Painting by artist Beth Robinson. Jesse Prezza Photography.
Inspiration for a farmhouse living room remodel in Jacksonville

Example of a beach style living room design in Jacksonville

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

White full bath with black accents in coastal pattern
Bathroom - contemporary white tile and ceramic tile dark wood floor and brown floor bathroom idea in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Front patio from Amelia Island project
Beach style back porch idea in Jacksonville with a roof extension

Room was converted from small bedroom to luxurious master bedroom closet. Cabinet supplier, Cabinetry by Kitchen-Envy, and I designed cabinetry and inserts including custom jewelry mirror and drawers.

Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn/Southern Living
This is an example of a coastal porch design in Jacksonville with decking and a roof extension.

Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn/Southern Living
Beach style medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Jacksonville with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, an island and white countertops

Zach Desart
Example of a beach style girl kids' bedroom design in Jacksonville with blue walls

Zach Desart
Beach style dark wood floor living room photo in Jacksonville with white walls

Zach Desart
Inspiration for a coastal girl carpeted kids' bedroom remodel in Jacksonville with pink walls

The Summer House in Paradise Key South Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Glenn Layton Homes
Mid-sized beach style open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Jacksonville with yellow walls and no tv

Modern coastal bathroom with soft marble, brushed‑gold accents, and natural light that creates a calm, spa‑like feel.
Inspiration for a transitional gray tile gray floor and double-sink bathroom remodel in Jacksonville with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Modern coastal bedroom with warm wood tones, layered neutrals, and soft mauve accents that create a calm, inviting atmosphere. Clean lines and balanced textures make the space feel both relaxed and refined.

Open concept living space in warm, Scandinavian-style Texas home. Designed by Anna Kidd.
Example of a danish medium tone wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling living room design in Austin with white walls and a standard fireplace

Elegant pool photo in Jacksonville

The Summer House in Paradise Key South Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Glenn Layton Homes
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal wooden straight staircase remodel in Jacksonville with painted risers

Zach Desart
Dining room - coastal dark wood floor dining room idea in Jacksonville with gray walls

Kim Lindsey Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless galley dark wood floor kitchen pantry remodel in Jacksonville with wood countertops and stainless steel appliances