A new home for two, generating four times more electricity than it uses, including the "fuel" for an electric car. This house makes Net Zero look like child's play. But while the 22kW roof-mounted system is impressive, it's not all about the PV. The design features great energy savings in its careful siting to maximize passive solar considerations such as natural heating and daylighting. Roof overhangs are sized to limit direct sun in the hot summer and to invite the sun during the cold winter months. The construction contributes as well, featuring R40 cellulose-filled double-stud walls, a R50 roof system and triple glazed windows. Heating and cooling are supplied by air source heat pumps. Photos By Ethan Drinker

Inspiration for a mediterranean living room remodel in Nashville

This completed backyard transformation in Toronto showcases a modern outdoor living space designed for both relaxation and entertaining. Blending contemporary and natural elements, the project features a custom-built wood pergola that anchors the space while adding architectural interest and filtered shade. The clean lines of the structure are complemented by warm wood tones, creating a welcoming and timeless aesthetic. Expert craftsmanship is evident in the precision joinery of the pergola and the seamless installation of large-format concrete pavers that form the patio surface. Durable, weather-resistant materials were carefully selected to withstand Toronto’s seasonal climate, including pressure-treated lumber, high-performance fasteners, and premium outdoor finishes that enhance longevity while maintaining visual appeal. The layout was thoughtfully planned to maximize functionality within the backyard footprint. Defined zones for dining and lounging provide versatility, with a spacious outdoor dining set positioned beneath the pergola and a separate seating area for casual gatherings. Integrated greenery, privacy fencing, and layered landscaping contribute to a tranquil, enclosed atmosphere while maintaining a connection to nature. For the homeowners, this outdoor upgrade delivers a significant lifestyle enhancement—offering a private retreat for everyday use and an inviting space for hosting family and friends. Low-maintenance materials, improved durability, and smart spatial design ensure long-term value, comfort, and ease of upkeep. This project perfectly captures the essence of modern backyard design in Toronto—stylish, functional, and built to last.

This semi-custom home was designed by architect Alice Dodson. Reynolds Villa, named for its location on the beautiful Reynolds Mountain, features a traditional Craftsman-style exterior with stucco and stone, creating a luxurious mountain retreat with breathtaking vistas. Inside, classic styling is elevated with elegant finishes and thoughtful details throughout, including a large custom wine cellar—a stunning centerpiece for entertaining and a reflection of the home’s exceptional craftsmanship. Every element of this semi-custom build contributes to a unique, one-of-a-kind mountain residence. J. Weiland

Moss Garden: A Living Carpet of Tranquility A moss garden is a serene, low-maintenance landscape feature that evokes a profound sense of calm and natural beauty. Composed of vibrant, velvety mosses that thrive in shaded, humid environments, these gardens offer a soft, carpet-like groundcover that replaces traditional lawns or gravel with rich, green texture. At Westland Design, our moss gardens are thoughtfully integrated into the overall landscape to enhance a feeling of timelessness and stillness. Whether nestled beneath the canopy of trees, edging a stone pathway, or surrounding a tranquil water feature, moss brings subtle movement and color to quiet corners of the garden. Key qualities of a moss garden include: Evergreen softness: Moss provides lush, year-round greenery that requires no mowing or fertilizing. Quiet beauty: It absorbs sound, contributing to a peaceful, contemplative environment. Natural elegance: Ideal for Japanese-style gardens or woodland settings, moss complements stone, water, and wood elements with organic harmony. A moss garden is more than a design choice—it’s an invitation to slow down, observe closely, and appreciate nature’s quiet elegance.

