Photo by Mike Casey The owners of this 1960s ranch house loved their house but it wasn't configured to meet their needs. The house had only two small bedrooms for the family of four, and there was no casual living space for parents and kids to hang out separately. Neither we nor the clients wanted to increase the home's energy usage. It was a tall order: could we increase the home's size without increasing its energy footprint? ADDING FUNCTIONALITY We built two small additions, one at the front of the home and one off the side adjacent to the two existing bedrooms. These new spaces provided an additional bedroom on the main level as well as a new stair down to the basement. At basement level, the additions yielded a guest room, a full bathroom and a laundry area. The existing basement, which is now easily accessible from the main floor, was refinished as a casual family room. The architect designed the new spaces to be spare and bright, replicating the mid-century aesthetic. Every detail—from the open stair, to the light maple floors, to the detailing of the bathroom vanity—echoes the vintage and character of the original home. INTEGRATING ENERGY AND DESIGN The key to meeting this challenge was a rigorous and integrated planning process with early-stage energy modeling accompanying design. As the architect (Anita Rogers) worked out the space plan, the energy consultant (Mike Duclos) analyzed how various scenarios could be combined with envelope and mechanical packages to not only hold the line on energy use but improve performance. We anticipate the plan we settled on will save 25% annually over pre-project energy use.

Inspiration for a bathroom remodel in Orlando

Transitional bathroom photo in Orlando

This is a redesigned studio apartment we recently renovated. The goal was to increase function and increase the feeling of separate functions. Luckily, this studio is of an impressive size and we were able to increase function via a large kitchen, dining area, home office, and bedroom area. Each separated area serves its own purpose and gives the feeling that the apartment, though small, has plenty of space for differing tasks. The result is a highly functioning studio that doesn’t feel cramped, but rather like a one bed apartment. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who serve Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Wilmette, and all the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/upscale-chicago-studio-renovation-design/

Kitchen Renovation: layout modification and aesthetic upgrades. Cabinets: Rustic Cherry Natural Counter tops: Golden Supreme Granite Back splash: Rittenhouse square bisquit Appliances: Samsung Black Stainless This was a traditional ranch style home with a small kitchen that lacked counter top space and had a cramped dining room that blocked access to the garage and back patio. The renovation focused on creating better flow, opening up the walkways, increasing storage and was upgraded to our aesthetic taste. The island incorporates dining seating for up to 5 while also providing storage for the Microwave, Trash/Recycling and Storage for dog food/board games. We designed a custom hood surround to fit within our limited ceiling height. This simple design added character and visual interest to a simple space plan. Full height pantry storage was added on the end of the kitchen by the patio doors, leaving just enough room before the garage door for the dog food bowls. Electrical was upgraded for the whole space, going from 2 outlets in the kitchen to 7 has increased the usability of the space. A USB outlet was added to the end of the island so that people can charge their phones. Prior to the renovation there was a lack of lighting, we added can lights and an island pendant to increase visibility for prep.

Brock Contracting, LLC

Example of a minimalist dining room design in Denver

Green Home Systems recently installed a 10.20 kW LG & SOLAREDGE system for Timothy H. in Eads, Colorado. This system was chosen because it provided the most competitive pricing and guaranteed performance and durability. The installation process took a couple weeks and resulted in increased home value and locked-in low energy costs for Timothy and his family. At Green Home Systems our mission is to provide unparalleled solar solutions at the most economical price, as well as provide our customers with the best customer service in the industry. We strive to make sure that all of our customers have access to renewable energy solutions through our wide selection of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and more. Our team of professional technicians has extensive experience in the industry, providing efficient installations with minimal disruption to your daily routine. During the installation process of Timothy's system, our team worked quickly and efficiently to ensure that everything was installed correctly and securely with no issues arising during or after installation. Once completed, Timothy's LG & SOLAREDGE 10.20KW SYSTEM provided him with a variety of benefits including: Reduced Energy Costs – With a new solar system, Timothy's energy costs were reduced significantly. Increased Property Value – With an increase in property value due to the addition of a solar panel system. Secure Investment – With an efficient solar panel system and 25 year warranty on parts and labor, Timothy was able to make a secure investment. In addition to these benefits, Timothy also had access to a variety of government incentives that made going solar even more appealing. These incentives included tax credits and other financial savings that made going solar cost effective for him and his family. At Green Home Systems we are proud of being able to provide clean renewable energy solutions to people like Timothy throughout Eads, Colorado and beyond! We understand how important it is for everyone to have access to reliable renewable energy sources that are both cost effective and good for the environment! Our team is dedicated to helping more people benefit from green energy solutions by providing top tier customer service at the most economical prices!

Custom rooftop skylight built with passive solar design principles. In the Summer , direct summer sun is blocked thus reducing heat inside the home BUT it accepts reflected light thus increasing interior light.....the result is great light without the overwhelming heat. In the wintertime, the skylight receives direct sun which increases light and radiant energy within the home.

The wood-look luxury vinyl tile flooring is well complemented by the cream and grey color scheme.
Inspiration for a small transitional galley vinyl floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Design ideas for a large hillside landscaping in San Francisco.

Inspiration for a landscaping in Other.

The original small 2 bedroom dwelling was deconstructed piece by piece, with every element recycled/re-used. The larger, newly built home + studio uses much less energy than the original. In fact, the home and office combined are net zero (the home’s blower door test came in at Passive House levels, though certification was not procured). The transformed home boasts a better functioning layout, increased square footage, and bold accent colors to boot. The multiple level patios book-end the home’s front and rear facades. The added outdoor living with the nearly 13’ sliding doors allows ample natural light into the home. The transom windows create an increased openness with the floor to ceiling glazing. The larger tilt-turn windows throughout the home provide ventilation and open views for the 3-level contemporary home. In addition, the larger overhangs provide increased passive thermal protection from the scattered sunny days. The conglomeration of exterior materials is diverse and playful with dark stained wood, concrete, natural wood finish, and teal horizontal siding. A fearless selection of a bright orange window brings a bold accent to the street-side composition. These elements combined create a dynamic modern design to the inclusive Portland backdrop.

This is an example of a landscaping in San Francisco.

We designed and built this new kitchen as part of a main floor renovation of this 1891 rowhouse. The kitchen and main floor open plan reflect the homeowner’s contemporary taste, but with a nod to the historic aspect of the home. The clients were especially delighted with our success in achieving a “light and airy” feel. The client wanted to open up the entire floor to increase the amount of natural light that flowed into the main floor of this rowhouse. He also wanted a visual connection from the front entry to the back door. The new kitchen reflects his contemporary style. We flipped the original kitchen and dining room, and removed the walls to make the kitchen central to the floor plan. Moving the original kitchen from the back room to a central location in the floorplan allowed us to: • Place all the storage and appliances on a party wall where no windows would be obscured. • Increase the size of the kitchen and provide better flow for entertaining • Increase natural light by doubling the size of the back window and installing two new windows. A new full-light rear door also allows natural light to flow into the space. The client did not want access from the main floor to the basement apartment, so we closed off the stairs and turned the space into closets. We created closets with hidden doors with sass hinges and touch latches. HDBros

Adding a ceiling fan to a porch roof or pergola is a great way to keep air flowing during hot summer days for maximum comfort.
Transitional exterior home idea in Raleigh

Bed and Breakfast: Before Looking to update your rental property? This Bed and breakfast in a 1950’s home was updated in the rental bedroom, bathroom and common areas (kitchen, living room and front entry) guests see when entering the home. The bed and breakfast specializes in wildlife viewing, so the decor highlighted this theme.The kitchen, bath and living room were remodeled. The bedroom had outdated decor and no heat source. New bedding, linens, cabinet hardware and an electric fireplace were added. The bathroom was overwhelmed by outdated pink and blue flowered flooring and wallpaper, an outdated vanity, faucets and lighting. The wallpaper was removed and painted a beautiful green to highlight the new hummingbird shower curtain. The vanity, faucets, lighting, flooring were replaced and missing baseboard molding was added. New towels and rugs were added for a fun, fresh and updated look. The owner was on a limited budget and the entire project was completed for less than $4000. After the remodel, the owner was able to increase the rental price. Bookings increased by 25% and the entire project was paid for by increased bookings in the first season! Photo by Mary Ann Benoit

Almost any addition or change you make to a home will have an impact on its resale value, but that is not to say that any change will bring you the best return on investment. Proper planning and choosing the right renovations and upgrades will pay off the most. So, where should you start? For your convenience, we take care of all the aspects involved in increasing your property’s value. Bathrooms and kitchens always bring a great return on investment, as it does not only increase value but also attracts more eyes to your property, even if you only choose to do some small improvements. Increasing interior spaces or making room additions are another great to achieve your reselling goals. For outdoor spaces, beautiful landscapes and living spaces where people can spend their days with friends and family are great selling points.