Charlie Dresen, SteamboatsMyHome
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Denver

Debbi Chamberlain-Underwood. Pass-Through bar area for happy hour and food prep gives this small room access to dining and den
Small trendy u-shaped terra-cotta tile eat-in kitchen photo in Nashville with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances

This West Seattle specialties project was driven by an older couple’s vision to create an ADA-friendly DADU for future aging in place. Owning multiple homes in the area, their goal was to complete the build while they were still working and bringing in income, allowing them to rent out the space for additional income until retirement. The thoughtfully designed DADU features an attached garage with convenient alley access, ensuring easy entry. A wheelchair ramp and an open floor plan provide accessibility and seamless navigation, prioritizing comfort and mobility. The space was carefully crafted to serve as their primary residence in the future, combining functionality with long-term independence while offering rental income flexibility in the meantime.

Mid-sized 1950s u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Tampa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Context Norbert and Robin had dreamed of retiring in a Passive House-certified home overlooking the Lubberland Creek Preserve in Southeastern New Hampshire, and they’d done their homework. They were interested in using four integrated Zehnder America (www.zehnderamerica.com) technologies to make the 1,900 square foot home extremely energy efficient. They didn’t miss any opportunity to innovate or raise the bar on sustainable design. Our goals were focused on guaranteeing their comfort in every season, saving them money on a fixed income, and reducing the home’s overall impact on the environment as much as possible. Response The home faces directly south and captures sunlight all winter under tall and vaulted ceilings and a continuous band of slim-lined, Italian triple-pane windows and doors that provide gorgeous views of the wild preserve. A second-story office nook and clerestory provide even deeper views, with a little more privacy. Zehnder, which previously sold its innovative products only in Europe, took on the project as a test house. We designed around Zehnder’s vent-based systems, including a geothermal heat loop that heats and cools incoming air, a heat pump cooling system, electric towel-warmer radiators in the bathrooms, and a highly efficient energy recovery ventilator, which recycles heat and minimizes the need for air conditioning. The house effectively has no conventional heating system—and doesn’t need it. We also looked for efficiencies and smart solutions everywhere, from the lights to the windows to the insulation. The kitchen exhaust hood eliminates, cleans, and recirculates cooking fumes in the home’s unique kitchen, custom-designed to match the ways Norbert likes to prepare meals. There are several countertop heights so they can prep and clean comfortably, and the eat-in kitchen also has two seating heights so people can sit and socialize while they’re working on dinner. An adjacent screened porch greets guests and opens to the view. A roof-mounted solar system helps to ensure that the home generates more energy than it consumes—helped by features such as a heat pump water heater, superinsulation, LED lights and a polished concrete floor that helps regulate indoor temperatures.

Charlie Dresen, SteamboatsMyHome
Example of a trendy entryway design in Denver

Granite Transformations Countertops in Nero Stella. Check out the episode at
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Granite Transformations Countertops in Nero Stella. Check out the episode at
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Other with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, an island, an undermount sink, mosaic tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Nest ADUs are the perfect way to add additional living space to your home. With their spacious layout, modern design Nest ADUs are sure to increase your home's value and provide you with years of enjoyment. This particular Nest ADU features a large deck with outdoor seating, perfect for entertaining guests or simply relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. The open floor plan creates a sense of spaciousness and airiness, while the high ceilings add to the sense of grandeur. The modern kitchen is equipped with all the latest appliances, and the luxurious bathroom is sure to pamper you after a long day. If you're looking for a way to add value to your home, create a rental income stream, or simply have more space, a Nest ADU is the perfect solution. Features: Large deck with outdoor seating Open floor plan High ceilings Modern kitchen & bathroom Benefits: Increase your home's value Create a rental income stream Provide a home for aging parents or other loved ones Have a private space for guests Enjoy your own outdoor oasis Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Floors: 1 Total sq.ft. with terraces: 789 sq.ft.

AFTER: Galley Kitchen w/ heated floors
Minimalist porcelain tile kitchen photo in Portland with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Denver

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a minimalist kitchen design in Boston

Inspiration for a bathroom remodel in Salt Lake City

Example of a transitional basement design in Other

Laundry room - traditional laundry room idea in Salt Lake City

Inspiration for a modern living room remodel in Other

Living room - modern living room idea in Boston