Bright and spacious main bathroom with double vanity, large tub, and a custom tile shower with towel warmer. Designed for long-term durability and comfort inside this ICF custom home.

Garden arbor and picket fence separate the side yard from the front yard creating outdoor rooms. The view to the front yard frames a sitting area with Adirondack chairs. Photo by Bob Trainor

This 1966 contemporary home was completely renovated into a beautiful, functional home with an up-to-date floor plan more fitting for the way families live today. Removing all of the existing kitchen walls created the open concept floor plan. Adding an addition to the back of the house extended the family room. The first floor was also reconfigured to add a mudroom/laundry room and the first floor powder room was transformed into a full bath. A true master suite with spa inspired bath and walk-in closet was made possible by reconfiguring the existing space and adding an addition to the front of the house.

Bathroom with clean detailing and durable finishes selected for long-term performance. The layout prioritizes clarity, efficient use of space, and ease of maintenance.

Dining area and fire feature. Jason LIske, photographer
Inspiration for a modern backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco.

Deck - deck idea in Austin

This modern home in New Buffalo, Michigan had its concrete polished up to a 400 grit concrete polish by Dancer Concrete out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. This polished concrete floor system incorporates a polished concrete Densifier and concrete stain guard for durability. The benefits of doing a polished concrete floor in your home are: easy maintenance, increased light reflectivity, and long term durability. We like how this otherwise warm space with its red wall accents is complemented by the cool gray color of this floor. Share your thoughts with us below!

Transitional entryway photo in Cleveland

Beautiful and simple. Quartzite countertops lead to long term durability of this area.
Inspiration for a modern laundry room remodel in Los Angeles with quartz countertops

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.

Stainless steal appliances are durable, rust and fire resistant making for long term durability.
Example of a mountain style eat-in kitchen design in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, wood backsplash, an island and gray countertops

Diamond Fusion Quartzite is a top pick for designers in Naperville and Schaumburg due to its unique clarity, translucency and dramatic veining. Perfect for modern islands, bar tops and open-concept kitchens where homeowners want a “wow” effect with long-term durability.

This project was a complete deck renovation, designed to elevate both the look and functionality of the home. The new structure features a clean, durable deck system with a staircase leading directly to the second-floor main entrance—creating a more seamless and practical access point. From framing to finish, every detail was built with long-term durability and a sharp, modern look in mind.

Diamond Fusion Quartzite is a top pick for designers in Naperville and Schaumburg due to its unique clarity, translucency and dramatic veining. Perfect for modern islands, bar tops and open-concept kitchens where homeowners want a “wow” effect with long-term durability.

The deck framing in progress, featuring a built-in drainage system for long-term durability and moisture management.