Photography Robin Hill & Chance Stillman The renovation of this contemporary residence and garden is deeply inspired by its subtropical context, utilizing horizontal lines to ground the home and connect its occupants to nature. When considering how to make the most impactful intervention, the design team focused mainly on horizontal roof planes, subtropical landscaping and an abundance of clerestory windows that would all contribute to the home’s integration with its site. In contrast to the tropes of a Palm Beach traditional vernacular, this home seeks to re-establish itself within nature as a place for a young family. Architectural strategies included dematerializing the surrounding walls and expanding the roof eaves to connect the interior spaces with the surrounding gardens of the home. The site plan is organized around four main pavilions: A bedroom pavilion to the south, a cabana pavilion to the west, a garage pavilion to the north, and a central living pavilion. Each of the three pavilions engage with the central living space while still allowing nature to flow between them. The pavilions are organized around the pool deck, equipped with zero-edge detailing and layered subtropical landscaping. In this way the swimming pool doubles as a recreational component to the program but also as a mirror to expand views and reflect the surrounding landscape. A glass bridge serves as the garden threshold between the garage and the home. The renovated home and garden departs from its former Bahamian style and stands out within the community as a symbol for the future of architecture and landscape architecture within this quiet, ocean-front community. A residence derived from, and in response to, its user and environmental context; thus, re-establishing it with place. Scale 1 ACRE Scope HARDSCAPE, SWIMMING POOL + PLANTING DESIGN Year 2022 Architecture KODA Landscape Architecture LandFluent General Contractor PB Built Landscape Contractor Rood Landscape

Craftsmanship takes center stage as you explore the intricate details along the roofline of the Tall Cliffs home. A captivating mix of low-pitch roofing, including flat, gable, and shed designs, contributes to a textured and visually engaging exterior. Different roofing materials, such as asphalt, metal, and Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), reflect our commitment to combining timeless craftsmanship, custom charm, and contemporary resilience.

The “Haverhill” is a simply elegant Georgian-style home. Symmetry and order are balanced by decorative details, all of which contribute to the authenticity of the design. Arched rooflines, copper dormers and stone masonry are just a few of the creative touches found on this home’s exterior. Inside, living spaces are comfortable and open, with the kitchen, dining, sitting, and living areas connected. Multiple office and workspaces, as well as a screened porch and large patio are also included on in the main level floor plan. The upper level features a large master bedroom, bathroom and connected laundry facility, as well as a home office and double en suite guest rooms.

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

This home was thoroughly reimagined – architecturally, throughout the interiors, site, and gardens. The vintage bones of the home were enhanced by the design team while every aspect of contemporary living was accommodated – including a yard for two beloved family dogs. The collaboration between client, architect, interior designer, landscape architect and construction team is celebrated in the result. A composed garden space was formed around a spectacular Cork Oak. This tree was brought in to mediate the view of the neighboring Temple Emanu-El. Additional mature plantings, citrus trees, flowers, and a softly burbling fountain contribute to the comfort of the flowing space. The drive court melds into the garden space with stairway access to an expansive terrace above. From this terrace, views of the garden, fountain, greenery, and Temple are enjoyed – with soft lighting extending enjoyment into the evening.

This 1,200 square-foot Provincetown condominium lives large, both functionally and aesthetically, thanks to its recent renovation. The waterfront home, overlooking Cape Cod Bay, is part of an historic grouping of three individual buildings on Commercial Street that have been combined into condominiums. Begun in November 2014 and completed just in time for summer in May 2016, b Architecture Studios and Cape Associates Builders worked with a budget of $366,000 to transform this prosaic dwelling into a stunning light-flooded space—designed to maximize both the living space and the mesmerizing views of the bay. “The space was totally reconfigured,” said project manager Jon Ziperman. “It was a total gut job requiring leveling of floors, straightening of walls, removing a chimney and fireplace that ran up to the above neighbors’ unit.” The renovation also required a complete rewiring and plumbing system that involved wires and pipes that were integrated into the surrounding units. From wall to wall and floor to ceiling, there was nothing that could be salvaged from the original space. One of the most prominent changes was moving the stairway from its original placement, where it originally broke up the living and dining space and blocked views to the bay beyond. The stairway now sits on the opposite side of the condominium. With the stairs tucked to the left side of the living area, the sightline now extends from the entry straight through the living and dining areas to the water. The new design allowed for storage space beneath the stairs, which lead to an airy sleeping loft, and room for a desk niche. A light well, where the former sleeping area was, and new windows bring abundant natural light to the central living area. Innovative features in the entry room include a Murphy bed and sliding glass door separating it from the living area, so that the space can double as a guest room. “The Murphy bed fit in nicely, allowing for a flush wall at the entry/guest room and a desk niche in the adjacent room,” Brown said. “Convincing the client to create the wrap-around chair rail, lined up with the divided lights of the sliding glass door, makes a purposeful connection in a small space.” Neolith countertops in the open kitchen and details like the flush minimal baseboard contribute to the sleek, modern aesthetic, now complemented by the owner’s contemporary furnishings. This complete renovation has rendered this compact home worthy of its beautiful setting.

