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/

Design ideas for a tropical stone garden path in Hawaii.

Monica Perrone The existing landscape layout, complete with useless curves and single steps, frustrated the homeowners and kept them from entertaining family and friends. Elimination of all but the pool, mature trees and perimeter fencing was the only way to make it right. Custom-cut Travertine paving, local crushed rock and clean lines designed for a modern garden and pool remodel were the solution. Corten steel picket fence, gates and planters compliment the scene. Careful design details for drainage within stone expanses and at pool and spa remodel protect the contemporary layout and eliminate the use of plastics and short-lived solutions.

LeafGuard® gutter guards are designed to allow water to flow freely while eliminating clogs by deflecting debris such as leaves, pine needles, and other debris from trees. They've even earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. For these reasons, Kate opted to have them installed on her home.

A lovely rustic modern kitchen in cerused rift sawn oak cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. White Macauba quartzite countertops and backsplash by Marble America. Wolf 48” range. Refrigerator by Subzero. Dishwasher by Bosch. Garrison pendant lights by Arteriors. Schaub & Co. Italian Contemporary pulls 6” in Brushed brass finish. Photography c 2015 by Jeff McNamara.

Bedroom - country master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom idea in Seattle with gray walls

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

This is an example of a small modern drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in Phoenix.

Our custom TV entertainment center sets the stage for this coast chic design. The root coffee table is just a perfect addition!
Large beach style open concept light wood floor, brown floor and shiplap ceiling family room photo in Miami with gray walls and a media wall

Inspiration for a large timeless attached three-car staircase remodel in Salt Lake City

Elegant home design photo in Salt Lake City

Minimalist pool photo in Dallas

A true piece of American history. 100+ year old lumber reclaimed from old barns in West Virginia. In the early 1900's, a fungus emerged and rapidly spread through America's Chestnut tree forests. By 1935, a good portion of the mature Chestnut trees were destroyed by the fungus. During this time the wood was considered inferior because of bore holes caused by an insect that invaded the diseased trees. To eliminate the spread of any futher tree disease, the trees were quickly milled into lumber for barns, fences, structure flooring, and siding.

A true piece of American history. 100+ year old lumber reclaimed from old barns in West Virginia. In the early 1900's, a fungus emerged and rapidly spread through America's Chestnut tree forests. By 1935, a good portion of the mature Chestnut trees were destroyed by the fungus. During this time the wood was considered inferior because of bore holes caused by an insect that invaded the diseased trees. To eliminate the spread of any futher tree disease, the trees were quickly milled into lumber for barns, fences, structure flooring, and siding.

Snowberry Lane Photography
Freestanding bathtub - large contemporary master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor freestanding bathtub idea in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Monica Perrone The existing landscape layout, complete with useless curves and single steps, frustrated the homeowners and kept them from entertaining family and friends. Elimination of all but the pool, mature trees and perimeter fencing was the only way to make it right. Custom-cut Travertine paving, local crushed rock and clean lines designed for a modern garden and pool remodel were the solution. Corten steel picket fence, gates and planters compliment the scene. Careful design details for drainage within stone expanses and at pool and spa remodel protect the contemporary layout and eliminate the use of plastics and short-lived solutions.

We eliminated two large silk trees from behind the couch, a chair from the corner by the fireplace (far left corner) and other pieces to visually expand the room. Opening the curtains also showed off the beautiful trees and street.

Blind corners with pull out trays eliminate the need to reach inside the cabinet. The pull out table concealed behind a drawer front adds additional function. JBL Photography