Inspiration for a transitional galley medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a large two-story wood exterior home design in Dallas

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for a farmhouse landscaping in New York.

Inspiration for a small modern single-wall dark wood floor kitchen pantry remodel in Edmonton with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Interior Design: Pamela Pennington Studios. Photo Credit: Eric Zepeda
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized classic backyard partial sun water fountain deck design in Los Angeles with decking and no cover

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

475 linear feet of permanent lighting wraps entirely around this expansive home in Northern Colorado to create a beautiful, luminous vision from any angle.

Large minimalist open concept light wood floor dining room photo in Perth with gray walls, a plaster fireplace and a ribbon fireplace

Mid-sized trendy master brown tile white floor and concrete floor open shower photo in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a two-piece toilet and an integrated sink

The outdoor sundeck leads off of the indoor living room and is centered between the outdoor dining and outdoor living room. The 3 distinct spaces all serve a unique purpose and flow together and from inside to outside. String lights hung over this sundeck bring a fun and festive air to the back deck.

Nick Ryan
Large transitional backyard outdoor kitchen deck photo in New York with no cover

gray is the new beige!!! These wide planks with varying shades of gray can pair so nicely with gray tones or beige tones...or both!
Eat-in kitchen - large traditional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray cabinets

This project combines high end earthy elements with elegant, modern furnishings. We wanted to re invent the beach house concept and create an home which is not your typical coastal retreat. By combining stronger colors and textures, we gave the spaces a bolder and more permanent feel. Yet, as you travel through each room, you can't help but feel invited and at home.

475 linear feet of permanent lighting wraps entirely around this expansive home in Northern Colorado to create a beautiful, luminous vision from any angle.

Photo: Angela Flournoy © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic bathroom photo in Dallas

Open Homes Photography
Kitchen - transitional u-shaped kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances