This home was built in 1975. The original owner/builders sold the home to one of their children. Before moving in, the daughter had us remodel the home. When the home was built in 1975, it was chopped up into smaller rooms on the main floor: dining, living, kitchen. We were able to remove the walls due to the roof framing. So now they have a great room concept that fit their lifestyle much more. This home is very welcoming to visitors and kids just home from school. The idea is to enjoy the fabulous view of the Chugach Mountains. We kept the original wood windows, which are so much higher quality than most vinyl windows sold today. We changed out the glass to safety laminated glass with low-e argon filled insulated units. The safety laminated glass made the house so much more quiet. Since we were able to save the wood windows, we put so much less into the landfill. This project is just under 1,000 sf.

The owners loved the location and views from their original 2 bedroom, 1 bath home perched over looking the beautiful ocean shoreline. The problem was the size, layout and overall look of the house did not work for their growing family. The challenge was to take the existing multi-level, disjointed house and turn it into a larger, comfortably-elegant family home all within the existing foot print. The existing loft-style home was completely gutted and transformed into a four bedroom, 4.5 bath home. Every room in the house boasts fantastic views of the ocean. High on the Owners' list was a stronger street presence. Vistors never could find the front door! The front of the house was given a complete face-lift, leaving no question where to enter the new home. The Owners also wanted to create usable outdoor space, which on the steep site, was tricky. Instead of taking the material from demolished east side of the house (which was rebuilt) and hauling it off to the landfill, it was used to create a new raised patio off the lower level. The scale and overall proportions of the house are what the owners love. Each room is comfortable while still having a sense of grace and detail…the perfect mix for this family.

This couple wanted to make their typical San Francisco backyard into something special. The yard had some nice plants but little useable space or attractive ground treatment. They had built a kidney-shaped planter with block walls as a weekend project a few years back, and they wanted to keep this. We came up with a design that used the kidney-shaped planter as a focal point. We added a lot of useable space with a bi-level concentric circular patio. By constructing the patio on two levels, we were able to keep most of the excavated soil on site instead of bringing it to the landfill. The outer circle consists of interlocking concrete pavers, while the raised inner circle is paved with natural Arizona flagstone. We enhanced the kidney planter by making another circular planter around it from matching wall blocks. The circular tree beds add interest by echoing the circle theme of the yard.

Gorgeous thick alpaca 'confetti' fabric by Rosemary Hallgarten adds an unexpected cheeriness to these upcycled office chairs. Originally sourced on the 'free' section, they were stained orangey brown and destined for the landfill. Their redeeming quality: modern square lines, solid oak, solidly built and in solid condition. Just needed a little TLC to get them out of their masculine ways and with a little elbow grease (and a luxury fabric budget), we transformed these gems into a pair of lovely feminine office guest chairs welcoming all who enter this lady's lounge (aka home office).

The owners loved the location and views from their original 2 bedroom, 1 bath home perched over looking the beautiful ocean shoreline. The problem was the size, layout and overall look of the house did not work for their growing family. The challenge was to take the existing multi-level, disjointed house and turn it into a larger, comfortably-elegant family home all within the existing foot print. The existing loft-style home was completely gutted and transformed into a four bedroom, 4.5 bath home. Every room in the house boasts fantastic views of the ocean. High on the Owners' list was a stronger street presence. Vistors never could find the front door! The front of the house was given a complete face-lift, leaving no question where to enter the new home. The Owners also wanted to create usable outdoor space, which on the steep site, was tricky. Instead of taking the material from demolished east side of the house (which was rebuilt) and hauling it off to the landfill, it was used to create a new raised patio off the lower level. The scale and overall proportions of the house are what the owners love. Each room is comfortable while still having a sense of grace and detail…the perfect mix for this family.

This home was built in 1975. The original owner/builders sold the home to one of their children. Before moving in, the daughter had us remodel the home. When the home was built in 1975, it was chopped up into smaller rooms on the main floor: dining, living, kitchen. We were able to remove the walls due to the roof framing. So now they have a great room concept that fit their lifestyle much more. This home is very welcoming to visitors and kids just home from school. The idea is to enjoy the fabulous view of the Chugach Mountains. We kept the original wood windows, which are so much higher quality than most vinyl windows sold today. We changed out the glass to safety laminated glass with low-e argon filled insulated units. The safety laminated glass made the house so much more quiet. Since we were able to save the wood windows, we put so much less into the landfill. This project is just under 1,000 sf.

