Rio Grande in Cedar Mountain by Shaw Floors. Both beautiful and green, Rio Grande offers an 8" hickory plank made from 100% recycled wood. High-pressure fusion creates great structural strength, which allows this style's popular wide width. Its stunning character comes from both heavy and subtle scraping combined with a desirable low-gloss/ matte finish. The result is not only rustic but extremely elegant—heightened by the stylish palette of 4 natural, earthy browns with greyed-down tones.

This custom home was built to be small and efficient! Low maintenance and something to grow old in is the theme here, but of course still a beautiful craftsman.

Interactive Construction’s second Passive House shows that it is possible to achieve this high level of energy efficiency in even the tightest of lots. This build challenged the common assumption that you need a lot of south facing windows to achieve the Passive House certification. The relatively small solar gains from the limited southern exposure was made up for with an extremely tight air-barrier, a top of the line HRV, and higher R-values of insulation. To achieve the best indoor air quality, low-VOC products were used in the finishes. Solid Maple flooring was used throughout the upper levels to create a beautiful look without the chemicals found in engineered flooring. Aging-in-place was key to the design, with a central elevator and accessible door sizes and shower access. Smart design can make homes for versatile over their lifespan which reduces the need for costly renovations in the future. Both the indoor and outdoor areas blend to create tranquil and calm-inspiring spaces. What the homeowners had to say: Each area works well for its purpose. We love the stairs and the glass wall that separates the stairs from the living area. We love our windows, doors and skylights which give us so much light.

Edible, sustainable, colorful, children and play-oriented garden, maximizing recycling, grey water, space and functions, all organic methods, xeriscape/extremely drought tolerant plantings.

RightArm teamed with Portland firm InSitu Architecture on this modern interpretation of a post-war Portland home. Located in the Concordia neighborhood of Northeast Portland, the Webster ADU takes as inspiration the main house on the site with its low profile and hipped roofline, but the similarities end there. The ADU is clad with a painted wood, open joint rain screen. Generous four-foot eaves provide protection at the NW and SE corners of the building. The interior is simple but well executed. The floor is polished concrete. Construction-grade fir plywood cabinets lend the space a rustic feel. The aluminum clad fir windows tie in with the cabinetry and the end-grain fir butcherblock counter. Floor to ceiling pocket doors separate the rooms. Colorful tile and paint add subdued interest to the kitchen and bath spaces Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the ADU is that which isn’t seen. The ADU is completely air sealed and extremely well insulated. An energy recovery ventilator provides constant fresh air, while simultaneously removing the old air. External insulation provides a continuous thermal break between the inside and outside. The Webster ADU is a be

Is it necessary to clean gas fireplace? It’s intuitive that the dark black buildup of combustion needs to be cleaned from a typical wood burning fireplace, but is it needed to clean a gas fireplace? It’s gas…right? Gas fireplaces do not have a visible buildup of combustion, but should be cleaned at least once a year to prevent serious problems with the fireplace. Gas vs. Wood Burning Fireplaces When thinking of the inside of a family home, we think about the most comfortable room: the living room or family room. This is where the family meets, watches movies, and plays board games during rainy days, evenings and family time. It usually has a lofty, cozy couch and a wood burning fireplace. Nothing’s more comforting than falling asleep to the dim light of the fireplace and faint smell of burning wood. Nowadays, we have a close alternative to this old fashioned comfort: the gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces don’t leave much creosote behind, however gas fireplaces should be cleaned once a year, per the CSIA, due to dust, pet hair, insects, and other debris that can build up and cause performance problems. Chimney sweep are primarily for firewall worthiness assurance, cleaning and obstruction free assurance. Gas fireplaces look similar to wood burning fireplaces, with a live flame. The logs inside the gas fireplace look real, but are not actually burning. Oftentimes, they are made of ceramic. A gas fireplace produces much less heat than a wood burning fireplace, but can retain more heat inside your home based on its type and configuration. Gas fireplaces can be low maintenance and energy friendly alternatives to a wood burning fireplace. Some Signs to Clean Gas Fireplace 1. Buildup: Although gas fireplaces do not produce as much visible flammable and hazardous buildup, it does produce some corrosive substances and flue gasses that may settle inside your home without you knowing. Burning natural gas leaves a residue that must be cleaned annually. Failing to clean the residue may cause health risks if left untouched. 2. Technical Issues: There may be technical problems that are not visible, such as issues with the burner. Gas fireplaces are usually built to last long term but it’s imperative to check if there are any unnoticed technical issues at least once a year. 3. Gas Leaks: Over time, valves and pipes turn weaker and become corroded. It’s important to inspect these valves, as a gas leak is extremely hazardous. A certified chimney specialist must inspect and determine any damage or future damage to prevent this serious problem. 4. Condensation: Due to the high temperatures in the flue, there’s a buildup of condensation when the fireplace vapors are cooled. Natural gas exhaust also contains a high content of water vapor in emissions. The condensation reacts with byproducts and is acidic and corrosive, and must be cleaned at least once a year to not pose a potential health hazard. It’s just as important to clean a gas fireplace at least once a year to prevent long term issues that could pose health risks if not cared for. A certified chimney professional from Superior Chimney will inspect and sweep the fireplace and ventilation system. Contact us today to clean gas fireplace at 877-244-6349.

