Relocating from Australia, our clients envisioned a home that could accommodate guests and lakefront entertaining. Situated on Pine Lake in West Bloomfield and completed in July 2024, we created new spaces, reimagined old ones, and even added a new front entry façade! As part of this project, we also renovated the oversized mudroom/laundry room. The room itself was multi-functional, but underutilized. We reallocated some of this unused space for an adjacent guest bedroom. Within the mud room, we maintained and repurposed the old wood-burning stove. Its bricks were carefully restored and lime-washed, and custom cabinetry was built around the hundred-year-old chimney to create a seamless update. We added a deep functional sink and drop zone, accessible just inside the main foyer entrance. With new front-loaded washer and dryers, the large and expansive quartzite countertop allows for easy folding and drying of clothes, as well as dropping off hunting and fishing gear from a day spent outdoors.

Libbie Holmes Photography
Utility room - large traditional galley concrete floor and gray floor utility room idea in Denver with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

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/

Cabinets, sink basin- Simply home Hennessy Drying Rack- Home Decorators Madison 46" Folding table- The Quick Bench 20" x 48"
Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized traditional u-shaped terra-cotta tile and orange floor dedicated laundry room idea in Dallas with wood countertops, gray walls, a stacked washer/dryer and brown countertops

Master closet with pull-down shelves. Photography by Brandon Bamesberger
Example of a mid-sized gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor walk-in closet design in Kansas City with open cabinets and gray cabinets

Clean and organized laundry room space. Floating shelves & glass cabinet doors give an open feeling to the room. Cabinets finished in white thermafoil components. Bill Curran-Owner and Designer for Closet Organizing Systems

Transitional home design photo in Phoenix

Example of a large trendy single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in St Louis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Expertly crafted using the highest quality English Walnut, the LAXseries Storage Bench is sleek and sophisticated. It incorporates a comfortable and convenient sliding padded seat to conceal a spacious storage compartment within. The two shelves make for an excellent location to store footwear, sunblock, umbrella or anything you’ll need before heading out the door.

Bedroom two of downstairs unit. Personal custom art throughout. Most frames are made from wood sourced from a beach house in Fernandina Beach, FL. Curtains are drop cloths draped over black rods. Headboard is old door sourced from Rabun County which I lightly sanded to remove peeling paint, GA. Black distressed dresser and mirror sourced from neighbor for $50. Free standing mirror found in Rabun County, GA. Interior shutters were salvaged from exterior of house.

Contemporary new construction primary bathroom featuring soapstone feature wall and custom vanity with integrated soapstone sinks. Custom storage below. Vertical storage incorporates hidden cabinets and unexpected pass thru opening to the laundry room on the other side to conveniently drop clothes into a laundry bin ready to hit the washer.

Giving the small Master Bedroom large impact, a textured grass cloth wallpaper was selected to create an alcove at the headboard. This stylish modern king bed frame adds texture and interest to the room. striking black modern pendants create drama to the space over the small nightstands.

Young urban chic, semi-custom kitchen design with an eclectic mix of boho, farmhouse and industrial features and accents! All prefab cabinets mindfully designed to look custom, custom plaster range hood, reclaimed wood floating shelves and accent trim on hood, hammered brass hardware and sconces, Moravian star pendant light, beveled subway tile, Fireclay farm sink, custom drop leaf service cart that doubles as an island table with industrial bar stools, custom wine bar and iron mirror, custom bifold iron and glass French doors and a Turkish rug.

Designing a “guy’s” bedroom with minimal, upholstered bed and custom made bedding was lots of fun. With simplicity of design, minimalist lines, and a charcoal, copper and deep blue color palette, we reached all of our goals with this design. Photography by Julie Mannell Photography, Interior Design by Belltown Design LLC

Situated on the edge of New Hampshire’s beautiful Lake Sunapee, this Craftsman-style shingle lake house peeks out from the towering pine trees that surround it. When the clients approached Cummings Architects, the lot consisted of 3 run-down buildings. The challenge was to create something that enhanced the property without overshadowing the landscape, while adhering to the strict zoning regulations that come with waterfront construction. The result is a design that encompassed all of the clients’ dreams and blends seamlessly into the gorgeous, forested lake-shore, as if the property was meant to have this house all along. The ground floor of the main house is a spacious open concept that flows out to the stone patio area with fire pit. Wood flooring and natural fir bead-board ceilings pay homage to the trees and rugged landscape that surround the home. The gorgeous views are also captured in the upstairs living areas and third floor tower deck. The carriage house structure holds a cozy guest space with additional lake views, so that extended family and friends can all enjoy this vacation retreat together. Photo by Eric Roth

Two new Andersen casement windows replaced in a coastal bedroom, framing bright bay and neighborhood views. Captured mid-project before final trim, the clean white sashes and crisp sightlines already transform the room with more daylight and a tighter, more energy-efficient seal against shore weather. Matera Builders protects the home throughout — drop cloths down, furnishings covered — for a tidy, respectful install from start to finish. An Andersen Elite Certified Contractor (top 1% nationwide), serving Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City.

Home studio - large rustic freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor home studio idea in Portland with white walls and a standard fireplace

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/