This is an organic Lime Wash done with a true lime wash product as opposed to a brick mortar or concrete that is often seen on new houses. This product can be applied as a solid coating making the surface completely white, or can be applied and "washed off" in many artistic ways, as seen here. If you hate your brick or just want something unique this is a great option! Photo credit: Jeff Murrey

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

The owners loved the location and views from their original 2 bedroom, 1 bath home perched over looking the beautiful ocean shoreline. The problem was the size, layout and overall look of the house did not work for their growing family. The challenge was to take the existing multi-level, disjointed house and turn it into a larger, comfortably-elegant family home all within the existing foot print. The existing loft-style home was completely gutted and transformed into a four bedroom, 4.5 bath home. Every room in the house boasts fantastic views of the ocean. High on the Owners' list was a stronger street presence. Vistors never could find the front door! The front of the house was given a complete face-lift, leaving no question where to enter the new home. The Owners also wanted to create usable outdoor space, which on the steep site, was tricky. Instead of taking the material from demolished east side of the house (which was rebuilt) and hauling it off to the landfill, it was used to create a new raised patio off the lower level. The scale and overall proportions of the house are what the owners love. Each room is comfortable while still having a sense of grace and detail…the perfect mix for this family.

The goal of the project was to create a more functional kitchen, but to remodel with an eco-friendly approach. To minimize the waste going into the landfill, all the old cabinetry and appliances were donated, and the kitchen floor was kept intact because it was in great condition. The challenge was to design the kitchen around the existing floor and the natural soapstone the client fell in love with. The clients continued with the sustainable theme throughout the room with the new materials chosen: The back splash tiles are eco-friendly and hand-made in the USA.. The custom range hood was a beautiful addition to the kitchen. We maximized the counter space around the custom sink by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher to create more prep space. In the adjacent laundry room, we continued the same color scheme to create a custom wall of cabinets to incorporate a hidden laundry shoot, and dog area. We also added storage around the washer and dryer including two different types of hanging for drying purposes.

The owners loved the location and views from their original 2 bedroom, 1 bath home perched over looking the beautiful ocean shoreline. The problem was the size, layout and overall look of the house did not work for their growing family. The challenge was to take the existing multi-level, disjointed house and turn it into a larger, comfortably-elegant family home all within the existing foot print. The existing loft-style home was completely gutted and transformed into a four bedroom, 4.5 bath home. Every room in the house boasts fantastic views of the ocean. High on the Owners' list was a stronger street presence. Vistors never could find the front door! The front of the house was given a complete face-lift, leaving no question where to enter the new home. The Owners also wanted to create usable outdoor space, which on the steep site, was tricky. Instead of taking the material from demolished east side of the house (which was rebuilt) and hauling it off to the landfill, it was used to create a new raised patio off the lower level. The scale and overall proportions of the house are what the owners love. Each room is comfortable while still having a sense of grace and detail…the perfect mix for this family.

Custom Galley Ideal Workstation with drainboard The goal of the project was to create a more functional kitchen, but to remodel with an eco-friendly approach. To minimize the waste going into the landfill, all the old cabinetry and appliances were donated, and the kitchen floor was kept intact because it was in great condition. The challenge was to design the kitchen around the existing floor and the natural soapstone the client fell in love with. The clients continued with the sustainable theme throughout the room with the new materials chosen: The back splash tiles are eco-friendly and hand-made in the USA.. The custom range hood was a beautiful addition to the kitchen. We maximized the counter space around the custom sink by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher to create more prep space. In the adjacent laundry room, we continued the same color scheme to create a custom wall of cabinets to incorporate a hidden laundry shoot, and dog area. We also added storage around the washer and dryer including two different types of hanging for drying purposes.

