Located in, Summit Park, Park City UT lies one of the most efficient houses in the country. The Summit Haus – designed and built by Chris Price of PCD+B, is an exploration in design and construction of advanced high performance housing. Seeing a rising demand for sustainable housing along with rising Carbon emissions leading to global warming, this house strives to show that sensible, good design can create spaces adequate for today’s housing demands while adhering to strict standards. The house was designed to meet the very rigid Passiv House rating system – 90% more efficient than a typical home in the area. The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45 degree sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The views range from short, highly wooded views to a long corridor out towards the Uinta Mountain range towards the east. The house was designed and built based off Passiv Haus standards, and the framing and ventilation became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements. Zola triple-pane, tilt-and-turn Thermo uPVC windows contribute substantially to the home’s energy efficiency, and takes advantage of the beautiful surrounding of the location, including forrest views from the deck off of the kitchen. Photographer: City Home Collective

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

Three structures are located on a 6,500 sqft, sloped lot. The main house is squeezed between front setbacks, a drainage easements through the middle, an access easement to the north and a 30’ topography following height limit. The street level contains an office, a bedroom, an entry and a garage. The lower level contains indoor /outdoor living spaces separated by a glass wall. Sharing this glass wall is the master bedroom. The Studio 420 is located to the west of the drainage easement and contains the parts and tools needed to repair their grown up toys (a dune buggy, motor cycles, an antique sports car, and a three wheeled vehicle). The Studio 120 became the third structure. This structure is a utility room that blocks the neighbor’s views into their backyard and is as backdrop for outdoor dining. The home’s form is a reaction to being pinched between site constraints and the need to live an outdoor life while being indoors.

The new "U" shaped kitchen configuration with mirrored backsplashes and an open counter to the main living space, visually expand this new space to create a sense of generosity in this modest configuration. The upper wall cabinets were designed so Mrs. Kam, who has limited vertical reach, can easily access a lower tear of cabinets designed to provide for all the daily needs and storage, while a second upper tear expands the storage capacity of the kitchen for storage of dry goods, extra dishes and secondary use items. New cherry floors were added to compliment the new cherry kitchen cabinetry, unifying the wood elements in the space creating an expanded sense of the millwork component of the project.

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Hillcrest Construction designed and executed a complete facelift for these West Chester clients’ master bathroom. The sink/toilet/shower layout stayed relatively unchanged due to the limitations of the small space, but major changes were slated for the overall functionality and aesthetic appeal. The bathroom was gutted completely, the wiring was updated, and minor plumbing alterations were completed for code compliance. Bathroom waterproofing was installed utilizing the state-of-the-industry Schluter substrate products, and the feature wall of the shower is tiled with a striking blue 12x12 tile set in a stacked pattern, which is a departure of color and layout from the staggered gray-tome wall tile and floor tile. The original bathroom lacked storage, and what little storage it had lacked practicality. The original 1’ wide by 4’ deep “reach-in closet” was abandoned and replaced with a custom cabinetry unit that featured six 30” drawers to hold a world of personal bathroom items which could pulled out for easy access. The upper cubbie was shallower at 13” and was sized right to hold a few spare towels without the towels being lost to an unreachable area. The custom furniture-style vanity, also built and finished at the Hillcrest custom shop facilitated a clutter-free countertop with its two deep drawers, one with a u-shaped cut out for the sink plumbing. Considering the relatively small size of the bathroom, and the vanity’s proximity to the toilet, the drawer design allows for greater access to the storage area as compared to a vanity door design that would only be accessed from the front. The custom niche in the shower serves and a consolidated home for soap, shampoo bottles, and all other shower accessories. Moen fixtures at the sink and in the shower and a Toto toilet complete the contemporary feel. The controls at the shower allow the user to easily switch between the fixed rain head, the hand shower, or both. And for a finishing touch, the client chose between a number for shower grate color and design options to complete their tailor-made sanctuary.

The owners of this remodel desired a refreshing new master bathroom. The original layout was poorly designed with minimal storage, a small shower, a rarely used bathtub and a water closet that was difficult to access. The old vanity flanked a curved wall of glass block (the main challenge with this space) which didn’t allow for mirrors and was always cluttered because of limited storage. With smart space planning and attention to detail this well-appointed bathroom is now a uniquely personal space that functions brilliantly and balanced for the homeowners. Photo: DeMane Design

The owners of this remodel desired a refreshing new master bathroom. The original layout was poorly designed with minimal storage, a small shower, a rarely used bathtub and a water closet that was difficult to access. The old vanity flanked a curved wall of glass block (the main challenge with this space) which didn’t allow for mirrors and was always cluttered because of limited storage. With smart space planning and attention to detail this well-appointed bathroom is now a uniquely personal space that functions brilliantly and balanced for the homeowners. Photo: DeMane Design

Paul came to us with a very tight site a couple of blocks from the town centre. A great lot, but the program required for the site was stretching the limits of the site. With the final design, we ended up being at 99.99% of our allowable buildable area! The home contains a compact two bedroom suite accessed from the rear of the property. Wrapping around this is a huge two car garage, with enough space for the owners trucks and motorbikes. The lounge and kitchen are open plan and have large doors out to the west. A double height entry creates a feature opening, with a single run of stairs up to the upper floor. Here, three large bedrooms and two bathrooms fill the space, some with vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom has sliding doors that open to a private west facing balcony. The craftmanship and skill in woodwork throughout the building is exemplary and a real testament to the skilled guy and girls at Tree Construction who built the home.