Contoured to fit the body, enhanced support, low profile, water efficient, 46½ Gallon Maximum, 25 year warranty. Contact us for current pricing.
Inspiration for a modern black tile and porcelain tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Seattle with a vessel sink, open cabinets, white cabinets and solid surface countertops

The MySoul lounge sofa chair will add beautiful, modern style to your living room that will leave your guests asking you, “Where did you get that sofa chair?” This contemporary sofa chair is masterfully crafted and custom made in Spain by world renowned manufacturer Famaliving. It features a combination of round and straight pieces that offer a truly one of a kind look. This sofa can come upholstered in a wide range of colored and patterned fabrics, including leather. The frame of the MySoul is crafted from pine wood and MDF construction, making it extremely durable; plus, like all Fama products, it comes with a webbing system for suspension and support instead of the old spring design, which sags over time. Attached to the bottom of the sofa are chrome-finished metal or black-finished wooden leg supports - a design feature that allows the sofa to maintain its low profile look. Dimensions: Customizable We deliver Nationwide! Visit our showroom at: Famaliving San Diego 401 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 Questions? Ready to purchase? Tel. 1-619-900-7674 sandiego@famaliving.com

By adding the Opera sectional sofa to your living space you'll enhance your home's decor because this piece of modern furniture takes stylish design to a whole new level. Everyone who visits you will end up asking you where you got it. The Opera is custom made and crafted by the world-renowned Spanish manufacturer Famaliving. The combination of round and straight pieces offer a contemporary unique look that is truly one of a kind. This sofa can come upholstered in a variety of colored and patterned fabrics, including leather. The frame of the Opera is crafted from pine wood and MDF materials making it extremely durable. All Fama products use a webbing system for suspension and support instead of the old spring design that will sag over time. Attached to the bottom of the sofa are chrome-finished metal or black-finished wooden leg supports that allow the sofa to maintain its low profile design. Dimensions: Customizable We deliver Nationwide! Visit our showroom at: Famaliving San Diego 401 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 Questions? Ready to purchase? Tel. 1-619-900-7674 sandiego@famaliving.com

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

This project was designed, and developed by Rhodes Architecture + Light while Josh Meharry was a team member. Constructed within a rare five acre plot of forested land in Bothell, this house design stemmed from an interest in both creating connections to the surrounding environment as well as carving out an area for communal gathering for this family of 6 to come together with their extended family, friends and community. In response to this desire, the main residence was broken into three separate structures arranged roughly into a “C” confirguration, which formed an inner courtyard where communal gatherings could take place that was adjacent to but felt distinct from the surrounding forest. All three structures support different uses for the residence, but all have views toward and open onto this inner court. Since the residence was located at the low point of a shallow ravine that runs through the site, the two side structures were built into the surrounding hillsides with boardformed concrete retaining walls that are exposed at both the interior and exterior of the house. The central structure that houses the main interior living spaces, bridges over a small stream that flows during the wet season, allowing the site’s natural drainage patterns to remain intact. The spanning portion of this central structure is supported off of two cast in place board-formed concrete chimneys, which also act to define the edges of the main interior spaces and include large double sided fireplaces. This central structure was designed to be very transparent to be as inviting as possible and provide views through the structure to the inner courtyard and into the forest beyond. The simple gabled forms are typical of traditional Pacific Northwest homes and cabins found in forested settings like this, and are preferred for their structural efficiency, and their ability to shed rain, snow and tree debris. The roof forms are vaulted at the interior as well, creating an increased sense of spaciousness. The exterior materials used are extremely durable and will remain maintenance free for many years, with corten standing seam metal roofs, corrugated pre-finished siding, exposed board-formed concrete and powder coated steel.

