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/

1st Place, National Design Award Winning Kitchen. Remodeling in Warwick, NY. From a dark, un-inspiring kitchen (see before photos), to a bright, white, custom kitchen. Dark wood floors, white carrera marble counters, solid wood island-table and much more. Photos - Ken Lauben

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photo: Susan Gilmore Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless white two-story wood gable roof remodel in Minneapolis with a shingle roof

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless attached two-car carport remodel

Photo: Jane Vorbrodt © 2015 Houzz
Elegant staircase photo in Vancouver

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photo: Susan Gilmore Photography
Classic screened-in side porch idea in Minneapolis with a roof extension

To pass our country's building codes customers must be given a functioning bath and kitchen even if they are not complete, SEI made sure that our customer was happy with the starter bath and kitchen that was afforded.

Example of a minimalist galley concrete floor and gray floor utility room design in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood countertops and a concealed washer/dryer

Continue your indoor tile to your exterior living spaces with the R11 Tile finish. To be certified as R11 Tile, a tile must pass an internationally recognized analysis showing that a person can maintain balance while standing on the wet tile at an incline of up to 27 degrees.

The upstairs bathroom (which serves all 5 bedrooms) was small, difficult to use and poorly laid out. To preserve the original layout of the house, we opted to reconfigure within the existing footprint and remove an unused utility chimney that divided the sink and tub. We reorganized the bathroom to fit two sinks in a period style cabinet, which was a must for this busy household. The existing clawfoot tub was sand-blasted and re-enameled before being placed in front of the window. With the new configuration, we were able to successfully maintain the small footprint and historic character of the bath.

Aaron Dougherty Photography
Example of a large minimalist master gray tile and stone tile limestone floor freestanding bathtub design in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and white walls

Liquid Assets Pools has been named an Elite Builder for Pebble Technology International. That makes the company one of just two Elite Builders in the entire metro St. Louis area. To become an Elite Builder, applicators must pass a 27-step process and with this certification, it ensures pool buyers can know they're getting the best finish, installed by the best finishers in the area.

Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in New York with white walls

Kristy Yates
Inspiration for a rustic deck remodel with decking

Home design - coastal home design idea in Minneapolis

Large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Newly remodeled kitchen. 5 1/2' Undermount Galley Sink with an induction cooktop beside the sink. Cabinets are by UltraCraft. Kitchen design by: www.kitchendesign.com Photos by: www.photomementos.com

Mario Peixoto Photography
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped vinyl floor eat-in kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, a peninsula and glass-front cabinets