Product: Authentic Limestone for Exterior Living Spaces. Ancient Surfaces Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' design style as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates into 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, BBQ, fireplace or Jacuzzi pool spa all out of old reclaimed Mediterranean stone pieces is no easy task and shouldn’t be created out of the lowest common denominator of building materials such as concrete, Indian slates or Turkish travertine. The one thing you can bet the farmhouse on is that when the entire process unravels and when your outdoor living space materializes from the architects rendering to real life, you will be guaranteed a true Mediterranean living experience if your choice of construction material was as authentic and possible to the Southern Mediterranean regions. We believe that the coziness of your surroundings brought about by the creative usage of our antique stone elements will only amplify that authenticity. whether you are enjoying a relaxing time soaking the sun inside one of our Jacuzzi spa stone fountains or sharing unforgettable memories with family and friends while baking your own pizzas in one of our outdoor BBQ pizza ovens, our stone designs will always evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that one only gets while being on vacation is some exotic European island surrounded with the pristine beauty of indigenous nature and ancient architecture...

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

Gorgeous master bedroom with intricate detailing.
Example of a large beach style master medium tone wood floor bedroom design in Miami with blue walls

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Williams project, designed and built by Pratt Guys, in 2018 - Photo owned by Pratt Guys - NOTE: Can only be used online, digitally, TV and print WITH written permission from Pratt Guys. (PrattGuys.com) - Photo was taken on February 4, 2019.

Our client reached out to Finesse, Inc. looking for a pet sanctuary for their two cats. A design was created to allow the fur-babies to enter and exit without the assistance of their humans. A cat door was placed an the exterior wall and a 30" x 80" door was added so that family can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. A pet friendly turf, designed especially with paw consideration, was selected and installed. The enclosure was built as a "stand alone" structure and can be easily dismantled and transferred in the event of a move in the future. Rob Kramig, Los Angeles

A Custom Shower Enclosure from Interior Specialties Group can transform your ordinary washroom into a luxury spa. Our Shower Enclosure options include: Swing Door, Door & Panel, Corner Stall, Neo-Angle, Sliding Door, & Splash Panels. Don't you think its time you gave your washroom a makeover? Give us a call today for a Free Consultation.

Frameless shower enclosures are available in many different shapes and sizes. The frameless glass enclosure can also display the creativity of your tile design. Call us today to see how we can include one in your bathroom design. #301-330-5724 #showerenclosures #showerdoors #bathroomremodel #bathroomdesign #mirrors #Framelessshower #glassandmoreinc #shower #bathroom

Master bathroom with (2) separate furniture piece vanities. Cabinetry is Brookhaven II framed cabinets manufactured by Wood-Mode, Inc. From this angle, the posts & decorative panels on sides of the cabinetry can be viewed.

Many rooms need a wastebasket: kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or even the office. To determine what type of basket is right for you, consider how much garbage you’ll be placing into your wastebasket daily, as well as appealing preferences, materials and features. We offer a large line of luxury, designer waste baskets and step cans in many different shapes and finishes. These finishes include: polished chrome bathroom waste baskets, polished gold waste bins, white waste baskets. We also a lot of different shapes so that you can select the best option and style you are looking for. We offer round bathroom trash cans, square bathroom trash bins, stainless steel step can waste baskets, swing cover trash can, crystal glass bathroom waste baskets, brass bathroom waste bins, corner wastebaskets, and chrome bathroom waste baskets with a lid/cover, and wastebaskets without lid as well. Buying a bathroom waste basket will keep your room looking clean and tidy.

Many rooms need a wastebasket: kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or even the office. To determine what type of basket is right for you, consider how much garbage you’ll be placing into your wastebasket daily, as well as appealing preferences, materials and features. We offer a large line of luxury, designer waste baskets and step cans in many different shapes and finishes. These finishes include: polished chrome bathroom waste baskets, polished gold waste bins, white waste baskets. We also a lot of different shapes so that you can select the best option and style you are looking for. We offer round bathroom trash cans, square bathroom trash bins, stainless steel step can waste baskets, swing cover trash can, crystal glass bathroom waste baskets, brass bathroom waste bins, corner wastebaskets, and chrome bathroom waste baskets with a lid/cover, and wastebaskets without lid as well. Buying a bathroom waste basket will keep your room looking clean and tidy.

