An all-electric kitchen. Sunlight spills into the high ceilings through skylights and transom windows so artificial lighting use can be minimized. All appliances are electric, materials are natural and durable.

This contemporary small but spacious home has mixed stone and stucco siding and a metal roof. It rests at 2000 square feet and provides many windows for views and natural lighting, all of which are energy efficient with two-color frames (black exterior and white interior). There are wood floors throughout the house and wood beam accents inside. Xeriscape landscaping, large rear porch and fire pit are essential for outdoor living along with the aesthetic steal beam accents on both the rear and front porch. Inside the home is equipped with a large walk in closet, energy star appliances and quartz countertops.

Example of a mid-sized beach style brown two-story wood house exterior design in Los Angeles with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Photo: Jason Snyder © 2014 Houzz Design: Luca Construction and Design
Trendy living room photo in Other

Exterior - Rear Yard/Patio
Large trendy two-story metal flat roof photo in Minneapolis

A beautiful idea for a tiny house is a nice outdoor room. This one is extra living and dining area. It also grows herbs and vegetables. Richard C. MacCrea

Ryan Gamma Photography
Example of a large 1950s backyard concrete patio design in Other with a fire pit and a roof extension

Covered Patio Area - Outdoor Fireplace
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard concrete patio design in Minneapolis with a fire pit and a roof extension

Example of a huge farmhouse bathroom design in Boston with an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Home design - contemporary home design idea in San Francisco

Large windows, sliding glass doors and French doors can cause quite a bit of heat gain in a home. Your traditional vertical blind can help a little, but there are much better solutions on the market today. Several companies now provide an energy efficient vertical cellular shade for large openings. Hunter Douglas’ Vertiglide can be purchased with the Architella fabric for the most energy efficiency or the Applause fabric for a more economical price. Other manufacturers such as Comfortex and Alta have similar vertical cellular shades that provide heat gain reduction. We work with clients in the Central Indiana Area. Contact us today to get started on your project. 317-273-8343

This rustic style home on Hartwell Lake was designed and built for the owners to enjoy with family and friends during their active weekend lifestyle. The home was built on a narrow, deep lot that was semi-level on the roadside and steep on the lakeside. The back half of the lot heavily wooded with mature oak and poplar trees reducing the harsh sun’s heat gain on the home. The exterior utilizes fiber cement cedar shake and lap siding complimented by deep brown colors for the windows, soffit, trim and the large square columns. A nice balance of natural earth toned stacked stone rounds out the exterior materials completing the rustic casual lake living. The home 5400 SF is designed and built on thee levels each having a primary focus. The main level creates primary daily living for the owners. This level features an open plan with an entry, stair, dining, kitchen and living areas leading to a large lakeside screened porch. A master suite is privately tucked off its own hallway and allowing it to enjoy the lakeside as well with its own private deck. On the opposite side are two bedrooms, a study and a shared bathroom for each to utilize. An open carport for two vehicles was created with the motor court and connects to the mudroom/utility room giving the owners direct entry into their home. The upper level is for the grand children with an oversized bedroom, bathroom and loft area for play. The lower level is the considered the party level. Its primary feature is an elevated stage for the owner’s band opened to a large seating area, dining and kitchen for viewing and listening with direct access to another screened porch. Flanking each side is a theater and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Energy Efficient features include: • The majority of the lower level sunk into the site below grade • 6” thick walls utilizing advanced framing techniques • Foil covered roof sheathing • Extensive use of blown in cellulous • All windows & doors are double paned low E argon filed glass • Tank-less water heaters • Three separate high efficiency HVAC units with programmable thermostats and a fresh air ERV. Lastly the owner requested we make every effort to sound proof the home. Many materials and techniques gave a duel purpose and added to the energy efficiency. These items include: • 2x6 walls with staggered studs • Extensive use if rock wool acoustic batting • Tempered glass in all exterior doors and windows • ¼ thick Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) was installed on the top and bottom of the floor trusses and on all lower level walls. The combination of the design and detailing utilizing these specific materials enabled us to achieve a 5 Star Plus Energy Star Certification with a HERS Index Score of 50. This home received a the 2015 Pinnacle Award from the SC Home Builders Association for the “Best Achievement in Energy Efficiency” sponsored by the SC Department Commerce.

All this glass absorbs winter sunshine to keep the house warm. My first passive solar home in Blairsville Georgia Richard C. MacCrea
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern beige two-story metal house exterior remodel in Atlanta with a shed roof and a metal roof

Love this beach house! I like the use of textures and simplistic patterns to create visual interest. The use of organic elements bring the outdoors in while not being too overwhelming. The use of the energy efficient shades are a prefect solution for this space. Covering your windows with custom fit energy efficient shades not only give you privacy, but can also significantly reduce the solar heat gain in your home. One of the most energy efficient shades is Hunter Douglas’s Architella with its unique construction of a cell within a cell lowering your heat gain to 15%. We work with clients in the Central Indiana Area. Contact us today to get started on your project. 317-273-8343

This second-story addition to an already 'picture perfect' Naples home presented many challenges. The main tension between adding the many 'must haves' the client wanted on their second floor, but at the same time not overwhelming the first floor. Working with David Benner of Safety Harbor Builders was key in the design and construction process – keeping the critical aesthetic elements in check. The owners were very 'detail oriented' and actively involved throughout the process. The result was adding 924 sq ft to the 1,600 sq ft home, with the addition of a large Bonus/Game Room, Guest Suite, 1-1/2 Baths and Laundry. But most importantly — the second floor is in complete harmony with the first, it looks as it was always meant to be that way. ©Energy Smart Home Plans, Safety Harbor Builders, Glenn Hettinger Photography

Inspiration for a huge industrial brown two-story wood exterior home remodel in Los Angeles with a shingle roof

Example of a large transitional brown two-story wood exterior home design in Los Angeles with a mixed material roof

Example of a large classic brown two-story wood exterior home design in Los Angeles with a metal roof

Modern row house project incorporates high performance windows for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
Example of a mid-sized minimalist white three-story mixed siding exterior home design in Seattle