This couple wanted to make their typical San Francisco backyard into something special. The yard had some nice plants but little useable space or attractive ground treatment. They had built a kidney-shaped planter with block walls as a weekend project a few years back, and they wanted to keep this. We came up with a design that used the kidney-shaped planter as a focal point. We added a lot of useable space with a bi-level concentric circular patio. By constructing the patio on two levels, we were able to keep most of the excavated soil on site instead of bringing it to the landfill. The outer circle consists of interlocking concrete pavers, while the raised inner circle is paved with natural Arizona flagstone. We enhanced the kidney planter by making another circular planter around it from matching wall blocks. The circular tree beds add interest by echoing the circle theme of the yard.

This house is designed for a busy family of four in Mill Valley. It will be a Green Building by GreenPoints Rated and CALGreen standards.The house that existed on the property will be raised utilizing a FEMA and Marin County Flood grant. We will salvage as many of the reusable materials as possible, creating a sustainable remodel and not a ground-up constructed building diverting waste from the local landfills. Some of the program requirements are: 4 Bedrooms/ 2.5 Baths As much natural light as possible and an open, modern/contemporary interior Mount Tamalpais views from reading room, Principal Suite and Living Room Sleek modern design touch towards minimalism A welcoming front porch and useable deck with access from kitchen, living and dining rooms.

This couple wanted to make their typical San Francisco backyard into something special. The yard had some nice plants but little useable space or attractive ground treatment. They had built a kidney-shaped planter with block walls as a weekend project a few years back, and they wanted to keep this. We came up with a design that used the kidney-shaped planter as a focal point. We added a lot of useable space with a bi-level concentric circular patio. By constructing the patio on two levels, we were able to keep most of the excavated soil on site instead of bringing it to the landfill. The outer circle consists of interlocking concrete pavers, while the raised inner circle is paved with natural Arizona flagstone. We enhanced the kidney planter by making another circular planter around it from matching wall blocks. The circular tree beds add interest by echoing the circle theme of the yard.

Kitchen utensil organizer view from above The goal of the project was to create a more functional kitchen, but to remodel with an eco-friendly approach. To minimize the waste going into the landfill, all the old cabinetry and appliances were donated, and the kitchen floor was kept intact because it was in great condition. The challenge was to design the kitchen around the existing floor and the natural soapstone the client fell in love with. The clients continued with the sustainable theme throughout the room with the new materials chosen: The back splash tiles are eco-friendly and hand-made in the USA.. The custom range hood was a beautiful addition to the kitchen. We maximized the counter space around the custom sink by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher to create more prep space. In the adjacent laundry room, we continued the same color scheme to create a custom wall of cabinets to incorporate a hidden laundry shoot, and dog area. We also added storage around the washer and dryer including two different types of hanging for drying purposes.

This 3D perspective drawing was part of the design package that we did for this client. This couple wanted to make their typical San Francisco backyard into something special. The yard had some nice plants but little useable space or attractive ground treatment. They had built a kidney-shaped planter with block walls as a weekend project a few years back, and they wanted to keep this. We came up with a design that used the kidney-shaped planter as a focal point. We added a lot of useable space with a bi-level concentric circular patio. By constructing the patio on two levels, we were able to keep most of the excavated soil on site instead of bringing it to the landfill. The outer circle consists of interlocking concrete pavers, while the raised inner circle is paved with natural Arizona flagstone. We enhanced the kidney planter by making another circular planter around it from matching wall blocks. The circular tree beds add interest by echoing the circle theme of the yard.

This plan drawing was part of the design package. This couple wanted to make their typical San Francisco backyard into something special. The yard had some nice plants but little useable space or attractive ground treatment. They had built a kidney-shaped planter with block walls as a weekend project a few years back, and they wanted to keep this. We came up with a design that used the kidney-shaped planter as a focal point. We added a lot of useable space with a bi-level concentric circular patio. By constructing the patio on two levels, we were able to keep most of the excavated soil on site instead of bringing it to the landfill. The outer circle consists of interlocking concrete pavers, while the raised inner circle is paved with natural Arizona flagstone. We enhanced the kidney planter by making another circular planter around it from matching wall blocks. The circular tree beds add interest by echoing the circle theme of the yard.