Photo: Claudia Dufresne. This light filled breakfast room is part of a kitchen remodel. The sliding door was added to gain a view and access to the pool. The aqua colored paint was used to off-set the chocolate brown marble counter tops, dark rustic floors and wood table. The floor length striped drapes with an attached embroidered silk valance add a casual elegance to this eating area. Topped with a metal and crystal chandelier, this room couldn't be happier!

This 600sf addition in Folsom created much need space for a growing family. In addition to gaining space, functionality and pantry storage were requirements in the design program. We opened up the kitchen and dining area to great room, with a vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, created a private office, and new flooring throughout. We also designed a warm and cozy sitting area with a new LED fireplace, stacked stacked stone and a rustic mantel. Schrock cabinets provided a lot more storage and functionality. The countertops are a combination of granite and quartz; the backsplash is natural stone. The 'floating' soffit above the island provided an opportunity for more LED up-lights and a great focal point. New concrete walkways, a patio, and an easy-access area for the garbage cans completed the exterior.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

The main goal for the owners of this 1926 house was an addition to gain more closet space near their main floor master bedroom. The opening from the bedroom to the addition was originally an exterior window that we widened. New built-in closets in the addition are easily accessed from the master bedroom. We maximized storage by fitting shelves into a nook where the addition wraps around the front of the house. In assessing the feasibility of the project, the first thing the designer did was to check the zoning regulations. After a thorough study, it was determined that a 7-foot side addition was possible. The existing house floors were not level. We replaced and sistered many joists as they had deteriorated over the 93 year age of the house. New white oak flooring covers both the addition and the affected sitting room and master bedroom.

Twist Tours, Austin, Texas
Inspiration for a small transitional light wood floor entry hall remodel in Austin with beige walls and a brown front door

This 600sf addition in Folsom created much need space for a growing family. In addition to gaining space, functionality and pantry storage were requirements in the design program. We opened up the kitchen and dining area to great room, with a vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, created a private office, and new flooring throughout. We also designed a warm and cozy sitting area with a new LED fireplace, stacked stacked stone and a rustic mantel. Schrock cabinets provided a lot more storage and functionality. The countertops are a combination of granite and quartz; the backsplash is natural stone. The 'floating' soffit above the island provided an opportunity for more LED up-lights and a great focal point. New concrete walkways, a patio, and an easy-access area for the garbage cans completed the exterior.

This 600sf addition in Folsom created much need space for a growing family. In addition to gaining space, functionality and pantry storage were requirements in the design program. We opened up the kitchen and dining area to great room, with a vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, created a private office, and new flooring throughout. We also designed a warm and cozy sitting area with a new LED fireplace, stacked stacked stone and a rustic mantel. Schrock cabinets provided a lot more storage and functionality. The countertops are a combination of granite and quartz; the backsplash is natural stone. The 'floating' soffit above the island provided an opportunity for more LED up-lights and a great focal point. New concrete walkways, a patio, and an easy-access area for the garbage cans completed the exterior.

This is part of the kitchen remodel. The family room and kitchen were united by removing a half wall and shrinking the remaining wall for an open concept. Windows were replaced with a 12 foot wide center opening door and sidelights gaining access to the deck and the lake. The beams were matched in the new opening and white Oak hardwoods tie in the rooms.

A low existing eave that cut every room off from the established garden & valley views was intermittently altered or removed. This brought more sun to rooms otherwise unchanged in the renovation. The new room was given a higher roof line lifting to the north to maximise solar gain.

This 600sf addition in Folsom created much need space for a growing family. In addition to gaining space, functionality and pantry storage were requirements in the design program. We opened up the kitchen and dining area to great room, with a vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, created a private office, and new flooring throughout. We also designed a warm and cozy sitting area with a new LED fireplace, stacked stacked stone and a rustic mantel. Schrock cabinets provided a lot more storage and functionality. The countertops are a combination of granite and quartz; the backsplash is natural stone. The 'floating' soffit above the island provided an opportunity for more LED up-lights and a great focal point. New concrete walkways, a patio, and an easy-access area for the garbage cans completed the exterior.

This addition incorporates a great deal of symmetry as reflected in the skylights, lighting, closet layouts and window placement. The main goal for the owners of this 1926 house was a 7-foot-wide addition to gain more closet space near their main floor master bedroom. The opening from the bedroom to the addition was originally an exterior window that we widened. New built-in closets in the addition are easily accessed from the master bedroom. We framed the storage cabinets to look built-in. To break up a wall of storage, we added a window seat that is open underneath. The existing house floors were not level. We replaced and sistered many joists as they had deteriorated over the 93 year age of the house. New white oak flooring covers both the addition and the affected sitting room and master bedroom.