This kitchen is a stunning embodiment of contemporary chic design with craftsman-style influences. The focal point is the chic Lyptus cabinets, crafted in a peppercorn stain, complemented by black nickel hardware that adds a sleek, modern edge. Exotic blue granite and Blue Storm granite countertops provide vibrant accents, with a dramatic waterwall countertop adding unique visual intrigue. The clear and frosted glass bricks create a luminous blue glass block wall, harmonizing beautifully with the granite surfaces. The angled corner and raised bar enhance the kitchen's functionality and flow, while the peninsula offers additional workspace and seating. Frameless Dura Supreme cabinets and frosted glass doors contribute to the streamlined aesthetic, while cherry coffee glaze details provide a warm and sophisticated touch. The full granite backsplash and glass tile elements add texture and dimension to the design. The chimney hood serves as a focal point, blending style with practicality, while Miele appliances, including double ovens, ensure top-tier functionality. This is a space where cutting-edge design meets timeless craftsmanship, resulting in a bold and elegant kitchen tailored for everyday use and entertaining.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this luxury bathroom showcases a harmonious blend of classic finishes and modern design elements. The space features a freestanding bathtub paired with a glass-enclosed shower that includes a sleek rain showerhead for a spa-like experience. A custom double-sink vanity with quartz countertops offers both elegance and ample storage, while marble bathroom tiles add depth and texture underfoot and across the shower walls. The glass shower doors enhance the spacious layout and reflect natural light, contributing to the room’s open, airy feel. A round mirror and minimalist bathroom decor balance functionality with style, making the space ideal for both daily routines and moments of relaxation. Whether part of a modern bathroom renovation or a newly built spacious bathroom, this layout delivers timeless design with contemporary convenience.

This project was done for a professional couple who had two children and a grandchild move back home due to the Pandemic. We helped the family add over 600 SF to their living space that they desperately needed. The home is a brick home built in the 1980s. The area we had to work with was an atrium (We don’t see many of those these days!) and a garage that would be closed in. They needed an additional room & storage space including a mechanical room for the AC that would service this area and expanded office space. The primary difficulties were making the project not look like a closed garage and reframing the roof that had a valley that terminated at the atrium. We were able to raise + level the floor of the garage so that it was equal to the rest of the home. We also matched windows put into the garage to other windows on the front of the house creating design continuity. Often when we do garage conversions, we uncouple the drive way from the house to avoid the closed in garage appearance. Unfortunately, on this project that was not possible because of the need for maximum parking. But with the design consistency, the conversion appears seamless with the house. The roof framing turned out to be more problematic than we had anticipated because the garage roof had been created with trusses whereas the rest of the roof had been traditionally framed. That combined with the open atrium falling in the roof valley made the infill framing a challenge. Ultimately, we were able to fill in the roof over the atrium so that it looks like it was always there. Where there had once been a garage door, there was now a bedroom wall with two large windows. In addition to the two large windows, light-colored paint and flooring also contributed to the brightness of the new space. The bedroom has a walk-in closet with built-in shelving. On the other side, we created a large storage space for the family to use since they no longer have their garage for storage.

