A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in San Francisco

Home theater

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My longstanding client wanted a refresh and remodel to their kitchen and bathroom. The Master Bathroom, and Kitchen were completely remodeled to allow 'future proofing' , otherwise known as 'aging in place' for their bathroom. Overall, new flooring, paint, lighting and furnishings were added to their existing antiques and artwork.

Photo by Gillean Proctor
Trendy open concept living room photo in Vancouver with a standard fireplace

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Photo by Christopher Daniels with Pretty Smart
Inspiration for a small transitional galley medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, beige walls and a stacked washer/dryer

JC Buck
Example of a mid-sized minimalist gray two-story metal exterior home design in Los Angeles

Luxury Closet Design and Space Planning Photo by Lisa Duncan Photography
Example of a mid-sized minimalist women's light wood floor and beige floor walk-in closet design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets and gray cabinets

Example of a mid-sized minimalist 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower design in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower remodel in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower design in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Doorless shower - mid-sized modern 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower idea in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower remodel in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls

Doorless shower - mid-sized modern 3/4 blue tile and glass tile ceramic tile doorless shower idea in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and blue walls