Sunshades allow you to keep the view while reducing heat and glare. The light-filtering qualities of our sunshades include: Diffused light Reduced glare Reduced heat transfer Minimized UV ray penetration, which helps protect your wood floors and furniture

A key feature in the home’s energy efficiency is the use of the sun. Architect Christopher Briley designed the roof cutouts in the south-facing porch to capture the sun’s rays but angled them to let in the warm winter sun (which is lower in the sky) while blocking the hot, penetrating summer sun (which is higher in the sky). Photo by John W. Hession

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

The unique opportunity and challenge for the Joshua Tree project was to enable the architecture to prioritize views. Set in the valley between Mummy and Camelback mountains, two iconic landforms located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, this lot “has it all” regarding views. The challenge was answered with what we refer to as the desert pavilion. This highly penetrated piece of architecture carefully maintains a one-room deep composition. This allows each space to leverage the majestic mountain views. The material palette is executed in a panelized massing composition. The home, spawned from mid-century modern DNA, opens seamlessly to exterior living spaces providing for the ultimate in indoor/outdoor living. Project Details: Architecture: Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ // C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB // www.drewettworks.com Builder: Bedbrock Developers, Paradise Valley, AZ // http://www.bedbrock.com Interior Designer: Est Est, Scottsdale, AZ // http://www.estestinc.com Photographer: Michael Duerinckx, Phoenix, AZ // www.inckx.com

Add a vent to any Solatube for a cleaner look and less penetrations in your ceiling!

Transitional tile patio photo in New York with a pergola and a fireplace

This south facing space is seen looking back from the living family gathering area. On this December day the light penetrates deep into the space AND it is heating the house!

The figured maple has a lot of personality! The stained wooden pulls make a nice accent.
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room remodel in New York

Kitchen after. Diamond refinished, polished to high gloss and sealed with penetrating sealer

Freshly pulled from the form, our custom poured concrete vanity top is ready for some fine adjustments for proper draining, and a penetrating sealer/curing agent.

As the home cantilevered out over a hillside so did the plumbing, as it was installed exposed to the underbelly of the home. This resulted in significant air leakage in the floor from all the plumbing penetrations causing a significant and noticeable temperature drop in certain parts of the bathroom.

Here is the updated photograph, taken June 21 at 12:00pm (Summer Solstice), showing that the sun does NOT penetrate into the living space. The slab will now be under shade until approximately the Fall Equinox. If exposed to cool night air, the slab will decrease in temperature overnight. http://www.photographybylarryleigh.com/

Design by Mark Lind Project Management by Jon Strain Photo by Patrick Wong An extensively xeriscaped landscape plan for the entire lot includes a new system of berms designed to redirect floodwaters away from the house and to the creek in back. So as not to penetrate the berms at the street, an entirely new stepped entry element was created, with a large steel planter and stone walls that match the home’s exterior. A new drystack stone “arroyo” in front of the house acts as a backup flood control element, should an excessive amount of water ever penetrate the berms. An ipe’ and steel entry bridge spans the arroyo and provides pleasant access to the home’s glass and cypress front door. In order to provide shelter for arriving guests and shield the home’s entry from the blistering western sun, a new front porch structure was designed using wood posts comprised of four smaller individual posts bolted together. These in turn support a large glulam beam holding the fir roof structure, whose materials and detailing match the cover of the rear deck.

Note filter fabric under rock chips,; fabric installed to suppress vigorous weeds but allow water to penetrate. Chips were created by busting up a few of the thinnest rocks with a sledgehammer. This complimented boulders best while eliminating cost of buying bagged round gravel. Yuk.

Removing the wall between the kitchen and family room creates more area for family and guest interaction and allows more light to penetrate into the sunken family room.

Brushed on one coat of Sherwin Williams Solid color acrylic deck stain. *New wood is always primed on all sides before installation on solid stain projects.Decks are brushed to ensure proper penetration of product and uniformity of appearance.

Wall consisted of bookshleves and a spiral stair to second level. New stair construction to upper level, floor penetration and new stair underneath to lower level, expansion of landing at top of stair. Photo: Douglas Maahs

Tigerwood decking finished with a custom blend of WOCA Exterior Oil Teak & Natural. Chris Ball, Hardwood Oil Hawaii, http://www.hardwoodoilhawaii.com/

Every drawer has a purpose. Storage is plentiful, yet planning has allowed for room and space that all kitchen items have a home and all move in and out easily from that place.