Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Marvin Bi-Fold Door opens wide to invite fresh air in. What statement is your door making? The right door can say a lot about a home. That’s why AVI offers a wide selection of door options from Marvin. Choose from sliding and swinging patio doors, scenic doors and more. All complemented by a full variety of hardware finishes and styles, interior wood and endless exterior door choices.

Mid-sized minimalist master white tile and subway tile slate floor and gray floor bathroom photo in Tampa with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

This beautiful French Provincial home is set on 10 acres, nestled perfectly in the oak trees. The original home was built in 1974 and had two large additions added; a great room in 1990 and a main floor master suite in 2001. This was my dream project: a full gut renovation of the entire 4,300 square foot home! I contracted the project myself, and we finished the interior remodel in just six months. The exterior received complete attention as well. The 1970s mottled brown brick went white to completely transform the look from dated to classic French. Inside, walls were removed and doorways widened to create an open floor plan that functions so well for everyday living as well as entertaining. The white walls and white trim make everything new, fresh and bright. It is so rewarding to see something old transformed into something new, more beautiful and more functional.

Photo: Sarah Natsumi Moore © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Austin with black backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Elegant u-shaped utility room photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Rikki Snyder
Living room - large transitional enclosed and formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and a wood fireplace surround

HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Custom Home of the Year HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Project of the Year HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Custom Home 6,000-7,000 SF HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Remodeled Home $2 Million - $3 Million Brick Industry Associates 2013 Brick in Architecture Awards 2013 - Best in Class - Residential- Single Family AIA Connecticut 2014 Alice Washburn Awards 2014 - Honorable Mention - New Construction athome alist Award 2014 - Finalist - Residential Architecture Charles Hilton Architects Robert Benson Photography Davenport North Interior Designer

Example of a large trendy u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, window backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The Historic Home lies at the heart of Michael Carter’s passion for interior design. Well versed in the academics of period architecture and antiques, Carter continues to be called on to bring fresh and inspiring ideas to historic properties that are undergoing restoration or redecoration. It is never the goal to have these homes feel like museums. Instead, Carter & Company strives to blend the function of contemporary life with design ideas that are appropriate – they respect the past in a way that is stylish, timeless and elegant.

Living room - rustic open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Other with white walls

Casey Dunn
Kitchen - contemporary light wood floor kitchen idea in Austin with an island, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and gray countertops

This beautiful French Provincial home is set on 10 acres, nestled perfectly in the oak trees. The original home was built in 1974 and had two large additions added; a great room in 1990 and a main floor master suite in 2001. This was my dream project: a full gut renovation of the entire 4,300 square foot home! I contracted the project myself, and we finished the interior remodel in just six months. The exterior received complete attention as well. The 1970s mottled brown brick went white to completely transform the look from dated to classic French. Inside, walls were removed and doorways widened to create an open floor plan that functions so well for everyday living as well as entertaining. The white walls and white trim make everything new, fresh and bright. It is so rewarding to see something old transformed into something new, more beautiful and more functional.

Gallery Hall creates an access for the center formal rooms and the wings of the home on either end. Photography: Nancy Nolan
Example of a classic hallway design in Little Rock with beige walls

Beach style light wood floor sunroom photo in Other

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

Example of a mid-sized beach style guest light wood floor bedroom design in Boston with blue walls and no fireplace

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Starting out with a project that has good bones is always a bonus as was the case with the project. This young family has a great house on a great street in a great location. The kitchen was a large space with ample room and great view to the backyard. The dated cabinets and large peninsula layout however were not working for them, so they came in looking for a fresh start. Goals for the project included adding a large island with seating for four and a bright, open and cheerful space for daily meals and entertaining. Our clients also wanted to keep the existing breakfast table, but the original space did not allow for an island and breakfast table. Our solution was to create banquette seating which gave us the extra inches necessary to accomplish both. The larger awning window over the kitchen sink allows for ample light in the new space. The wall between the kitchen and family room was partially removed to provide the more open feeling our clients desired. The work triangle is centered on the island which serves as a big open prep space conveniently located across from the large pro style range. The island also houses the microwave and a 2nd oven for larger gatherings. A new counter depth fridge and beverage center provide options for refrigeration. A simple pallet of white cabinetry, Carrera marble countertops and polished nickel fixtures will be a timeless look and provide a lovely backdrop for entertaining and spending time with family. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed carpeted living room remodel in Richmond with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv