This modern hall is enhanced by a custom bi-folding door that combines expansive views, smooth operation, and refined aluminum framing.
Sunroom - huge sunroom idea in Newark

The goal of this landscape design and build project was to enhance a newly renovated modern residence in Cohasset, MA. It features thermal true blue bluestone pavers, beach stones, and large bluestone steps surrounded by a completely beach adapted and drought tolerant planting palette. This design is also on a steep hillside and incorporates a butterfly garden and New England native plants. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes LLC. Hardscape Materials: Bluestone Pavers, Bluestone Steps, Beach Stone, Landscape Lighting, Irrigation Planting Palette: Butterfly Garden, Beach Grasses, Beach Roses, Low Maintenance, Drought Tollerant

The ecoLite™ Window Series from ProVia® has been independently tested and certified. An Intercept™ Blackline glazing system improves thermal performance for less heat loss, warmer glass temperatures and reduced interior condensation. ProVia’s ecoLite vinyl windows come with our Lifetime Limited Warranty on materials and workmanship, which includes a 20-year warranty on glass seal failure.

Jackie Meiring
Living room - small contemporary living room idea in Auckland

Patrick Coulie
Inspiration for a large rustic two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Denver

Patrick Coulie
Mountain style exterior home photo in Denver

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Therma-Tru Smooth-Star fiberglass door painted Sunset (SW6626). Smooth-Star doors are ready-to-paint and feature crisp, clean contours. Door features energy-efficient Low-E glass with grilles between glass (GBGs) in White to complement window grid patterns. GBGs are thermally sealed between two panes of tempered glass and offer a solution for homeowners who want a low maintenance divided lite look.

8ft. Therma-Tru Smooth-Star fiberglass door painted Craft Paper (SW6125). Door features energy-efficient Low-E glass and 6-lite grilles between glass (GBGs) to complement window grid patterns. GBGs are thermally sealed between two panes of tempered glass and offer a solution for homeowners who want a low maintenance divided lite look. Decade handleset also by Therma-Tru.

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and red floor kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Patrick Coulie
Example of a mountain style exterior home design in Denver

This shows the surface of thermally modified Ash decking treated with Cutek Extreme at 1 end only (6"). Boards were placed in full southern exposure for 8 months. Note how the board is more tan looking due to it protecting against black mold growth. Also note there is significantly less surface checking and cracking where Cutek Extreme is applied.

Photography by Karine Weiller
Home theater - mid-sized contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor home theater idea in San Francisco with blue walls and a wall-mounted tv

This Ketchum cabin retreat is a modern take of the conventional cabin with clean roof lines, large expanses of glass, and tiered living spaces. The board-form concrete exterior, charred cypress wood siding, and steel panels work harmoniously together. The natural elements of the home soften the hard lines, allowing it to submerge into its surroundings. The Glo A5 triple-pane windows and doors were utilized for their advanced performance capabilities. Year-round comfort is achieved by the thermally-broken aluminum frame, low iron glass, multiple air seals, and argon-filled glazing. Advanced thermal technology was pivotal for the home’s design considering the amount of glazing that is used throughout the home. The windows and multiple 16’ sliding doors are one of the main features of the home’s design, focusing heavily on the beauty of Idaho. The doors also allow easy access to the deck, creating an eagle-eye view of the Valley.

This shows the surface of 3 thermally modified Ash deck boards after being in full southern exposure for 8 months. The clear Cutek Extreme slowed down the silvering process and dramatically reduced the amount of surface checking and cracking. Note the transition above the 6" line where the Extreme penetrated beyond and didn't allow black mold to grow.

This North Dartmouth, MA homeowner is enjoying her beautiful year round sunroom! After years of wanting a sunny retreat for her home – this customer finally hired Care Free Homes to make that sunroom dream a reality! Featuring Low E Argon, insulated, double pane windows and a scenic view of her backyard, the homeowner chose sliding windows (one active and one fixed) to invite a gentle breeze in warmer weather. A single, full view, thermal insulated passage door steps out to the backyard.

The large Lift and Slide doors placed throughout this modern contemporary home have superior sealing when closed and are easily operated, regardless of size. The “lift” function engages the door onto its rollers for effortless function. A large panel door can then be moved with ease by even a child. With a turn of the handle the door is then lowered off the rollers, locked, and sealed into the frame creating one of the tightest air-seals in the industry. The Glo A5 double pane windows and doors were utilized for their cost-effective durability and efficiency. The A5 Series provides a thermally-broken aluminum frame with multiple air seals, low iron glass, argon filled glazing, and low-e coating. These features create an unparalleled double-pane product equipped for the variant northern temperatures of the region. With u-values as low as 0.280, these windows ensure year-round comfort.