Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Bedroom - large contemporary master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Austin with white walls and no fireplace

Photography by William Quarles. Custom Built Home by Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Chuck Lattif, President Coastal Premier Homes LLC/clattif@arhomes.com
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The Summer House in Paradise Key South Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Glenn Layton Homes
Example of a large beach style pink two-story vinyl exterior home design in Jacksonville

Large minimalist gray three-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Sacramento

Photo shows Japanese Tea House west side. The gravel path contains a Japanese dry river bed and an Inukshuk sculpture, metaphysically designed. The surrounding garden is the inner Roji garden and contains a Roji stepping stone path designed with a metaphysical pattern. pattern. Photo credits:Dan Drobnick

Example of a large classic blue three-story vinyl gable roof design in Other

Large mountain style backyard stone patio photo in Sacramento with a fire pit and no cover

Photo of front side of Tea House. Building is all hand constructed using pegs. The building is designed using metaphysical principles and was constructed using exotic and local wood species. . Photo credits: Dan Drobnick

Huge modern white two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Miami

The exterior of this contemporary home protects the resident's privacy, and just hints at the stunning views seen once inside. Photo by Erhard Pfeiffer

The exterior of this contemporary home protects the resident's privacy, and just hints at the stunning views seen once inside. The front door opens to an exterior courtyard, with views all the way through the back side of the house to harbor. Photo by Erhard Pfeiffer

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 modern white two-story wood exterior home remodel in Salt Lake City with a shingle roof

Inspiration for a large modern gray two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Seattle

Susan Teare
Example of a small mountain style two-story wood exterior home design in Burlington

Example of a large minimalist gray two-story mixed siding exterior home design in Seattle

Modern Transitional residence blending a tall white stucco gable with a slim vertical slot window and large format two story black steel frame glazing on the left against a lower hipped roof volume with grey stone panel base, dark asphalt shingle roof, shed dormers, and black bracket corbels on the right. A dark wood two-car garage door sits flush in the stone base beside a black steel frame glass entry door under a flat canopy.

This stunning lake home had great attention to detail with vertical board and batton in the peaks, custom made anchor shutters, White Dove trim color, Hale Navy siding color, custom stone blend and custom stained cedar decking and tongue-and-groove on the porch ceiling.