished, surrounding ground plane cohere the landscape to the main living level. Super-insulated wood-framed walls, triple-paned aluminum-clad wood windows, and a structurally insulated roof panels make-up the core of the building envelope, and additional exterior high-performance design features include geothermal heating/cooling and a green roof. Cementitious lap siding, concrete panels, hardwood decking, cedar soffits, and river rock comprise the exterior finish. In addition to cedar ceilings, interior finishes include porcelain ceramic tile, cork flooring, tight pile wool carpet, and neutral painted walls -- designed in quiet tones to highlight the most important interior ingredient: views outside.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.

This home offers the perfect blend of sleek and modern elements. The open concept and bright white palette are inviting (and pet-friendly) from the moment you enter. A stunning open tread staircase draws the eyes up to the family room's high ceilings, creating an elevated look. The home has a marble fireplace as another main focal point; a modern kitchen with flat-panel cabinets, built-in appliances and waterfall marble island; a luxurious main floor master bedroom and ensuite with walkout access to the back patio and pool area; two second-floor bedrooms each with ensuites, and in the basement there is a bar, media room and exercise room. The family wanted a home that has both style and inspiration on the inside and the outside—and this home delivered. The design embraces the conventions of a traditional family home, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of exterior exposed steel columns, stone cladding, a mix of Maibec wood siding with Extira pre-painted and cedar soffits, and more contemporary windows. Expansive windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, to let in natural light but kept minimal at the sides for privacy. The build also includes a garage on the right rear side of the home with a pool change house that matches the home in finishes and quality. The home was also built with an insulated concrete foundation in order to perform a higher r-value. Since the reveal, this home has been captured and photographed frequently by those who pass by.