This custom home was built to be small and efficient! Low maintenance and something to grow old in is the theme here, but of course still a beautiful craftsman.

Snowhite Quartzite is an extremely durable material high recommended for exteriors, pool decks, patios, and outdoors areas. It doesn't heat with the sun, it's non slippery, low maintenance it looks very elegant and attractive.

The corten house demonstrates how jurisdictionally imposed restraints can create hardships which (no matter how intimidating) cannot, however, deny a property owner their legally established right-to-build and, subsequently, the corten house demonstrates how those hardships, through proper planning and perseverance, can be overcome. For the McLendon Av. house, the true challenge became how to build responsibly, economically and sustainably on an extremely difficult site. The streets of the neighborhood were originally surveyed as a few separate developments and were incorporated into the City of Atlanta one by one in the 1910’s. Although some developers built groups of houses, much of Lake Claire was sold as empty lots, with individuals constructing their own homes. The neighborhood of approximately 1,200 homes is, thus, an eclectic mix from Victorian to Tudor revival to more modern periods (Craftsman bungalows, 1950s salt box cottages, mid-century ranch styles, contemporary folk styles). Given the neighborhood’s unique character, the McLendon house was introduced to the site while maintaining and then restoring as much of the native ecological habitat as possible. For example, the site’s tree frogs and stream’s bullfrogs happily remain.

The staircase is seemingly floating, as there are no visible supports. Solid walnut slabs are protruding from the wal adorned by 3D wall texture. The railing is from ultra low-iron glass, which makes it extremely transparent and minimizes the green tint, which is typical in structural glass.

Location: Eugene, OR, USA A complete overhaul was in order for this dated kitchen. Despite the sunny yellow walls, this kitchen felt dark and dated. The dividing wall above the counter separating the kitchen from the dining room made the ceilings feel low, and cut the room in half, as did the soffits above the cabinets. The small amount of track lighting did nothing to brighten the space or provide adequate task lighting while cooking. In order to update this space, the kitchen was essentially gutted. Gone are the soffits – replaced with locally sourced solid wood and formaldehyde free plywood cabinets in a light finish, that reach the ceiling. The partial wall between the kitchen and the dining room was removed, opening the space up for task lighting above the bar, where two new modern barstools were placed. The paneling on the walls was removed, and replaced with tile in gray, green, and blue tones, featuring small flecks of brown that pick up on the color of the countertops. The counters themselves are Paperstone – made of recycled paper and resin, making them extremely eco-friendly and non-toxic. Small details such as live edge wood shelves featuring colorful vases, and staggered tile descending down the wall create a fun definition between the kitchen and dining room areas. The fluted edging that finishes off the countertop extending over the eat in bar area adds personality to the space, and also highlights the built in shelving for cookbooks below. By creating the shape and look of a rug, using the Marmoleum flooring, the dining room achieved a beautiful focal point. Delano Designs

This custom, high-performance home was designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants. The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation. Josh Pabst

“Rascal,” a cut and loop, geometric maze pattern from the STAINMASTER® PetProtect® brand, adds dimension to the floor with its classic design and textural interest. Available in twenty (20) solids and sixteen (16) multi-colored hues that coordinate beautifully with today’s home décor finishes. Rascal is constructed of SuperiaSDTM fiber, a soft and extremely durable carpet fiber that offers exceptional stain resistance, easy cleanability, and timeless beauty.

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”