Frameless glass tub doors do not have a metal frame. They are made from strong, tempered glass so they don't need the support of a frame to hold them up. Glass showers are made from 3/8" to 1/2" thick glass, making the door sturdy and structurally sound. Frameless glass tub doors come in a wide variety of configurations to suit any ideas you have in mind for your space. You can get this look in: 90° Corner (right angle) Neo Angle (diamond shaped) Single door Inline (a door and a glass panel together) Sliding shower doors Bathtub enclosures

We help design & construct smart patio enclosure in San Diego, CA, as we’re an experienced patio contractor in this city. An enclosure can be made only of wood, glass, steel or aluminum. Mostly city homes prefer glass & wood. And, we help design a contemporary patio enclosure in a style that you desire. It is made weather resistant, especially rust and pest-proof. Patio Enclosure Design & Construction in San Diego, CA - https://www.jamespatios.com/

Frameless shower enclosures are available in many different shapes and sizes. The frameless glass enclosure can also display the creativity of your tile design. Call us today to see how we can include one in your bathroom design. #301-330-5724 #showerenclosures #showerdoors #bathroomremodel #bathroomdesign #mirrors #Framelessshower #glassandmoreinc #shower #bathroom #tile

Many rooms need a wastebasket: kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or even the office. To determine what type of basket is right for you, consider how much garbage you’ll be placing into your wastebasket daily, as well as appealing preferences, materials and features. We offer a large line of luxury, designer waste baskets and step cans in many different shapes and finishes. These finishes include: polished chrome bathroom waste baskets, polished gold waste bins, white waste baskets. We also a lot of different shapes so that you can select the best option and style you are looking for. We offer round bathroom trash cans, square bathroom trash bins, stainless steel step can waste baskets, swing cover trash can, crystal glass bathroom waste baskets, brass bathroom waste bins, corner wastebaskets, and chrome bathroom waste baskets with a lid/cover, and wastebaskets without lid as well. Buying a bathroom waste basket will keep your room looking clean and tidy.

Frameless shower enclosures are available in many different shapes and sizes. The frameless glass enclosure can also display the creativity of your tile design. Call us today to see how we can include one in your bathroom design. #301-330-5724

Image provided by 'Ancient Surfaces' Product name: Specialty Lighting Complimenting our Antique Limestone. Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. Day-lighting (using windows, skylights, or light shelves) is sometimes used as the main source of light during daytime in buildings. Proper lighting can enhance task performance, improve the appearance of an area, or have positive psychological effects on occupants. Indoor lighting is usually accomplished using light fixtures, and is a key part of interior design. Lighting can also be an intrinsic component of landscape projects.

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

Stepping out onto the covered patio space, attention is immediately drawn to the tranquil water feature. Faced with Georgetown Blend stone and Bullnose Travertine coping, this water fall feature creates an elegant feel to this outdoor patio. Even in the midst of night, it glows with LED lights and sparkles from the decorative glass backsplash. This lovely water feature requires low maintenance, as it is fitted with a chlorinator and Jandy pump for proper filtration. The Venetian Gold granite blends well with the earthy tones found in the original brick, allowing this outdoor kitchen to stand out yet complement the home’s exterior. The bar top area easily seats 4 to 5 guests and attracts the use of Margarita mixers with accessible countertop electrical outlets. For added convenience, the kitchen sink is equipped with both hot and cold water as well as a sanitary pump. There is ample amount of storage space alongside the stainless steel appliances and an inconspicuous garbage can drawer. The mini refrigerator accommodates 48-60 canned drinks, and the double burner and grill provide the perfect opportunity to prepare an outstanding meal for guests and family. The fire feature in this outdoor project attracts those recently refreshed at the kitchen to come sit and relax! With matching brick as the home, the fire place is a seamless addition to this outdoor living room. Completing the project, varying sizes of Travertine tile are used for the flooring. The variation in size and uniquely chiseled edge of the tile catches the eye of its travelers.