Search results for "Improve efficiency" in Home Design Ideas

For this small cottage near Bush Park in Salem, we redesigned the kitchen, pantry and laundry room configuration to provide more efficient storage and workspace while keeping the integrity and historical accuracy of the home. In the bathroom we improved the skylight in the shower, installed custom glass doors and set the tile in a herringbone pattern to create an expansive feel that continues to reflect the home’s era. In addition to the kitchen and bathroom remodel, we updated the furnace, created a vibrant custom fireplace mantel in the living room, and rebuilt the front steps and porch overhang.

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Cramped, uncomfortable, and out of date: when the owners of this home approached us about renovating their kitchen and adjoining sunroom, these were high on their list of complaints.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.

Photo Credit: Kenneth M Wyner Photography Inc
Trendy exterior home photo in DC Metro
Trendy exterior home photo in DC Metro
Find the right local pro for your project

This Floor to Ceiling, Wall to Wall Entertainment Center we built for our client came out beautifully. The functionality of the system is incredible and the use of the space maximizes efficiency. The White Chocolate finish comes out looking great and modern when paired with Flat Door and Drawer faces.

Photo Credit: Kenneth M Wyner Photography Inc
Transitional porch photo in DC Metro
Transitional porch photo in DC Metro

This unique lakefront home situated in north western New Jersey is the inspiration of the owner who wanted to create a comfortable and elegant retreat. The goal was to optimize the scenic aspect of the lake front site and improving the design and flow of the living space. It was important to preserve the character of the original rustic lake cabin and retain many of the details unique to homes built in the area in the 1950’s. Modern amenities were incorporated with an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Sponsored
Delaware County, OH
Whisler Home Improvement
Franklin County's Committed Home Improvement Professionals

Photo Credit: Kenneth M Wyner Photography Inc
Transitional home office photo in DC Metro
Transitional home office photo in DC Metro

Conversion of a small ranch house to a larger simplified-Craftsman style house. We retained most of the original house, rearranging a few walls to improve an awkward layout in the original house, and added a partial second story and converted a covered patio space to a dining and family room. The clients had read Sarah Susanka’s Not So Big books and wanted to use these principles in making a beautiful and ecological house that uses space efficiently.
Photography by Phil Bond.
https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/ranch-to-craftsman/

Blanchard Mountain Farm, a small certified organic vegetable farm, sits in an idyllic location; where the Chuckanut Mountains come down to meet the Samish river basin. The owners found and fell in love with the land, knew it was the right place to start their farm, but realized the existing farmhouse was riddled with water damage, poor energy efficiency, and ill-conceived additions. Our remodel team focused their efforts on returning the farmhouse to its craftsman roots, while addressing the structure’s issues, salvaging building materials, and upgrading the home’s performance. Despite removing the roof and taking the entire home down to the studs, we were able to preserve the original fir floors and repurpose much of the original roof framing as rustic wainscoting and paneling. The indoor air quality and heating efficiency were vastly improved with the additions of a heat recovery ventilator and ductless heat pump. The building envelope was upgraded with focused air-sealing, new insulation, and the installation of a ventilation cavity behind the cedar siding. All of these details work together to create an efficient, highly durable home that preserves all the charms a century old farmhouse.
Design by Deborah Todd Building Design Services
Photography by C9 Photography

This project showcases a full garage door replacement completed for a residential home in Arlington Heights, IL. The existing door was outdated, noisy, and showing signs of structural wear. Our team removed the old door, installed a new insulated steel model, upgraded the tracks and rollers, and calibrated the entire system for smooth and quiet operation. The new door provides improved curb appeal, better energy efficiency, and enhanced home security. This project reflects our commitment to high‑quality materials, precise installation, and reliable long‑term performance.

As part of the complete home remodel, roofing work included installation of durable asphalt shingles and skylight enhancements. The updated roof ensures long-lasting protection and improved energy efficiency.

