All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Fabulous Fillers - During reupholstery, our artisans will strip away all of the existing filling and replace it with your choice of high-quality foam, feather or down. Our designers will carefully guide you through the options and help you select the perfect thickness and density for optimal comfort and durability.

This Transitional Whole Home Remodel required that the interior of the home be gutted in order to create the open concept kitchen / great room. The floors, walls and roofs were all reinsulated. The exterior was also updated with new stucco, paint and roof. Note the craftsman style front door in black! We also updated the plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The location and size of the new windows were all optimized for lighting. Adding to the homes new look are Louvered Shutters on all of the windows. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their NEW home! The kitchen features white shaker cabinet doors and Torquay Cambria countertops. White subway tile is warmed by the Dark Oak Wood floor. The home office space was customized for the homeowners. It features white shaker style cabinets and a custom built-in desk to optimize space and functionality. The master bathroom features DeWils cabinetry in walnut with a shadow gray stain. The new vanity cabinet was specially designed to offer more storage. The stylistic niche design in the shower runs the entire width of the shower for a modernized and clean look. The same Cambria countertop is used in the bathrooms as was used in the kitchen. "Natural looking" materials, subtle with various surface textures in shades of white and gray, contrast the vanity color. The shower floor is Stone Cobbles while the bathroom flooring is a white concrete looking tile, both from DalTile. The Wood Looking Shower Tiles are from Arizona Tile. The hall or guest bathroom features the same materials as the master bath but also offers the homeowners a bathtub. The laundry room has white shaker style custom built in tall and upper cabinets. The flooring in the laundry room matches the bathroom flooring.

Front door - small traditional front door idea in New Orleans with white walls and a glass front door

Solar Shades - Engineered from mesh fabric which blocks UV rays and heat gain, Solar Shades enable you to view out easily while also providing privacy looking inward. Our interior designers will help guide you through the option to help find the correct color, optimal sheerness level and perfect valance top treatment.

Douglas Hill
Inspiration for a mediterranean backyard patio remodel in Los Angeles with a fire pit and a pergola

Window boxes can be mounted outside of deck rails, so they extend the deck space, instead of reducing the footprint. Photo by Steve Masley
Example of an eclectic deck design in San Francisco

In collaboration with Green Hammer, this forested lot in the West Hills achieved the goals of increased daylight, improved energy efficiency, and optimized functionality through a series of mindful space planning, finish, and fixture decisions. By re-orienting the split level stair circulation, individual yet interconnected spaces were clearly defined, while celebrating the home’s connection to its natural setting.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

Beautiful drapery from a local artist friend. Photo: Keri Oberly
Inspiration for a small contemporary built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls and no fireplace

Why Motorized? Rather than fussing with unsightly, hard-to-use and dangerous window shade cords, our ultra-reliable motors enable you to operate your shades with the touch of a button. Motorized blinds are perfect for those hard to reach windows behind tubs or high above the floor, and also for those heavy window treatments like large draperies. Finally you can quickly and easily adjust all the shades in your home throughout the day for optimal privacy, light control and thermal insulation.

All products are custom made. Available in different fabrics and colors (extruded aluminum and cold-formed steel). Accordion shutters also available. Our gates and shutters are designed for privacy and protection. They are built with extruded aluminum for added protection and durability. Traditional gates and shutters are typically built with steel. Aluminum is more aesthetically pleasing and offers maximum security. Roller gates and shutters are useful throughout the year for privacy, security, and protection from the sun. Many clients install roller gates and shutters over doors and windows. Roller gates and shutters are optimal for hurricane protection and energy saving. They are easy to use and can be raised or lowered with the push of a button. All gates and shutters are custom designed and are available in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors (extruded or foam-filled). • Optional: Tension pins to prevent forced entry. • Optional: Vent holes in slats are optional for ventilation.

Example of a mid-sized transitional detached two-car garage design in Santa Barbara

By Design "I WANT THAT" Wednesday feature of the week . . . LOVE having an outdoor kitchen but DON'T want to see it all the time? Here's a way to have it when you need it and hide it when you don't!