A stunning and stylish floor plan with numerous features throughout for everything you could desire in a home. A charming front porch leads you into this home where you immediately are greeted by the expansive great room with optional see-through fireplace into hearth area. The study with optional coffered ceiling could serve as 4th bedroom. The open kitchen, dining area, and hearth area allows for plenty of natural light. A secluded first-floor owner's suite with optional tray ceiling includes a private bath with double bowl vanity and expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 2 other bedrooms, a full bath, and a large loft. An optional outdoor living area, accessible from the dining area, is available as well. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)

This stunning contemporary home located at 378 Margarita Dr San Rafael CA is gracefully integrated on 2 acres and surrounded by protected open space affording complete privacy, and commanding spectacular views of Marin including iconic Mt. Tamalpais. The spacious open floor plan includes 2 family rooms, a large open-concept kitchen, 4 large bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Inviting decks off the common rooms and all the bedrooms give this home a serene indoor-outdoor feel. Perfect for entertaining. There is also a level outdoor patio area surrounded by beautiful California oaks. Just up the hill off the gated private drive is adjacent land trust property with a level plateau and panoramic views of the bay, 2 bridges, Oakland, San Francisco, Mt. Tamalpais and much of Marin. While not part of the property, due to its close proximity and limited public access the current owners of 378 Margarita often use this plateau for yoga, fireworks viewing and informal parties. Just one of the many perks of being surrounded by pristine open space. This one-of-a-kind property is conveniently located near shops, restaurants, marinas and parks with easy access to Highway 101, San Francisco and the Wine Country.

This dark, dreary kitchen was large, but not being used well. The family of 7 had outgrown the limited storage and experienced traffic bottlenecks when in the kitchen together. A bright, cheerful and more functional kitchen was desired, as well as a new pantry space. We gutted the kitchen and closed off the landing through the door to the garage to create a new pantry. A frosted glass pocket door eliminates door swing issues. In the pantry, a small access door opens to the garage so groceries can be loaded easily. Grey wood-look tile was laid everywhere. We replaced the small window and added a 6’x4’ window, instantly adding tons of natural light. A modern motorized sheer roller shade helps control early morning glare. Three free-floating shelves are to the right of the window for favorite décor and collectables. White, ceiling-height cabinets surround the room. The full-overlay doors keep the look seamless. Double dishwashers, double ovens and a double refrigerator are essentials for this busy, large family. An induction cooktop was chosen for energy efficiency, child safety, and reliability in cooking. An appliance garage and a mixer lift house the much-used small appliances. An ice maker and beverage center were added to the side wall cabinet bank. The microwave and TV are hidden but have easy access. The inspiration for the room was an exclusive glass mosaic tile. The large island is a glossy classic blue. White quartz countertops feature small flecks of silver. Plus, the stainless metal accent was even added to the toe kick! Upper cabinet, under-cabinet and pendant ambient lighting, all on dimmers, was added and every light (even ceiling lights) is LED for energy efficiency. White-on-white modern counter stools are easy to clean. Plus, throughout the room, strategically placed USB outlets give tidy charging options.

Paul came to us with a very tight site a couple of blocks from the town centre. A great lot, but the program required for the site was stretching the limits of the site. With the final design, we ended up being at 99.99% of our allowable buildable area! The home contains a compact two bedroom suite accessed from the rear of the property. Wrapping around this is a huge two car garage, with enough space for the owners trucks and motorbikes. The lounge and kitchen are open plan and have large doors out to the west. A double height entry creates a feature opening, with a single run of stairs up to the upper floor. Here, three large bedrooms and two bathrooms fill the space, some with vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom has sliding doors that open to a private west facing balcony. The craftmanship and skill in woodwork throughout the building is exemplary and a real testament to the skilled guy and girls at Tree Construction who built the home.

This backyard in Calgary's Fishcreek is the prefect atmosphere for a party. The outdoor fireplace with mahogany privacy screens makes this yard feel private and secluded. Because of limited access while under construction, 9 trees had to be craned over the house to ensure no element of the desired "feel of the space" was sacrificed. The true eye catcher on this project was the custom powder coated Red Bull that hangs above the fireplace. Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Because space in her home was limited, this homeowner had been using the only downstairs bedroom for her crafting projects. Quite frequently, her materials were expanding into the living areas making their home feel a bit cluttered and congested. She longed for a spacious, light-filled room with cheerful colors, plenty of storage, and lots of counterspace. Although their home didn’t have the available square footage to create such a space, they did have an adjacent garden area that they hadn’t been using. This was the perfect location to build a separate studio and would give her easy access to and from the house. It was important to Powell Construction to design a structure that would reflect the architecture of their home and give the impression that the studio was a natural addition to the property. The small gable nestled over the studio’s entry gives it a charming cottage appearance. Vaulted ceilings and plenty of natural light make the space feel roomy and open. They selected a brilliant blue paint for the exterior which was consistent with the house and the detached garage.

A stunning and stylish floor plan with numerous features throughout for everything you could desire in a home. A charming front porch leads you into this home where you immediately are greeted by the expansive great room with optional see-through fireplace into hearth area. The study with optional coffered ceiling could serve as 4th bedroom. The open kitchen, dining area, and hearth area allows for plenty of natural light. A secluded first-floor owner's suite with optional tray ceiling includes a private bath with double bowl vanity and expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 2 other bedrooms, a full bath, and a large loft. An optional outdoor living area, accessible from the dining area, is available as well. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)