Photo Credit: Kenneth M Wyner Photography Inc
Contemporary exterior home idea in DC Metro
Contemporary exterior home idea in DC Metro

Small coastal gray one-story vinyl and shingle house exterior idea in Philadelphia with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a brown roof

This renovation in north Asheville has updated finishes and modernization throughout while still maintaining the style and layout of the original house. New insulation and heating and cooling systems dramatically improves the comfort and energy efficiency.

Norwood House is a 55 year old center hall Georgian Revival style house that sits on an expansive piece of property across from the main campus at Kent Place School. The house and grounds are owned and maintained by the School, and serve as the primary residence for the Head of School and her family. The property is also used on occasion for school functions. Since there have been no significant improvements to the property since the 1980’s, we worked with the School to improve the entire house and surrounding grounds. Specifics included creating a mudroom between the garage and the kitchen, relocating the dining room and family room to improve the flow of the first floor layout, adding three pairs of French doors in the sunroom leading out to a new bluestone patio, gutting and redoing the kitchen, renovating all of the bathrooms, and refinishing the basement. The scope also encompassed various infrastructure improvements, including a new roof, new windows, new high efficiency HVAC and lighting, etc. For the project, we also worked closely with Frances Chester, a local Landscape Architect, on improving the property with new plantings, walkways, patios, driveway, lighting, etc.
The school required that the project be complete by the beginning of the 2014 school year. We worked the Contractor, Owner’s Rep, and members of the Board of Trustees to have construction completed within 5 months, which was a very aggressive schedule for a project of this size.

Sponsored
Delaware County, OH
Whisler Home Improvement
Franklin County's Committed Home Improvement Professionals

Hunter Douglas | Duette®
Duette®
The original single- and double-honeycomb Duette® shades come in multiple cell sizes, a horizontal or Vertiglide™ vertical orientation, and a range of light-control options from sheer to opaque.
Energy Efficiency
COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER
Did you know that up to 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows? That’s why we designed this unique cellular shade that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
And while the honeycomb design is praised for its efficiency, its shape and overall aesthetic are nothing short of beautiful.
Double Honeycomb
EVEN GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Our double-honeycomb construction traps air even more efficiently than our single honeycomb by sandwiching two honeycomb cells between your room and the window.
Absorb Sound
REDUCE OUTSIDE NOISE
Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows.
The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert.
Top-Down/Bottom-Up
PRIVACY WITH A VIEW
The Top-Down/Bottom-Up feature offers a more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light.
Energy Efficiency
COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER
Did you know that up to 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows? That’s why we designed this unique cellular shade that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
And while the honeycomb design is praised for its efficiency, its shape and overall aesthetic are nothing short of beautiful.
Double Honeycomb
EVEN GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Our double-honeycomb construction traps air even more efficiently than our single honeycomb by sandwiching two honeycomb cells between your room and the window.
Absorb Sound
REDUCE OUTSIDE NOISE
Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows.
The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert.
Vertiglide™
FOR LARGE WINDOWS AND SLIDING DOORS
Vertiglide™ offers an exceptional, energy-efficient vertical solution for large expanses of windows and sliding glass doors.
Top-Down/Bottom-Up
PRIVACY WITH A VIEW
The Top-Down/Bottom-Up feature offers a more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light.
UV protection
SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR VALUABLES
Protect your furniture, flooring and artwork from fading with at least 75% protection from harmful UV rays

ISELIN NJ, AFTER PHOTOS
Upgrade this Iselin NJ kitchen to reflect the times.
Modern Gray Shaker cabinets to go right up the ceiling.
Ageless subway tile backsplash
Sink move to center window, great view!
Upgraded appliances for energy efficiency
New paint job on walls and trim to match cabinets
Under cabinet lighting
New vinyl wood look planking floor
New recessed lighting in ceiling to brighten up the room

This unique lakefront home situated in north western New Jersey is the inspiration of the owner who wanted to create a comfortable and elegant retreat. The goal was to optimize the scenic aspect of the lake front site and improving the design and flow of the living space. It was important to preserve the character of the original rustic lake cabin and retain many of the details unique to homes built in the area in the 1950’s. Modern amenities were incorporated with an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability.
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