light oatmeal colored walls in a custom, hand plastered large scaled damask softens strong but classic black and white marble floors, contemporary and organic artwork hang above a gilded Louis XVI console with slate colored marble top, venetian lamps add touch of warmth with gold flecks in glass, venetian lamps from Baker Furniture are an updated style and give freshness to space, cool gray colored console table is made of concrete, console is a mixture of smooth texture on one side and very rough on the other so it can be used for an exterior look, beautiful painting above gray concrete console shows beautifully and works in harmony with sculpture also resting on top of concrete console, natural light flood this space in the entry creating a healthy, relaxed feeling, coral colored roses give nice punch of color to space, simple arrangements of furnishings keep a spacious feeling to entry, pair of black and white bone boxes on concrete console bring a little touch of floor to space. Chris Little photography

COMFORT AND QUALITY, PAIRED WITH ULTRA EFFICIENCY First certified Passive House and LEED Platinum Home in New Mexico and in this combination to our knowledge probably the first and only one in the country. This is a very exceptional home in many regards. Are you looking for a very comfortable and super efficient place to live luxuriously with Southwest flair? Then you came to the right place. This recently finished home on the North side of Taos close to the Ski Valley and to town has it all and is available on the market. Enjoy its family friendly and livable layout with a great feel of open space and tranquility. You just have to experience the amazing comfort level for yourself. Always fresh and filtered air 24/7 with even temperatures all year around provides you with the healthiest and most comfortable indoor environment. Natural materials and high- end finishes are everywhere and beautifully mud plastered walls steep this place in intriguing light. The stunning views through a panoramic living room window reveal the changing beauty of Taos Mountain throughout the seasons. A large west-facing porch sets the stage for the daily spectacle of amazing New Mexican sunsets and views into pristine pastureland. Two bedrooms with a shared bathroom, a family room and a master bedroom suite with (2) walk- in closets and a steam bath shower in the master bathroom where you can soak your bones after a day on the slopes make this place a dream to live in. Beautiful details and special features are too many to mention here. You should see the spacious garage, which can also be used as a shop with great storage- impressive! An open gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and solid quality wood cabinets is waiting for you to cook a tasty meal and spend fun times with your family and friends. This home is truly exceptional on so many levels. Designed and built by a team of experts it is the ultimate in energy efficiency achievable today. Based on new building science and a much higher quality building envelope heat losses are reduced by a record breaking 90%. Our team designed this home to the Passive House Energy Standard, the most stringent standard worldwide. A solar hot water system provides the heat for the radiant floor tubing and takes care of your domestic hot water needs (shower, cooking etc.) Hidden behind parapets is a solar electric array that takes care of your electrical needs. And then there is a whole house ventilation system with 95% heat recovery of the warm exhaust air stream. Your home will always be perfectly ventilated with filtered fresh air,- dust, pollen and bugs will stay outside. You can feel the difference,- it does not get any better.

