Photo: Corynne Pless © 2013 Houzz
Beach style bedroom photo in New York

Study room - large contemporary freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room idea in Sydney with white walls

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

Photo: Caela McKeever © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Seattle

Jim Westphalen
Mid-sized modern brown two-story wood gable roof idea in Burlington with a metal roof

Patrick Barta
Single front door - contemporary single front door idea in Seattle with a medium wood front door

Trendy kids' white tile corner shower photo in New York with an undermount sink, gray walls and a niche

Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped brown floor enclosed kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Bob Narrod
Pool - coastal courtyard rectangular pool idea in DC Metro

Locale @ State Street offers 76 attached rowhomes and 81 condos (Condos will offer 14 two-story Paseo townhomes, 25 two- and three-story Capitol townhomes and 42 one-story flats) with up to 4 bedrooms and up to approximately 2,673 square feet.

The Laurel was a project that required a rigorous lesson in southern architectural vernacular. The site being located in the hot climate of the Carolina shoreline, the client was eager to capture cross breezes and utilize outdoor entertainment spaces. The home was designed with three covered porches, one partially covered courtyard, and one screened porch, all accessed by way of French doors and extra tall double-hung windows. The open main level floor plan centers on common livings spaces, while still leaving room for a luxurious master suite. The upstairs loft includes two individual bed and bath suites, providing ample room for guests. Native materials were used in construction, including a metal roof and local timber.

Inspiration for a transitional laundry room remodel in Minneapolis

Mid-sized eclectic linoleum floor and multicolored floor enclosed kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, soapstone countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, colored appliances and black countertops

Enclosed kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

The program consists of a detached Guest House with full Kitchen, Living and Dining amenities, Carport and Office Building with attached Main house and Master Bedroom wing. The arrangement of buildings was dictated by the numerous majestic oaks and organized as a procession of spaces leading from the Entry arbor up to the front door. Large covered terraces and arbors were used to extend the interior living spaces out onto the site. All the buildings are clad in Texas limestone with accent bands of Leuders limestone to mimic the local limestone cliffs in the area. Steel was used on the arbors and fences and left to rust. Vertical grain Douglas fir was used on the interior while flagstone and stained concrete floors were used throughout. The flagstone floors extend from the exterior entry arbors into the interior of the Main Living space and out onto the Main house terraces.

Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized eclectic linoleum floor and multicolored floor enclosed kitchen idea in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, soapstone countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, colored appliances and black countertops

Our expert team recently completed a stunning exterior painting project on a multi-level house in Bellevue, WA. Despite the structure's complexity, our painters meticulously transformed it, featuring crisp white walls and vibrant light orange decks. Known for tackling intricate projects, we ensure top-quality work, tailored solutions, and competitive pricing. We even back our service with a 5-year warranty. Contact us for a free estimate on your next painting project!

Our professional painters transformed a multi-level house in Bellevue, WA, with a beautiful exterior finish featuring white walls and light orange decks. Tackling the complexities of such projects, our team provided high-quality, tailored painting services at competitive prices. We take pride in delivering perfect results and offer a 5-year warranty for peace of mind. Contact us for a free estimate and let us help bring your painting vision to life!