This addition incorporates a great deal of symmetry as reflected in the skylights, lighting, closet layouts and window placement. The main goal for the owners of this 1926 house was an addition to gain more closet space near their main floor master bedroom. The opening from the sitting room to the addition was originally an exterior window that we widened. New built-in closets in the addition are easily accessed from the master bedroom at the end of the addition. In assessing the feasibility of the project, the first thing the designer did was to check the zoning regulations. After a thorough study, it was determined that a 7-foot side addition was possible. The existing house floors were not level. We replaced and sistered many joists as they had deteriorated over the 93 year age of the house. New white oak flooring covers both the addition and the affected sitting room and master bedroom.

Elmhurst, a premier retirement facility, gained a five-story, 19,600 sq.ft. addition to its historic Queen Anne style building. The building program included administrative offices, multi-purpose and support areas, an elevator and stairwell, as well as 8 one-bedroom suites and 4 two-bedroom suites. In addition, the existing dining room received a 520 sq.ft. addition to accommodate the additional visitors to the facility and an existing efficiency apartment was renovated to provide a billiard room for the residents. The addition was designed to marry the existing structure to create a seamless transition between the old and new, both inside and out; a new porte-cochere allows drive-up access to the new grand entrance to the facility; a new terrace on the south end of the facility leads to formal gardens, a walking path and gazebo for the residents to enjoy.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

This is a Kitchen Remodel we did on an existing home that another builder had initially built. Before the remodel you can see the kitchen was very closed off and lacking storage. After we remodeled the kitchen not only was the kitchen opened up but we custom made counters, additional cabinetry, bead board ceilings, subway tile, new stainless sink, wired for recessed lighting, painted as well as created a coffee bar and more. We would love to discuss your remodel/addition/or new build of your project. We are committed to Build Beautiful. Thanks for your Consideration. -Joel & Megan Ray.

Small lift up cabinets were added above the TV and hood to gain access to the space above. Flat items such as cookie sheets and platters can be housed and stacked in these cabinets keeping the bigger cabinets open for larger items.

Photo by Mike Casey Cramped, uncomfortable, and out of date: when the owners of this home approached us about renovating their kitchen and adjoining sunroom, these were high on their list of complaints. OPENING UP THE KITCHEN Our plan kept the kitchen in the same location but took down the walls between both the dining room and the sunroom to create an expansive multi-purpose space with spectacular views to conservation land along the back of the property. We removed the powder room and in its place created a window-lined hallway to the living room—opening up direct access between these two previously disconnected spaces. We then built a new half bath between these two rooms, with a door along the back hallway. The result is a more private powder room that is easier to access than before. Significantly improved cabinetry provides ample storage for both human and canine needs. An island countertop is functional and pleasant, enabling the owners to prep for and clean up from dinner all while enjoying the view of the woods behind their house. CREATING COMFORT We also completely rebuilt the sunroom, thickening the framing to allow for extra insulation and raising the roof to accommodate a higher ceiling and tall windows that let in as much natural light as the skylights they replaced, but much less of the solar gain that had made the room so intolerable in the summer. We improved visual connections between spaces and admitted more natural light by converting the framing of the main stairway from full to half walls. We also insulated the attic and replaced an aging, inefficient central air conditioning system with ductless minisplit heat pumps, which can also be used as supplemental heat. All in all, this was our kind of project: we made the home more attractive, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient—all over the course of a single, well-integrated project.

This 600sf addition in Folsom created much need space for a growing family. In addition to gaining space, functionality and pantry storage were requirements in the design program. We opened up the kitchen and dining area to great room, with a vaulted ceiling, lots of natural light, created a private office, and new flooring throughout. We also designed a warm and cozy sitting area with a new LED fireplace, stacked stacked stone and a rustic mantel. Schrock cabinets provided a lot more storage and functionality. The countertops are a combination of granite and quartz; the backsplash is natural stone. The 'floating' soffit above the island provided an opportunity for more LED up-lights and a great focal point. New concrete walkways, a patio, and an easy-access area for the garbage cans completed the exterior.

Dan Farmer- Seattle Home Tours
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman front porch remodel in Seattle with decking and a roof extension