WHAT MAKES VILLA TERRA GREEN? 1. Rammed Earth and PISE Walls Beyond it’s beautiful qualities and “Old World” look, the rammed earth and PISE walls (pneumatically impacted stabilized earth) drastically reduce the use of trees for the initial wall framing lumber. And because this “Earth Structure” will far outlast any wood frame building, trees are again saved many times over, creating the foundation for the true model of sustainability. We have created a house that will essentially last forever, instead of having to be rebuilt every 50 to 75 years. The 18” thick PISE walls and concrete floors also provide thermal mass, an integral part of the passive solar design of the house. These features help keep the house naturally cooler in summer and retaining heat in winter, greatly reducing the heating and cooling loads and energy use. 2. High Content Fly Ash Concrete Foundation Use of high content (25%) fly ash (industrial waste byproduct) in place of Portland Cement results in reduction of energy consumption and green house gas emissions associated with Portland cement production (second only to petroleum in terms of carbon dioxide emissions). 3. Reclaimed Plumbing Fixtures All lavatory sinks and tubs were bought from salvage yards (tub is reportedly from the Jack Benny house in Hollywood). Reclaimed Carrara marble fountain has been made into the powder room sink. 4. Natural Daylighting Use of numerous skylights and high transom windows to reduce electrical lighting loads during the day. Natural daylighting also has documented benefits on mood, productivity, and enjoyment of the space. 5. Photo Voltaic Solar Panels Use of PV solar electric generation system to reduce electrical grid consumption, and bi-directional meter sends power back to the grid when it is needed most, on hot summer afternoons. 6. Hydronic Radiant Heat Floor Use of hydronic radiant floor heating system saves energy, is more efficient for residential heating, is more comfortable for inhabitants, and promotes superior indoor air quality over forced air systems. 7. Natural/Passive Ventilation Use of operable skylights operable high windows and ceiling fans, creates a natural convection current, thereby eliminating the need for an air conditioning system. 8. Passive Solar Design Use of extensive east and south facing glass, proper overhangs, high interior mass, deciduous grape vines on appropriately placed trellises, to passively heat the home in winter, and protect the house from unnecessary heat gain in summer. 9. Reclaimed Lumber - Douglas fir ceiling beams reclaimed from the Town & Country Village Shopping Center (now Santana Row) in San Jose. - Douglas fir ceiling decking reclaimed from the 118 year old Notre Dame High School in downtown San Jose. TJI joists reclaimed from the “Millenium Man” movie set in Alameda used for floor and roof framing. Redwood ceiling beams reclaimed from a Los Altos cabana/trellis. 10. Extensive Use of Other Reclaimed Materials Two antique reclaimed European stone fireplace mantles grace the family room and master bedroom fireplaces. Interior doors with glass knobs reclaimed from the original house located at the property. Two large terraces utilize used brick salvaged from at least 15 different locations. Courtyard fountain is tiled using recycled and restored ceramic tiles from a 1928 California Colonial house in Los Altos. Cabinet lumber from original house used for closet shelving. Plywood from crates that the windows and doors were delivered in were used to create garage shear walls. Foundation forms were salvaged and rip cut for use as interior stud walls. Garage doors were salvaged from a remodel project in Mountain View. 11. Ground Source Heat Pump - Ground source heat pump uses geothermal energy to heat the house and domestic water, greatly reducing natural gas and fossil fuel consumption. 12. Low VOC Paint Clay Plaster Wall Finishes VOC-free interior paint and stain finishes promotes healthy indoor air quality, reduces exacerbation of respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung cancer. Extensive use of American Clay Plaster integral color wall finish eliminates need for painted walls. 13. High Efficiency Windows Use of energy efficient dual pane thermal glazing with “Low e” coating at all doors and windows reduces heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, cutting energy use. 14. Engineered Structural Lumber Extensive use of engineered lumber for structural framing and sheathing reduces cutting of old growth forests, and encourages use of “crop lumber”. 15. FSC Certified Mill Work Extensive use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified sustainable lumber products for cabinetry, hardwood flooring, trim, etc. further protects the environment through third party monitoring and certification of the entire supply chain. 16. Cotton Insulation Formaldehyde-free cotton insulation made from recycled blue jeans used extensively for attic insulation. photography by Frank Paul Perez

The garden was designed to be enjoyed from ground level and from the balcony above --- with an eyeful of joyous color that suits the client's personality to a tee. Plantings include lots of roses from her "favorite roses" list, with perennials and a few annuals to knit it all together. It can be very challenging to make a collection of plants into a cohesive and delightful garden --- and the strong structure of this garden does just that!

This is an example of a traditional backyard vegetable garden landscape in Denver.

COMFORT AND QUALITY, PAIRED WITH ULTRA EFFICIENCY First certified Passive House and LEED Platinum Home in New Mexico and in this combination to our knowledge probably the first and only one in the country. This is a very exceptional home in many regards. Are you looking for a very comfortable and super efficient place to live luxuriously with Southwest flair? Then you came to the right place. This recently finished home on the North side of Taos close to the Ski Valley and to town has it all and is available on the market. Enjoy its family friendly and livable layout with a great feel of open space and tranquility. You just have to experience the amazing comfort level for yourself. Always fresh and filtered air 24/7 with even temperatures all year around provides you with the healthiest and most comfortable indoor environment. Natural materials and high- end finishes are everywhere and beautifully mud plastered walls steep this place in intriguing light. The stunning views through a panoramic living room window reveal the changing beauty of Taos Mountain throughout the seasons. A large west-facing porch sets the stage for the daily spectacle of amazing New Mexican sunsets and views into pristine pastureland. Two bedrooms with a shared bathroom, a family room and a master bedroom suite with (2) walk- in closets and a steam bath shower in the master bathroom where you can soak your bones after a day on the slopes make this place a dream to live in. Beautiful details and special features are too many to mention here. You should see the spacious garage, which can also be used as a shop with great storage- impressive! An open gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and solid quality wood cabinets is waiting for you to cook a tasty meal and spend fun times with your family and friends. This home is truly exceptional on so many levels. Designed and built by a team of experts it is the ultimate in energy efficiency achievable today. Based on new building science and a much higher quality building envelope heat losses are reduced by a record breaking 90%. Our team designed this home to the Passive House Energy Standard, the most stringent standard worldwide. A solar hot water system provides the heat for the radiant floor tubing and takes care of your domestic hot water needs (shower, cooking etc.) Hidden behind parapets is a solar electric array that takes care of your electrical needs. And then there is a whole house ventilation system with 95% heat recovery of the warm exhaust air stream. Your home will always be perfectly ventilated with filtered fresh air,- dust, pollen and bugs will stay outside. You can feel the difference,- it does not get any better.

