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.

Hafele Lemans corner storage unit provides flexible storage for pots and pans close to the range. Kate Falconer Photography
Mid-sized beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor and yellow floor open concept kitchen photo with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a mountain style exterior home design

Patio - transitional patio idea in Los Angeles

Vaulted ceilings allow for a two-story great room with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer plenty of natural light and a 50-inch fireplace keeps the space cozy.

Walk-in closet - small traditional gender-neutral medium tone wood floor walk-in closet idea in DC Metro with raised-panel cabinets and white cabinets

This semi-custom kitchen remodel blends timeless style with thoughtful functionality. Frosty White CRP-10 cabinetry sets a clean, classic tone, enhanced by applied panels that add depth and a refined, cohesive finish. A richly stained cherry island with a large farmhouse-style sink brings warmth and character, creating a striking yet balanced contrast.

Mid-sized trendy u-shaped slate floor open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, wood countertops, multicolored backsplash, black appliances, a peninsula, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, ceramic backsplash and beige countertops

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Los Angeles

Eclectic medium tone wood floor living room photo in New York with a bar and white walls

Inspiration for a transitional mudroom remodel in Boston with white walls

A beautiful, clean, cool, classic, white Master Bath. Interior Design by Ashley Whittaker.
Small elegant master white tile mosaic tile floor bathroom photo in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, an undermount tub, white walls, raised-panel cabinets and white countertops

Trendy bathroom photo in Chicago

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, white appliances, an island and black countertops

Photographer: Angie Seckinger | Interior: Cameron Ruppert Interiors | Builder: Thorsen Construction
Elegant bedroom photo in DC Metro

We were contacted by a home owner in Playa Vista who had just purchased a home with a relatively small yard. They wanted to explore our services of how we could maximize space and turn their back yard into an area that was warm, welcoming, and had multiple uses / purposes. We integrated a modern cedar deck with a built in hot tub, created a nice perimeter planter with hedges that will continue to grow to add privacy, installed awesome concrete pavers and of course... you cant forget the ambient outdoor string lights. This project turned out stunning and we would love to assist you on any project you might be looking to embark on in the near future.

Transitional dark wood floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with white walls

Small space living solutions are used throughout this contemporary 596 square foot tiny house. Adjustable height table in the entry area serves as both a coffee table for socializing and as a dining table for eating. Curved banquette is upholstered in outdoor fabric for durability and maximizes space with hidden storage underneath the seat. Kitchen island has a retractable countertop for additional seating while the living area conceals a work desk and media center behind sliding shoji screens. Calming tones of sand and deep ocean blue fill the tiny bedroom downstairs. Glowing bedside sconces utilize wall-mounting and swing arms to conserve bedside space and maximize flexibility.

Example of a minimalist u-shaped concrete floor, gray floor and wood ceiling kitchen design in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops