Featured here are Hunter Douglas Applause Honeycomb shades. Available in top down bottom up or standard bottom up shades, these energy saving shades are modestly priced for the budget conscience consumer.

Photography, Sam Oberter
Inspiration for a modern porcelain tile entryway remodel in Philadelphia with white walls and a white front door

Ground up net-zero energy home featuring an 11kW solar array and mechanized windows. The building envelope was constructed using insulating concrete forms and structural insulated panels, resulting in an airtight structure ideal for maximizing thermal efficiency. A heat recovery ventilation system was installed to refresh the airtight, indoor environment. The home also employs an air source heat pump for heating and domestic hot water, which is distributed via an in-floor hydronic radiant heat system.

Ground up net-zero energy home featuring an 11kW solar array and mechanized windows. The building envelope was constructed using insulating concrete forms and structural insulated panels, resulting in an airtight structure ideal for maximizing thermal efficiency. A heat recovery ventilation system was installed to refresh the airtight, indoor environment. The home also employs an air source heat pump for heating and domestic hot water, which is distributed via an in-floor hydronic radiant heat system.

Heat Pump Service, Installation & Replacement Williams Home Maintenance is here for all your heat pump needs. We install, service, and repair all air conditioner makes and models, including Comfortmaker, Carrier, American Standard, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Amana, Rheem and more. Heat Pump Service, Repair and Replacement Many people in the Dallas Fort Worth area use heat pumps. Heat pumps are an energy efficient and environmentally friendly way to heat your home. If you want a heat pump installed or serviced or need repairs for your current one Williams Home Maintenance is here for you. What kind of heat pump do you have? A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one place to another. It collects energy from a source and then transfers that energy into warm or cooled air for your home. There are 3 basic types of heat pump available. Air Source: An air source heat pump collects energy from the air through a series of coils and transfers it into heat.

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

Jaime Alvarez jaimephoto.com
Kitchen - industrial kitchen idea in Philadelphia

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Custom Home in Jackson Hole, WY Ward + Blake Architects JK Lawrence Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary beige one-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Other with a shed roof

Photo shows the interior of the Japanese Tea House. The four skylights have hand carved overlay screens. The open ceiling shows the beauty of the design. The structure is very sustainable in that the building can be left to age naturally or oiled every few years to retain the wood color. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick

Lee Manning Photography
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized country u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, soapstone countertops, green backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Denver area’s best fireplace store is just a short drive from downtown Denver, right in the heart of Conifer CO. We have over 40 burning displays spread throughout our expansive 3,000 sq ft showroom area. Spanning 5 full rooms, our Denver area hearth store showcases some of the best brands in the industry including a wide selection of fireplaces, fireplace inserts, wood stoves, gas stoves, pellet stoves, gas fireplaces, gas log sets, electric fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and more! Beyond just fireplaces & heating stoves, we also stock a great supply of hearth accessories, including hearth pads, tool sets, fireplace doors, grates, screens, wood holders, ash buckets, and much more. Homeowners & Contractors alike turn to us for all of their hearth and heating needs, including chimney venting pipe, like Class A Chimney, Direct Vents, Pellet Vents, and other chimney systems. At Inglenook Energy Center, you can count on full service customer care from the moment you walk in the door. Our trained & knowledgeable experts can help you select the perfect fireplace, stove, or insert for your needs then set up installation with our trusted group of licensed independent sub-contractors. We also have a fireplace & stove parts department that can help with all of your fireplace & stove repairs and maintenance needs, too. We only carry & offer quality products from top name brands & manufacturers so our customers will get the most out of their new heating unit. Stop by our showroom and store today to view your favorite models side by side and get inspired to design & build a beautiful new hearth area, whether that is indoors or outdoors.

Simplicity and added storage complete the design by removing the normal visual clutter of a bathroom and offering the reassurance of clean organization. Pegboards inside the custom medicine cabinet create a discrete place for every bathroom accessory. TEAM Architecture – ZeroEnergy Design Construction – S+H Construction Photography – Eric Roth SOURCES Fixtures – Victoria+Albert, Duravit, Kohler, Gerberit Finishes – Ann Sacks, StoneWood, Ivy Coatings

Holly Hill, a retirement home, whose owner's hobbies are gardening and restoration of classic cars, is nestled into the site contours to maximize views of the lake and minimize impact on the site. Holly Hill is comprised of three wings joined by bridges: A wing facing a master garden to the east, another wing with workshop and a central activity, living, dining wing. Similar to a radiator the design increases the amount of exterior wall maximizing opportunities for natural ventilation during temperate months. Other passive solar design features will include extensive eaves, sheltering porches and high-albedo roofs, as strategies for considerably reducing solar heat gain. Daylighting with clerestories and solar tubes reduce daytime lighting requirements. Ground source geothermal heat pumps and superior to code insulation ensure minimal space conditioning costs. Corten steel siding and concrete foundation walls satisfy client requirements for low maintenance and durability. All light fixtures are LEDs. Open and screened porches are strategically located to allow pleasant outdoor use at any time of day, particular season or, if necessary, insect challenge. Dramatic cantilevers allow the porches to project into the site’s beautiful mixed hardwood tree canopy without damaging root systems. Guest arrive by vehicle with glimpses of the house and grounds through penetrations in the concrete wall enclosing the garden. One parked they are led through a garden composed of pavers, a fountain, benches, sculpture and plants. Views of the lake can be seen through and below the bridges. Primary client goals were a sustainable low-maintenance house, primarily single floor living, orientation to views, natural light to interiors, maximization of individual privacy, creation of a formal outdoor space for gardening, incorporation of a full workshop for cars, generous indoor and outdoor social space for guests and parties.

Photo by David Duncan Livingston
Living room - living room idea in Sacramento

Location: Atlanta, Georgia - Historical Inman Park Scope: This home was a new home we developed and built in Atlanta, GA. This was built to fit into the historical neighborhood. This kitchen/ living room is meant to appear like an addition to the "original" home, which is in fact also new. This space is designed more within the modern farmhouse feel. The wood on the fireplace is from our sustainable woods program and is from a downed white oak tree. High performance / green building certifications: EPA Energy Star Certified Home, EarthCraft Certified Home - Gold, NGBS Green Certified Home - Gold, Department of Energy Net Zero Ready Home, GA Power Earthcents Home, EPA WaterSense Certified Home. The home achieved a 50 HERS rating. Builder/Developer: Heirloom Design Build Architect: Jones Pierce Interior Design/Decorator: Heirloom Design Build Photo Credit: D. F. Radlmann www.heirloomdesignbuild.com

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

A rustic modern kitchen featuring custom wood cabinetry, stone accents, and sleek energy-efficient appliances, blending functionality with organic elegance in this sustainable mountain home.

Mid-sized farmhouse galley slate floor and blue floor dedicated laundry room photo in Grand Rapids with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops