Architect of Record- Susan Bower Interior Design- Susan Bower Firm Of Record- Mitchell Wall Contractor- Baran Construction Photography- Sam Fentress
Trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office photo in St Louis with gray walls

Cellular shades are ideal for kids' rooms because they act as a layer of insulation to help keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Designed as a dedicated creative retreat, this basement project focused on building a fully sound-proof room where the homeowner could play music and record podcasts without disturbing the rest of the house. Careful attention to insulation, wall assemblies, and door sealing helped contain sound while maintaining a comfortable, functional space. The result is a private studio tucked within the basement—perfect for recording, practicing, and creating whenever inspiration strikes.

Roman shades are a popular solution for those who admire the elegant look of draperies, but want the modern conveniences of window shades. They also provide extra insulation, which helps save on energy costs. Choose from a variety of styles including balloon shades, tear drop shades, cascading folds and relaxed folds—all of which can bring your home to life.

Designed as a dedicated creative retreat, this basement project focused on building a fully sound-proof room where the homeowner could play music and record podcasts without disturbing the rest of the house. Careful attention to insulation, wall assemblies, and door sealing helped contain sound while maintaining a comfortable, functional space. The result is a private studio tucked within the basement—perfect for recording, practicing, and creating whenever inspiration strikes.

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Cork is a natural, with characteristics not found in many other wood material. Flooring made from cork can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills. The same cellular structure that insulates a natural cork floor against noise will also serve to keep out unwanted heat energy in the summer, or to keep it in the room in the winter. This means that you will expend less energy trying to control the temperature of an interior space. www.icorkfloor.com

Set within a postcard backdrop, on a local farm, this beautiful single floor home was a delight to build. Its personality brings a sense of modern architecture, combined with natural materials, to achieve a well balanced modern design that fits within Vermont’s natural beauty. Our clients were downsizing from a much larger home, and wanted to invest in a smaller footprint, with a focus on efficiency and details, rather than volume. The shell is a highly insulated and air sealed package that come from a reputable panelized company. In addition to the highly insulated envelope, triple glazed windows insured this home received passive rated blower door test. Clean lines, natural wood floors and beam work, as well as handmade cabinetry helped to give this project a very livable, warm and clean vibe.

The main floor is open from the living space & dining space to the kitchen. The freestanding fireplace and open stair help to delineate the different areas within the open concept.

If you are planning to build or renovate a pool house for the upcoming season, be sure to include an ActivWall Gas Strut Window in your design. Contact us for a quote, and our team will help add some #WowFactor to your backyard! This unit, located in central Virginia, measures 96″ wide by 48″ high. The thermally-broken aluminum frame is finished in a white powder coat with a saddle sill. The glass used for this unit is Insulated LowE 366.

This home owner wanted a clean Craftsman appearance with new tile, new vanity and appliances. There had been a window in back wall of former tub area and no exhaust vent for room. We gutted the space, insulated, installed a ventilation fan on a digital timer, white subway tile and basket weave white/black floor tile. The frameless glass shower door helps make the space appear larger and more spacious.

Todd Mason
Rustic exterior home idea in New York

We team installed radiant floor heating to help warm up the space on cold days.
Large minimalist freestanding desk concrete floor and gray floor home studio photo in Chicago with white walls

Windows and doors line this adobe hallway. © Holly Lepere
Hallway - large mediterranean terra-cotta tile hallway idea in Santa Barbara with white walls

Our task was converting a old and dated part time ski house into a full time updated home for our clients who decided to move out of the city and into the gorgeous landscape of the mad river valley. We removed all the dark shiplap wood walls and re insulated, re wired and sheet rocked all the walls to brighten everything up. A new kitchen, master bedroom addition,deck, bathrooms, flooring doors and trim to name a few items helped breath new life into this home.

Did you know that there are online tools we use to help a homeowner visualize how their new garage door would look BEFORE installation? Yes there are! And these realistic design renderings are a great way for folks to be confident about choosing a replacement door, especially if they're thinking about a new color, style and material compared to their old door. So, be sure to ask your local pro about seeing the design options! Photo Credits: Pro-Lift Garage Doors Garland

Quick Pic Tours
Powder room - small transitional beige tile and subway tile light wood floor and brown floor powder room idea in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and white countertops

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Featuring a range of customizable options, these plantation shutters seamlessly blend with your existing décor and allow you to control natural light and privacy effortlessly. Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary designs, Master Blinds has the perfect solution to meet your unique taste and requirements. Not only do these shutters add a touch of luxury to your home, but they also offer numerous benefits. They provide excellent insulation, helping you maintain a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year. Plus, they effectively block out external noise, creating a peaceful and serene environment for relaxation.