Contrasting heavy timber against concrete and steel, this barn combines modern and traditional methods of construction. An honest and simple interior tells the story of how the building was made. The structure has a stair tower capped with a light-shaft that reaches past the roof with views to the sky. Varied spatial volumes are integral to this experience of the building, and the landscape playfully joins in this expression, undulating up and down.

Family/entertainment space with oak casework and matt charcoal concrete floor. Glass sliding doors open to the patio and garden. The concrete floor outside has the same hue as the interior one but the texture is more pronounced to prevent slipping. Photos by Scott Hargis.

Mali Azima
Living room - large transitional open concept light wood floor living room idea in Atlanta with white walls

http://alangastelum.com
Inspiration for a small eclectic master multicolored tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub remodel in New York with a wall-mount sink, a two-piece toilet and multicolored walls

Iran Watson
Bedroom - mid-sized transitional master carpeted and blue floor bedroom idea in Atlanta with blue walls

Example of a 1960s family room design in San Francisco

Edible, sustainable, colorful, children and play-oriented garden, maximizing recycling, grey water, space and functions, all organic methods, xeriscape/extremely drought tolerant plantings.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Alcove bathtub - mid-sized contemporary 3/4 blue tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile alcove bathtub idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

Inspiration for a small industrial gender-neutral playroom remodel in Omaha with beige walls

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

Play room storage maximized with oversized shelving. Great use of striped bins, IKEA baskets, plastic bins and chalk board labels.
Playroom - traditional gender-neutral playroom idea in St Louis

Michael Moran Studio
Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in New York

Scott Amundson
Example of a mid-sized beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, an island, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, a farmhouse sink, quartzite countertops and stainless steel appliances

Small elegant gray one-story mixed siding gable roof photo in Charleston

Jim LaSala
Inspiration for a contemporary dark wood floor dining room remodel in New York with gray walls and no fireplace

Edible, sustainable, colorful, children and play-oriented garden, maximizing recycling, grey water, space and functions, all organic methods, xeriscape/extremely drought tolerant plantings.

Edible, sustainable, colorful, children and play-oriented garden, maximizing recycling, grey water, space and functions, all organic methods, xeriscape/extremely drought tolerant plantings.

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Philadelphia