'Carmello' tomato growing in a 15-gallon terra-cotta pot, week 1. Photo by Steve Masley
Example of an eclectic home design design in San Francisco

COMFORT AND QUALITY, PAIRED WITH ULTRA EFFICIENCY First certified Passive House and LEED Platinum Home in New Mexico and in this combination to our knowledge probably the first and only one in the country. This is a very exceptional home in many regards. Are you looking for a very comfortable and super efficient place to live luxuriously with Southwest flair? Then you came to the right place. This recently finished home on the North side of Taos close to the Ski Valley and to town has it all and is available on the market. Enjoy its family friendly and livable layout with a great feel of open space and tranquility. You just have to experience the amazing comfort level for yourself. Always fresh and filtered air 24/7 with even temperatures all year around provides you with the healthiest and most comfortable indoor environment. Natural materials and high- end finishes are everywhere and beautifully mud plastered walls steep this place in intriguing light. The stunning views through a panoramic living room window reveal the changing beauty of Taos Mountain throughout the seasons. A large west-facing porch sets the stage for the daily spectacle of amazing New Mexican sunsets and views into pristine pastureland. Two bedrooms with a shared bathroom, a family room and a master bedroom suite with (2) walk- in closets and a steam bath shower in the master bathroom where you can soak your bones after a day on the slopes make this place a dream to live in. Beautiful details and special features are too many to mention here. You should see the spacious garage, which can also be used as a shop with great storage- impressive! An open gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and solid quality wood cabinets is waiting for you to cook a tasty meal and spend fun times with your family and friends. This home is truly exceptional on so many levels. Designed and built by a team of experts it is the ultimate in energy efficiency achievable today. Based on new building science and a much higher quality building envelope heat losses are reduced by a record breaking 90%. Our team designed this home to the Passive House Energy Standard, the most stringent standard worldwide. A solar hot water system provides the heat for the radiant floor tubing and takes care of your domestic hot water needs (shower, cooking etc.) Hidden behind parapets is a solar electric array that takes care of your electrical needs. And then there is a whole house ventilation system with 95% heat recovery of the warm exhaust air stream. Your home will always be perfectly ventilated with filtered fresh air,- dust, pollen and bugs will stay outside. You can feel the difference,- it does not get any better.

Make sure your irrigation system is functioning properly so your plants get water when they need it!
Elegant home design photo in Austin

The opening between the living room and the dining room was significantly expanded to open up the space. Oak trim replaced painted wood trim throughout the existing space. The built-ins were rebuilt to include one bookcase and one bench, both designed with Prairie details and proportions. The stained glass windows are new, but have a perfect traditional feel. Cable Photo/Wayne Cable http://selfmadephoto.com

Container planting is scattered around with annual planting for year-round interest, where a large Olive tree provides height.
Inspiration for a small shabby-chic style partial sun backyard wood fence flower bed in London.

Living room library - large contemporary open concept living room library idea in Sydney with white walls

a Vibrant blue macrophylliia hydrangea bush .
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Vancouver.

Catherine Matthys
Example of a small cottage chic deck design in Perth

Kitchen - scandinavian single-wall concrete floor kitchen idea in London with light wood cabinets, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and white appliances

Example of an eclectic guest carpeted bedroom design in Edinburgh with white walls and no fireplace

This water wise verge planting includes mostly mass native planting including Dianella and Lomandra species, with Grass Trees and Bottlebrush for feature plants and height. Photo Siggi Heyns