This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

Powder room remodel. Walls are covered in textured wallpaper. Floating vanity creates illusion of more space. Modern shelving offers flexibility in artwork displays.

Reflecting the glamour of a bygone era, this faucet offers an elegant finishing touch for your kitchen sink. The high spout is designed to reach over the tallest pots, while the pullout sprayhead features a stream-to-spray touch-button for maximum flexibility. By KOHLER - available at Broedell Plumbing Supply

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

Light shelf unit instead of wall unit fronts. The shelves with integrated LED-lights lock into the live vertical aluminium supports in any chosen position. Thus the sophisticated AMBIENCE xtend-shelf unit offers flexibility and freedom of design. It can also be used as a room dividing architectural element.

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

Light shelf unit instead of wall unit fronts. The shelves with integrated LED-lights lock into the live vertical aluminium supports in any chosen position. Thus the sophisticated AMBIENCE xtend-shelf unit offers flexibility and freedom of design. It can also be used as a room dividing architectural element.

Inspiration for a mid-century modern kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

Blending various storage options, this system offers function for the whole family by holding seasonal essentials and providing easy access. • Lago® Siena finish lends a warm aesthetic. • Oil-rubbed bronze baskets offer easy storage for winter gear. • Pull-out rack for linen storage provides easy accessibility. • Pantry-style drawers offer visibility. • Adjustable shelves create flexibility for changing needs.

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

This finished lower-level space offers a clean, versatile layout designed for everyday use. Neutral finishes, soft carpeting, and recessed lighting create a bright, comfortable environment, while the open floor plan allows for flexibility—ideal for a living area, home office, or additional entertainment space.

We completely reconfigured this 2-level home in a Boston historic neighborhood to bring it to today’s style of living. The mechanical room was in the center of the lower level. We shifted its location along with nearly every other space in the home. It’s now a stunning, bright entertaining space. We selected beautiful furnishings that offer a fresh take on traditional. A complete new home – start to finish.

A bi-fold door offers flexibility with a convenient man-door panel, allowing easy access without fully opening each door panel.
Living room - large coastal open concept light wood floor living room idea in San Francisco with white walls

A revolutionary 'Single Track Design' that allows for unparalleled coverage, ease of deployment and unrelenting protection from both sun and rain. Custom designed and specified to an 1/8" offering flexible deployment on both existing and new structures. A fully framed retractable system built to withstand high winds and heavy rain.

Light shelf unit instead of wall unit fronts. The shelves with integrated LED-lights lock into the live vertical aluminium supports in any chosen position. Thus the sophisticated AMBIENCE xtend-shelf unit offers flexibility and freedom of design. It can also be used as a room dividing architectural element.