A solar home in need of the finishing touches included custom bedding and re-upholstery of the Homeowner's existing furniture. Roman shades were selected for their durability to help maintain the passive solar nature of the home. Fabric was concealed under a hinged wood valance for easy access for any necessary maintenance.

A solar home in need of the finishing touches included custom bedding and re-upholstery of the Homeowner's existing furniture. Roman shades were selected for their durability to help maintain the passive solar nature of the home. Fabric was concealed under a hinged wood valance for easy access for any necessary maintenance.

Kitchen by Trend Interior Design
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Tampa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Transitional light wood floor and beige floor family room photo in Grand Rapids with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a media wall

Ammirato Construction's use of K2's Pacific Ashlar thin veneer, is beautifully displayed on many of the walls of this property.
Example of a large mid-century modern gray two-story mixed siding exterior home design in San Francisco

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Milwaukee with a shed roof

The great room area is great indeed with large butt glass windows, the perfect sectional for lounging and a new twist on the fireplace with a sleek and modern design. One of the designer's favorite pieces is the lime green ottoman that makes a statement for function and decorative use. Ashton Morgan, By Design Interiors Photography: Daniel Angulo Builder: Flair Builders

Entryway and Stair in the Greenport Passive House. Photos by Liz Glasgow.
Entryway - mid-sized modern entryway idea in New York

Irvin Serrano
Example of a farmhouse gray floor mudroom design in Burlington with white walls

Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Boston with white walls and no tv

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes
Living room - small rustic open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Adjacent to a 40 acre conservation area, this house on a slope is designed to maximize the connection to the woods, while maintaining privacy from this popular public hiking area. Despite its location in a suburban neighborhood, the house is made to feel like a wooded retreat. With passive-solar strategies, the house orients northward to nature, while allowing the southerly sun to enter through large openings and clerestories. A geothermal system provides the hot water, heating and cooling.

Huge trendy open concept and formal concrete floor and gray floor living room photo in New York with beige walls

Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in Boston

The home is able to achieve passive house standards and take full advantage of the views with the use of Glo’s A7 triple pane windows and doors. The PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) certified series boasts triple pane glazing, a larger thermal break, high-performance spacers, and multiple air-seals. The large picture windows frame the landscape while maintaining comfortable interior temperatures year-round. The strategically placed operable windows throughout the residence offer cross-ventilation and a visual connection to the sweeping views of Utah. The modern hardware and color selection of the windows are not only aesthetically exceptional, but remain true to the mid-century modern design.

Photo-Jim Westphalen
Example of a mid-sized minimalist open concept and formal living room design in Other with white walls and no tv

The full gut renovation included new bedrooms and passive house doors and windows for a hyper-efficient renovation.
Urban girl light wood floor and beige floor kids' room photo in New York with white walls

Context After retiring from their careers in New Jersey, an active professional couple decided to move to Vermont to be closer to their family. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sensibly plan for the future by building a sunlit home in which they could comfortably age in place with predictable, low energy costs through the harsh Vermont winter. A spacious, open lot near a historic river village provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s favorite hobbies: gardening, woodworking, and yoga. The couple’s son, owner of Shelterwood Construction, would have the chance to showcase his meticulous craftsmanship in a home lovingly built for his parents. Response The home was built using very local natural materials that blend into the surrounding landscape. Cor-ten steel weathered clapboards transition from the earth to the wood clapboards above and the entire exterior has no finish, allowing the house to change and weather with the seasons. Many of the interior finishes, including the decorative stair wall, were made from locally-milled white pine that was harvested from the site. This certified Passive House is designed to be lived in for a lifetime with wheelchair accessibility, wide doorways, accessible fixtures, and everything the couple needs located on the main level. Framed by large south-facing windows, the light-filled main living area includes a lofted ceiling transected with a glass bridge that connects the guest bedrooms above and looks out onto the garden and fruit trees below. The attached barn, which creates a courtyard for gardens, houses a yoga studio and woodworking shop. With an ample array of solar panels and airtight construction to keep the heat in, the house is predicted to be net zero with no energy bills even in the coldest of Vermont winters. A Tesla Powerwall stores backup electricity for this all-electric home.