This gorgeous house in Short Hills, New Jersey had the feel of a cozy cottage in the woods, and a permanent exterior paint job featuring subtle, calming green colors matched the owners’ vision for their home. Before the exterior paint was applied, this home underwent an intense sanding process to remove the old paint. Then, the Rutgers team meticulously planned out and carefully executed a fresh application of permanent paint, which included the following colors: • Misted Green • White Dove • Classic Brown (door) • Mohegan Sage (shutters) We also applied the White Dove paint to the homeowners’ fence to ensure that it matched the house’s exterior. As with all of our projects, the permanent paint and technique used on this home is designed to last for years without chipping or losing its luster. Thanks to our warranties that can last up to twenty years, the owners of this house know that these beautiful colors are guaranteed to stand against time and weather conditions. See how permanent paint can bring out the best in your home by calling us today to schedule a free consultation.

Example of a mid-sized mountain style backyard concrete paver patio design in Richmond with a fire pit

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

Amanda Anderson Photography

Large arts and crafts l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Salt Lake City with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, yellow backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The rear terrace was created with retaining walls to allow for permanent plantings and a transition to the hill. David Dietrich Photographer

Boathouse with sundeck roof in Lake George New York. Permanent steel pile dock foundation.

Location: Hingham, MA, USA This newly constructed home in Hingham, MA was designed to openly embrace the seashore landscape surrounding it. The front entrance has a relaxed elegance with a classic plant theme of boxwood, hydrangea and grasses. The back opens to beautiful views of the harbor, with a terraced patio running the length of the house. The infinity pool blends seamlessly with the water landscape and splashes over the wall into the weir below. Planting beds break up the expanse of paving and soften the outdoor living spaces. The sculpture, made by a personal friend of the family, creates a stunning focal point with the open sky and sea behind. One side of the property was densely planted with large Spruce, Juniper and Birch on top of a 7' berm to provide instant privacy. Hokonechloa grass weaves its way around Annabelle Hydrangeas and Flower Carpet Roses. The other side had an existing stone stairway which was enhanced with a grove of Birch, hydrangea and Hakone grass. The Limelight Tree Hydrangeas and Boxwood offer a fresh welcome, while the Miscanthus grasses add a casual touch. The Stone wall and patio create a resting spot between rounds of tennis. The granite steps in the lawn allow for a comfortable transition up a steeper slope.

Cindy Apple Photography
Mid-sized minimalist u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and brown walls

Inspiration for a coastal staircase remodel in Charleston

Patio - concrete patio idea in San Luis Obispo with a fire pit

Example of a mid-sized farmhouse master black and white tile, white tile and subway tile ceramic tile drop-in bathtub design in Raleigh with furniture-like cabinets, black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Lake George Adirondacks Boat House with permanent pile dock foundation, two boat slips and a sundeck style roof. Our permanent pile dock serves as the foundation for this boathouse. The piles descend 14' into the lake and are pinned to ledge to support this boathouse in a deep and rough area of Lake George.

Mid-sized minimalist backyard stamped concrete patio kitchen photo in DC Metro with no cover

Kitchen - transitional bamboo floor and wood ceiling kitchen idea in Vancouver with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops and stainless steel appliances

The tub was eliminated in favor of a large walk-in shower featuring double shower heads, multiple shower sprays, a steam unit, two wall-mounted teak seats, a curbless glass enclosure and a minimal infinity drain. Additional floor space in the design allowed us to create a separate water closet. A pocket door replaces a standard door so as not to interfere with either the open shelving next to the vanity or the water closet entrance. We kept the location of the skylight and added a new window for additional light and views to the yard. We responded to the client’s wish for a modern industrial aesthetic by featuring a large metal-clad double vanity and shelving units, wood porcelain wall tile, and a white glass vanity top. Special features include an electric towel warmer, medicine cabinets with integrated lighting, and a heated floor. Industrial style pendants flank the mirrors, completing the symmetry. Photo: Peter Krupenye

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized craftsman open concept and u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Portland with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

This beautiful lanai needed some colorful outdoor permanent botanicals to accent the existing furniture. I designed the plantings and re-arranged some existing accessories to bring it together. In the corner is an artificial outdoor cycas palm underplanted with outdoor silk fuchsia bougainvillea.

Example of a classic galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and marble countertops