Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Mid-sized trendy u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Wild View Farm includes a new “Forever home” (we deconstructed an existing house with a 90% landfill diversion rate), and enhancements to several working barns. The 80 acre site was an original homestead farm from the 1890’s. Both its buildings and soil had become severely degraded. The owners are working to holistically restore this property and make it a model of modern regenerative farming. They are planting hundreds of trees, re-introducing livestock and working with Dryland Agroecology Research and High Plains Permaculture to restore the soil. The -51 HERS rated home is not just energy-efficient - it’s a model of “Regenerative design”. The deep green house design included multiple challenges – foremost was how to create a Passive Solar design that also took full advantage of the massive views to the West. We solved it with an L shaped building that optimized passive and active solar strategies on the south face, then actively protected the western facade with a giant covered porch and tuned glazing. The home’s leading-edge energy package includes a Ground source heat pump, a large roof-mounted solar PV array, battery back-up, EV chargers, and Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), Energy Star Appliances and windows, a robust foam insulation shell and LED lighting. We also endeavored to craft a modern day interpretation of the farmhouse typology, with a low-slung simple gable-roofed form that would feel like it’s always been there. The exterior material palette of limestone, cementitious stucco and heavy timber gives it a rich Colorado Modern Farmhouse feel. The home is full of custom details like walls of vaulted glass to capture the sweeping mountain views, an AI Smart Home control system, a sleeping loft for kids and guests, a hard-working Butler’s Pantry, a gourmet outdoor kitchen, a pool & spa, a cozy office nook for reading, and a lovely built-in bench for morning coffee. Phase 2 of this project will include a Farmworker ADU and a full renovation of the existing historic barn. Built by Skycastle Construction. Interior Design by Kimball Modern and Rodwin Architecture. Landscaping by EDI. Photography by Dane Cronin Photo

www.robertogarciaphoto
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped enclosed kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

www.robertogarciaphoto
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1960s l-shaped enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kiera Marie Condrey
Example of an eclectic l-shaped kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, blue backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Mid-sized urban galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized minimalist l-shaped marble floor open concept kitchen design in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped cement tile floor and black floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white appliances and an island

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Inspiration for a large farmhouse l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone slab backsplash, black appliances and an island

Mid-sized country l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized minimalist l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, limestone countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, black appliances and no island

www.robertogarciaphoto.com
Mid-sized trendy u-shaped porcelain tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Mid-sized minimalist l-shaped marble floor open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Example of a mid-sized beach style l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, limestone countertops, blue backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, white appliances and no island