Snowberry / Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Photo: Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Located in, Summit Park, Park City UT lies one of the most efficient houses in the country. The Summit Haus – designed and built by Chris Price of PCD+B, is an exploration in design and construction of advanced high performance housing. Seeing a rising demand for sustainable housing along with rising Carbon emissions leading to global warming, this house strives to show that sensible, good design can create spaces adequate for today’s housing demands while adhering to strict standards. The house was designed to meet the very rigid Passiv House rating system – 90% more efficient than a typical home in the area. The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45 degree sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The views range from short, highly wooded views to a long corridor out towards the Uinta Mountain range towards the east. The house was designed and built based off Passiv Haus standards, and the framing and ventilation became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements. Zola triple-pane, tilt-and-turn Thermo uPVC windows contribute substantially to the home’s energy efficiency, and takes advantage of the beautiful surrounding of the location, including forrest views from the deck off of the kitchen. Photographer: Douglas Burke

The Kelso's Exterior showcases a beautiful blend of modern farmhouse aesthetics and elegant design elements. The house features black light fixtures that add a sleek and contemporary touch to the exterior. The black windows provide a striking contrast against the dark blue exterior paint, creating a bold and eye-catching look. The combination of brick and stone brick facade adds texture and depth to the overall design. The glass garage door adds a modern and sophisticated touch, allowing natural light to flood the space. The exterior also includes blue board and batten siding, which adds a charming and rustic element to the design. A concrete slab serves as the foundation, providing durability and stability. The gray singles and metal roofing ensure a sturdy and long-lasting roof structure. The gray pavers contribute to the overall aesthetics and provide a welcoming pathway. White window trim complements the exterior color palette and adds a crisp and clean finish. A fence encloses the property, adding privacy and enhancing the overall curb appeal. The Kelso's Exterior is a beautiful representation of modern farmhouse style with its combination of materials, color scheme, and attention to detail.

Porcelain subway tiles, porcelain marbles in a satin finish, and porcelain landscaping pavers with a stone visual all contributed to the classic and understated elegance of this 2021 home. From bold textural subways and deep charcoal stone look tiles to soft whites and fabric textures, this custom home in Wayzata brilliantly balances traditional and contemporary styles, while nailing that distinctly Minnesota hygge flair. While not all pictured, this home was entirely surfaced with TXD tile. Collections tile are sourced from include: Journey, Stones & More 2.0, Regoli, Vintage Studio, Paintboard, Fusion, Nordic Stone, Venice, Pietre 3, Verona, Casablanca, Micro Pebbles

The Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU was designed and built to remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. Fortunately, the same great building strategies and design that provide resilience also provide a home that is incredibly comfortable and healthy while also visually stunning. This home’s journey began with a desire to design and build a house that meets the rigorous standards of Passive House. Before beginning the design/ construction process, the homeowners had already spent countless hours researching ways to minimize their global climate change footprint. As with any Passive House, a large portion of this research was focused on building envelope design and construction. The wall assembly is combination of six inch Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) and 2x6 stick frame construction filled with blown in insulation. The roof assembly is a combination of twelve inch SIPs and 2x12 stick frame construction filled with batt insulation. The pairing of SIPs and traditional stick framing allowed for easy air sealing details and a continuous thermal break between the panels and the wall framing. Beyond the building envelope, a number of other high performance strategies were used in constructing this home and ADU such as: battery storage of solar energy, ground source heat pump technology, Heat Recovery Ventilation, LED lighting, and heat pump water heating technology. In addition to the time and energy spent on reaching Passivhaus Standards, thoughtful design and carefully chosen interior finishes coalesce at the Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU into stunning interiors with modern farmhouse appeal. The result is a graceful combination of innovation, durability, and aesthetics that will last for a century to come. Despite the requirements of adhering to some of the most rigorous environmental standards in construction today, the homeowners chose to certify both their main home and their ADU to Passive House Standards. From a meticulously designed building envelope that tested at 0.62 ACH50, to the extensive solar array/ battery bank combination that allows designated circuits to function, uninterrupted for at least 48 hours, the Twin Peaks Passive House has a long list of high performance features that contributed to the completion of this arduous certification process. The ADU was also designed and built with these high standards in mind. Both homes have the same wall and roof assembly ,an HRV, and a Passive House Certified window and doors package. While the main home includes a ground source heat pump that warms both the radiant floors and domestic hot water tank, the more compact ADU is heated with a mini-split ductless heat pump. The end result is a home and ADU built to last, both of which are a testament to owners’ commitment to lessen their impact on the environment.