A trellised terrace opens up to a quieter view of a magnificent existing redwood grove and bioswale filled with clusters of ornamental grasses and perennials. Photography by Marion Brenner

Tim Burleson
Small trendy gray two-story mixed siding house exterior photo with a shed roof

Reach-in closets can really benefit from a custom system. Much neater and more efficient.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Smooth and sleek, Blu 80 mm Smooth is the perfect driveway paver to fit any modern home's exterior. Due to its 80 mm height, Blu is optimal for driveway use and paving any surface exposed to vehicular traffic.Now available in our HD2 technology for an ultra-tight poreless finish with anti-aging technology; this paver is offered in vibrant and neutral colors. If you're looking to add contrast around this subtle and clean paving stone, the Blu 6 × 13 mm can be added to create contrasting patterns or banding along the Blu 80 modular pattern. Blu 80's versatility doesn't end there. It can also be installed in a permeable application by swapping polymeric sand for stone and it benefits from all the de-icing salt resistance necessary for harsh winters. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/blu-80-smooth/

What are the main benefits of installing engineered hardwood floors? 1. Enhanced durability 2. Stability 3. Moisture resistance In addition to these benefits, engineered hardwood is suitable for various installation settings, including basements and areas with fluctuating humidity levels. Floors: Hawthorne Oak, Novella Collection

Example of a small trendy gender-neutral light wood floor reach-in closet design in Nashville with open cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Photo: Ten Ten Creative
Wet bar - transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar idea in Dallas with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, black backsplash, subway tile backsplash and gray countertops

David Wakely
Small trendy medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with white walls

BMIGUELEZ
Drop-in bathtub - large contemporary master dark wood floor drop-in bathtub idea in Madrid with white walls and a vessel sink

What are the main benefits of installing engineered hardwood floors? 1. Enhanced durability 2. Stability 3. Moisture resistance In addition to these benefits, engineered hardwood is suitable for various installation settings, including basements and areas with fluctuating humidity levels. Floors: Hawthorne Oak, Novella Collection

Mid-sized beach style two-story wood gable roof photo in Boston

The mud room in this Bloomfield Hills residence was a part of a whole house renovation and addition, completed in 2016. Directly adjacent to the indoor gym, outdoor pool, and motor court, this room had to serve a variety of functions. The tile floor in the mud room is in a herringbone pattern with a tile border that extends the length of the hallway. Two sliding doors conceal a utility room that features cabinet storage of the children's backpacks, supplies, coats, and shoes. The room also has a stackable washer/dryer and sink to clean off items after using the gym, pool, or from outside. Arched French doors along the motor court wall allow natural light to fill the space and help the hallway feel more open.

Angle Eye Photography
Bedroom - contemporary master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Philadelphia with white walls

Photo copyright Ellen Sousa/THB Farm
Inspiration for a rustic landscaping in Boston.

Photos by Alan Blakely
Transitional dark wood floor entry hall photo in Houston with white walls

Our homeowner had dreamt about one day redoing her beyond outdated kitchen since they day her husband carried her over the threshold. Vinyl flooring used for a backsplash, dingy carpeting, laminate with no sheen left to speak of and mismatched cabinetry…. it was time to make it happen. A year’s worth of planning later, her time capsule became one dreamy kitchen. Functionality reigns supreme in this small, but efficient kitchen where every cabinet has a story to tell and a place to store it. Countertop space to the right of the stove was an added necessity for function and safety. The raised snack bar is perfect for day to day meals and the lowered countertop was a must for this petite baker. A new lighting plan includes recessed lights, under-cabinet and accent lights, while new lighting fixtures reflect the client’s sense of style. Dingy brick patterned carpet was removed making way for new hardwood floors toothed in from the dining room. An airy palette gained some weight with the use of larger details; the oversized hood, beefy turned posts, prominent apron front sink and a grouping of tall cabinets on the refrigerator wall. Glass cabinet fronts, shiny beveled subway tile, and granite countertops allow light to dance around the space. Zachary Seib Photography

Inspiration for a contemporary 3/4 white tile black floor alcove shower remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an integrated sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops

This project involved the design of a new open-air Pool House on grounds of a 1905 carriage house estate. The main house and guesthouse on this property were also extensively renovated as part of the project. The concept for the new Pool House was to incorporate the vocabulary of these existing structures into the form while creating a protected, yet open space with a bright and fresh interior. The Pool house is sited on axis to a new fifty-foot pool and the existing Breakfast Room terrace with views back to the house and the adjacent pastoral fields. The exterior of the pool house is shingled, with bracketed rakes, exposed rafter tails and a cupola. Wood louvered shutters and a custom made removable fabric cover protect the structure during the off season. The interior of the Pool House includes a vaulted sitting area with wide beadboard on the walls and ceiling, shingled half walls and a soapstone wet bar. The bluestone flooring flows in from the pool terrace, blurring the boundaries of interior and exterior space. The bath and changing area have a built in stained bench and a vanity with an integral soapstone sink. An exterior shower enclosure is linked to the form by the bracketed extension of the main roof. Photography Barry A. Hyman. Contractor L & L Builders