Robert Swinburne
Example of a trendy metal exterior home design in Boston

Photo: Kristin Laing © 2018 Houzz
Example of an eclectic home office design in Austin

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

If you'd like to start eating better (not just healthier, but tastier too), you will love yard-to-table gardening. Growing your own fresh food steps from the kitchen ensures you'll always have options come dinner time. Best of all, we can provide a helping hand, making an organic garden a reality for even the busiest families.

A rustic modern bedroom featuring warm reclaimed wood accents, a cozy ambiance, and large windows that invite natural light and mountain views, creating a relaxing and sustainable retreat in this organic mountain home.

Michele Lee Wilson
Bedroom - mid-sized craftsman guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with blue walls and no fireplace

Entry Storage,
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept bamboo floor entryway remodel in Seattle with no fireplace and no tv

Stylish feet add charm to the blue island. Photo by Kim Graham
Open concept kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and blue cabinets

Example of a mid-sized beach style backyard deck design in Palma de Mallorca with a roof extension

Inspiration for a small modern l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Vancouver with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Our Austin studio decided to go bold with this project by ensuring that each space had a unique identity in the Mid-Century Modern style bathroom, butler's pantry, and mudroom. We covered the bathroom walls and flooring with stylish beige and yellow tile that was cleverly installed to look like two different patterns. The mint cabinet and pink vanity reflect the mid-century color palette. The stylish knobs and fittings add an extra splash of fun to the bathroom. The butler's pantry is located right behind the kitchen and serves multiple functions like storage, a study area, and a bar. We went with a moody blue color for the cabinets and included a raw wood open shelf to give depth and warmth to the space. We went with some gorgeous artistic tiles that create a bold, intriguing look in the space. In the mudroom, we used siding materials to create a shiplap effect to create warmth and texture – a homage to the classic Mid-Century Modern design. We used the same blue from the butler's pantry to create a cohesive effect. The large mint cabinets add a lighter touch to the space.

Designer: Cheryl Scarlet, Design Transformations Inc. Builder: Paragon Homes Photography: Kimberly Gavin
Example of a large transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Denver with an island, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an undermount sink

Lanshai Stone tile form The Tile Shop laid in a herringbone pattern, Zodiak London Sky Quartz countertops, Reclaimed Barnwood backsplash from a Lincolnton, NC barn from ReclaimedNC, LED undercabinet lights, and custom dog feeding area.

Stoffer Photography
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized farmhouse dark wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Chicago with beige walls

Elegant porch photo in Portland Maine with decking and a roof extension

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Austin with a farmhouse sink, white backsplash, an island, white countertops, quartzite countertops, ceramic backsplash, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and paneled appliances

Inspiration for a large contemporary master porcelain tile and white floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Santa Barbara with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

AMS Fireplace offers a unique selection of iron crafted fireplace doors made to suit your specific needs and desires. We offer an attractive line of affordable, yet exquisitely crafted, fireplace doors that will give your ordinary fireplace door an updated look. AMS Fireplace doors are customized to fit any size fireplace opening, and specially designed to complement your space. Choose from a variety of finishes, designs, door styles, glasses, mesh covers, and handles to ensure 100% satisfaction.

Inspiration for a large industrial built-in desk light wood floor, brown floor, vaulted ceiling and wood wall home studio remodel in Denver with white walls