Cassiopeia Way Residence Architect: Locati Architects General Contractor: SBC Interior Designer: Jane Legasa Photography: Zakara Photography
Example of a mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design with gray walls and a standard fireplace

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in St Louis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray walls

View the house plans at: http://houseplans.co/house-plans/2472 Photos by Bob Greenspan

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Example of a trendy built-in desk concrete floor home studio design in Salt Lake City with white walls

Chipper Hatter Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master ceramic tile bathroom idea in San Diego with a trough sink, louvered cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, solid surface countertops and white countertops

Kitchen - large cottage l-shaped kitchen idea in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an island and shaker cabinets

We were asked to add a small sunroom off a beautiful 1960's living room. Our approach was to continue the lines of the living room out into the landscape. Opening up and glazing the walls on either side of the fireplace gave more presence to the Dale Chihuly piece mounted above while visually connecting to the garden and the new addition. Ostmo Construction Dale Christopher Lang, PhD, AIAP, NW Architectural Photography

Jeri Koegel
Example of a mid-sized beach style light wood floor living room design in Orange County with beige walls and a stone fireplace

Karuna Passive House designed by Holst Architecture and built by Hammer & Hand. This high performance home meets the world's most demanding green building certifications. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann.

Karen Bussolini
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard stone landscaping in New York.

Kolanowski Studio
Living room - huge mediterranean living room idea in Houston with a music area, white walls and a standard fireplace

Huge trendy master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Kansas City with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

Ema Peter | www.emapeter.com
Mid-sized beach style built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Vancouver with white walls and no fireplace

Karuna Passive House designed by Holst Architecture and built by Hammer & Hand. This high performance home meets the world's most demanding green building certifications. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Detroit with a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls

Brian Vanden Brink
Mid-sized beach style open concept light wood floor living room photo in Boston with white walls and no fireplace

Dino Tonn, www.dinotonn.com
Open concept kitchen - large mediterranean u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Phoenix with beige cabinets, wood countertops, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, ceramic backsplash, two islands and brown countertops

Casey Dunn Photography
Example of a large farmhouse open concept brick floor living room design in Houston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a concrete fireplace