This passive solar cottage included energy efficiency and sustainability strategies across all divisions of construction, from the LEED concrete mixes to the custom designed bio-mass wood boiler hydronic heating system. The clients – a forestry consultant and an energy policy advocate – drove the design and construction of the project to be an extremely unique and functional building. Fundamentals of passive solar design and sun-tempering were the basis around which the major project parameters were established. The active space conditioning and domestic hot water is provided by a visible-flame architectural wood boiler, backed up by a bio-diesel boiler. Other features include decorative polished concrete slab floors; locally-sourced hybrid timber frame components; custom sawn northern white cedar beveled siding; oak stair treads sourced from the property; heart pine flooring for Fall River mill timbers; super-insulated assemblies with cellulose and insulated sheathing; and reclaimed, restored lighting and plumbing fixtures.

landscape design outdoor stone in South Florida by Matthew Giampietro
Design ideas for a mid-sized asian front yard stone driveway in Miami.

For more than seventy-five years, Thermador has been the industry leader in home and commercial cooktops, refrigeration systems, dishwashers, and other major appliances. Always a source of innovation, this legendary company has been empowering cooks at every level to cook better, faster, and cleaner for the better part of a century. In that time, they've pioneered major breakthroughs, including the first wall oven to speed-cooking ovens. And that legacy of excellence and inventiveness hasn't been diminished with time.

We turned a small unused room in the back of this house into a playroom for young children. Highlights include custom photo wallpaper (which is adhesive backed and can be peeled away without wall damage), a custom book wall and a wall system allowing easy rotation of kids' art. Credit: Maddie G Designs

Floating wood and smooth stucco entry wall with stainless mounted address numbers. Decorative gravel in custom modular concrete pads. Contemporary wood bench. Dry stream bed with natural river rock boulders offsets the tight geometry of the entry. Xeriscape drought tolerant landscape plants with succulents, native grasses and shrubs. Plants include Kangaroo Paw, Agave Attenuata, Coleonema 'Sunset', Agave 'Blue Glow', Pennisetum 'Fireworks', Cercidium 'Desert Museum', Salvia Gregii, Escallonia Fradesii, Festuca Glauca, and several varieties of Echeveria. Photos by Dominic Masiello. Plants sourced from budgetplants.com.

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

This project was a major renovation on one of Baltimore’s CHAP homes. Our team restored the iconic Baltimore storefront windows, matched original hardwood throughout the home, and refinished and preserved the original handrailing on the staircase. On the first floor, we created an open concept kitchen and dining space with beautiful natural light, leading out to an outdoor patio. We are honored to have received Baltimore Heritage’s Historic Preservation Award for Restoration and Rehabilitation in 2019 for our work on this home.

This project was a major renovation on one of Baltimore’s CHAP homes. Our team restored the iconic Baltimore storefront windows, matched original hardwood throughout the home, and refinished and preserved the original handrailing on the staircase. On the first floor, we created an open concept kitchen and dining space with beautiful natural light, leading out to an outdoor patio. We are honored to have received Baltimore Heritage’s Historic Preservation Award for Restoration and Rehabilitation in 2019 for our work on this home.

Our client is a geologist and has a love for natural stone. We sourced this beautiful onyx slab to be the shower splash, giving this Master Ensuite a major statement as well as personalizing the space for our client. Photographer: Janis Nicolay

Master bath. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.
Example of a mid-sized trendy master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor walk-in shower design in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, an undermount tub, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, a drop-in sink, granite countertops and gray countertops

We completely renovated this 1910 arts and crafts style bungalow to retain the original charm of the house, yet update it with modern functionality and amenities. The existing baths and kitchen were in need of major updates. Thus, we were able to add on to the kitchen and update it with a new apron farmhouse sink, custom cabinetry, and modern appliances, including a fun Ruby Red Blue Star range. The bathrooms were reconfigured and re-tiled using materials appropriate for the original era. We sourced arts and crafts style stained glass windows from the 1910 era to create additional charm for the bathroom as well as privacy. The original hardwood floors throughout the house were salvaged and refinished. The original windows were previously replaced. Thus, we specified new windows for the house that are reminiscent to the original windows.

This project was a major renovation on one of Baltimore’s CHAP homes. Our team restored the iconic Baltimore storefront windows, matched original hardwood throughout the home, and refinished and preserved the original handrailing on the staircase. On the first floor, we created an open concept kitchen and dining space with beautiful natural light, leading out to an outdoor patio. We are honored to have received Baltimore Heritage’s Historic Preservation Award for Restoration and Rehabilitation in 2019 for our work on this home.

These clients spent the majority of their time outside and entertained frequently, but their existing patio space didn't allow for larger gatherings. We added nearly 500 square feet to the already 225 square feet existing to create this expansive outdoor living room. The outdoor fireplace is see-thru and can fully convert to wood burning should the clients desire. Beyond the fireplace is a spa built in on two sides with a composite deck, LED step lighting, and outdoor rated TV, and additional counter space. The outdoor grilling area mimics the interior of the clients home with a kitchen island and space for dining. Heaters were added in ceiling and mounted to walls to create additional heat sources. To capture the best lighting, our clients enhanced their space with lighting in the overhangs, underneath the benches adjacent the fireplace, and recessed cans throughout. Audio/Visual details include an outdoor rated TV by the spa, Sonos surround sound in the main sitting area, the grilling area, and another landscape zone by the spa. The lighting and audio/visual in this project is also fully automated. To bring their existing area and new area together for ultimate entertaining, the clients remodeled their exterior breakfast room wall by removing three windows and adding an accordion door with a custom retractable screen to keep bugs out of the home. For landscape, the existing sod was removed and synthetic turf installed around the entirety of the backyard area along with a small putting green. Selections: Flooring - 2cm porcelain paver Kitchen/island: Fascia is ipe. Counters are 3cm quartzite Dry Bar: Fascia is stacked stone panels. Counter is 3cm granite. Ceiling: Painted tongue and groove pine with decorative stained cedar beams. Additional Paint: Exterior beams painted accent color (do not match existing house colors) Roof: Slate Tile Benches: Tile back, stone (bullnose edge) seat and cap

Beach style kitchen photo in Portland Maine

Deck - contemporary deck idea in Vancouver with a fire pit, decking and no cover

Example of a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room design in New York with beige walls and no fireplace

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder gray dogwood / Cornus racemosa

For more than seventy-five years, Thermador has been the industry leader in home and commercial cooktops, refrigeration systems, dishwashers, and other major appliances. Always a source of innovation, this legendary company has been empowering cooks at every level to cook better, faster, and cleaner for the better part of a century. In that time, they've pioneered major breakthroughs, including the first wall oven to speed-cooking ovens. And that legacy of excellence and inventiveness hasn't been diminished with time.

For more than seventy-five years, Thermador has been the industry leader in home and commercial cooktops, refrigeration systems, dishwashers, and other major appliances. Always a source of innovation, this legendary company has been empowering cooks at every level to cook better, faster, and cleaner for the better part of a century. In that time, they've pioneered major breakthroughs, including the first wall oven to speed-cooking ovens. And that legacy of excellence and inventiveness hasn't been diminished with time.