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

Inspiration for a transitional gray two-story wood exterior home remodel in Toronto with a metal roof and a gray roof

Photo credit: Nolan Painting Interior Design: Raindrum Design
Large trendy eat-in kitchen photo in Philadelphia with white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, glass tile backsplash, an island, an undermount sink, soapstone countertops, black countertops and shaker cabinets

The wall tile is Marca Corona Motif, which features the classic Calacatta Gold marble of Italian tradition. The vein, color, tactile sensation and visual impact all reflect the beauty of this noble stone with it’s bright white background and warm veining.

Design-build kitchen, powder room, and butler’s pantry remodel in an 1890 Victorian home in Wakefield, MA. Full renovation included reconfiguring the powder room layout and opening a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room to improve flow and functionality. Kitchen remodel features frameless full overlay cabinetry in Steel Blue, quartz countertops (Alleanza Dolomiti Extra), beveled crackle tile backsplash, and hardwood flooring. Island addition replaces freestanding table and adds prep space with microwave drawer. Full-height wall cabinets maximize kitchen storage. Historic-inspired details include ogee-edge countertops, bridge-style faucet in English Bronze, decorative corbels, polished nickel hardware, and industrial-style sconces. Powder room renovation includes reduced footprint layout, basketweave floor tile, applied molding, wallpaper, and vintage-inspired plumbing fixtures in chrome. Butler’s pantry remodel features inset cherry cabinetry in a coffee stain finish, quartz countertops, glass-front cabinets, beverage fridge, bar sink, and wallpapered cabinetry interiors. Designed as a functional wet bar and storage extension off dining room. Style: Traditional / Victorian kitchen remodel, historic home renovation, design-build remodeling contractor Wakefield MA.

Rustic Modern Exterior of Private Residence Compound
Inspiration for a large rustic three-story exterior home remodel in Seattle

Molly Maguire Landscape Architecture. Careful site layout and detailing went into the implementation of this dry laid stone walkway. It extends into the gravel drive, announcing the path to the front door. Stone monuments act as natural plinths. The existing Japanese Maple was artfully pruned to allow for the improved access.

This custom front yard hardscape project was designed to improve accessibility, curb appeal, and landscape structure through the use of decorative pavers, curved retaining walls, and integrated landscape elements. The project included the installation of a custom paver walkway leading to the main entry, matching front porch pavers, retaining wall construction, and side-yard hardscape improvements. A contrasting charcoal border was used to define the flowing curved design and create visual separation throughout the space. Construction photos showcase the preparation process, retaining wall installation, grading, and detailed hardscape craftsmanship involved throughout the project. Project features included: • Custom curved paver walkway • Decorative retaining wall installation • Front porch paver renovation • Side-yard hardscape pathway • Landscape border integration • Entryway renovation • Grading and base preparation • Premium interlocking pavers • Charcoal border accents

Foster Customs Kitchens; Photos by Robyn Wishna
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional marble floor kitchen remodel in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, a farmhouse sink, white backsplash and stone slab backsplash

Small elegant galley marble floor and gray floor enclosed kitchen photo in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and yellow countertops

Because of the sloping terrain the backyard was always swampy and mushy. Improving the site to enable water to flow through the yard and infiltrate into the ground was a top priority. The drainage issues were put to rest by building a creek bed from real river rocks. Bonus – when the stream bed is dry it adds a Zen element to this already tranquil backyard. Photography by John Wiese

Ultimate backyard escape. Never mowed. Watered once a week. Gorgeous mediterranean garden for a contemporary lifestyle.
Design ideas for a large mediterranean drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel flower bed in Los Angeles for summer.

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Our Town Plans
Country beige tiny house idea in Atlanta

Possibly the only major improvement that needed addressed upon moving in was the landscaping. After removing overgrown shrubs, pruning trees, and replacing the old fencing, the couple tackled the largest part: the parking lot. Outside of what had been the dentist's waiting room, the entire side yard had been covered in asphalt, with a separate entrance to the street. That has since been removed and replaced with grass, resulting in a minimalist, tranquil spot under the trees. Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2013 Houzz

In collaboration with Habitude Interiors, this Fall 2023 renovation transformed the heart of a Sardis Forest home through thoughtful updates to the kitchen, dining room, home bar, and living room. The goal was to create a cohesive, inviting environment that seamlessly blends functionality with timeless design. The kitchen was reimagined with improved flow, enhanced storage, and refined finishes to support both everyday living and entertaining. Adjacent dining and living spaces were redesigned to create a more open and connected layout, while the custom home bar added a sophisticated focal point for hosting family and friends. Throughout the project, careful attention was given to material selection, craftsmanship, and architectural details to ensure every space felt warm, welcoming, and tailored to the homeowners' lifestyle. The result is a beautifully updated home that balances comfort, elegance, and practicality.

The homeowner wanted a warm, neutral toned, and natural aesthetic for their renovated hall bath. The quartz countertop is Rain Forest Marble is an exquisite blend of natural colors. The effect is an exciting and natural stone that adds beautiful movement to the interior design.

Photo Credit: Kenneth M Wyner Photography Inc
Inspiration for a transitional staircase remodel in DC Metro

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Other