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.

Large minimalist concrete floor and gray floor sunroom photo in Austin with a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace and a standard ceiling

Andrea Calo
Mid-sized 1960s galley brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, quartz countertops and orange countertops

Master Bedroom
Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in New York

Modern Transitional residence blending a tall white stucco gable with a slim vertical slot window and large format two story black steel frame glazing on the left against a lower hipped roof volume with grey stone panel base, dark asphalt shingle roof, shed dormers, and black bracket corbels on the right. A dark wood two-car garage door sits flush in the stone base beside a black steel frame glass entry door under a flat canopy.

With Designs such as the Gometric lines bedroom it is no wonder why Anna Tkacheva is the Winner of Tubadzin Design Awards. see more: http://bit.ly/2Svxbji

©2014 Maxine Schnitzer Photography
Mid-sized trendy marble floor bathroom photo in DC Metro with white walls

A machined hood, custom stainless cabinetry and exposed ducting harkens to a commercial vibe. The 5'x10' marble topped island wears many hats. It serves as a large work surface, tons of storage, informal seating, and a visual line that separates the eating and cooking areas. Photo by Lincoln Barber

Photo by Brent Moss
Example of a bedroom mountain style gender-neutral medium tone wood floor kids' bedroom design in Denver

Spacecrafters Photography
Entryway - craftsman green entryway idea in Minneapolis

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. The vertical grain fir ceilings were reclaimed, refinished, and reinstalled. The floors were a special epoxy blend to imitate terrazzo floors that were so popular during this period. The quartz countertops waterfall on both ends and the handmade tile accents the backsplash. Reclaimed light fixtures, hardware, and appliances put the finishing touches on this remodel. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios

Large rustic three-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Denver with a shed roof

Roger Wade Studio
Example of a mountain style living room design with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Kitchen - modern light wood floor kitchen idea in Boston with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, glass sheet backsplash and an island

A luxury residence in Vail, Colorado featuring wire-brushed Bavarian Oak wide-plank wood floors in a custom finish and reclaimed sunburnt siding on the ceiling. Arrigoni Woods specializes in wide-plank wood flooring, both recycled and engineered. Our wood comes from old-growth Western European forests that are sustainably managed. Arrigoni's uniquely engineered wood (which has the look and feel of solid wood) features a trio of layered engineered planks, with a middle layer of transversely laid vertical grain spruce, providing a solid core. This gorgeous mountain modern home was completed in the Fall of 2014. Using only the finest of materials and finishes, this home is the ultimate dream home. Photographer: Kimberly Gavin

Mid-sized minimalist 3/4 gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and white floor alcove shower photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

Jon Encarnacion Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary master gray floor bathroom remodel in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, an undermount tub, white walls and an integrated sink

Open concept kitchen - large modern galley concrete floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, solid surface countertops, brown backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island