The home features high clerestory windows and a welcoming front porch, nestled between beautiful live oaks.
Mid-sized farmhouse gray one-story stone and board and batten exterior home idea in Dallas with a metal roof and a gray roof

Lisa Bauer
Craft room - traditional freestanding desk craft room idea in Louisville with gray walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2016 Houzz
Example of a large trendy rooftop rooftop outdoor kitchen deck design in New York with no cover

Modern pergola on Chicago rooftop deck. Minimal materials used and clean lines define the space and pergola. Lounge seating under retractable mesh shade panels on a track system. Roof deck materials are composite and built on frame system. Contemporary rooftop deck. Bradley Foto, Chris Bradley

The mixture of textures and patterns in the apartment give it a contemporary feel while highlighting the traditional roots: in exposed brick and wood beams. Tied in with sleek furniture and an apropos floor rug, we can't imagine a better way to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City than in this chic oasis. Designer: Sally Rigg - http://www.riggnyc.com

Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room design in Denver with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Example of a trendy living room design in Los Angeles with white walls

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Orange County

Jeff Amram Photography www.jeffamram.com
Example of a classic bedroom design in Portland with gray walls

A perfect place to lounge on a warm, sunny day. A custom teak sectional, pillows and a coffee table make this space functional and complete.
Example of a minimalist rooftop rooftop deck design in Los Angeles

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

JC Buck
Trendy freestanding desk study room photo in Denver with white walls

Given the efficient size of the home, the first floor is wide open. The traditional living room was eliminated leaving a dining room at the front, kitchen literally in the center of the space, and family room at the rear. Natural daylight floods in from the large front and back windows, along with light from the skylight atop of the centrally located stairwell. The kitchen cabinets, made from reclaimed wood, have naturalistic grooves align with adjacent cabinet fronts. http://www.kipnisarch.com Cable Photo/Wayne Cable http://selfmadephoto.com

This is the home's office space. The large picture window at the second floor makes this room feel like a tree fort! Reclaimed wood paneling on the back wall flows up to the ceiling. http://www.kipnisarch.com Photo by Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Study room - contemporary built-in desk dark wood floor study room idea in New York with blue walls

This rooftop garden on Manhattan's Upper East Side features an ipe pergola and fencing that provides both shade and privacy to a seating area. Plantings include spiral junipers and boxwoods in terra cotta and Corten steel planters. Wisteria vines grow up custom-built lattices. See more of our projects at www.amberfreda.com.

Mark LaRosa
Mid-sized trendy rooftop rooftop deck container garden photo in New York with no cover

Nightshot of this beautiful rooftop in Chicago's Bucktown area. Water, fire and friends is all this rooftop needs to complete one of the cities nicest and private rooftop. Photos by: Tyrone Mitchell Photography

Backyard Deck Design
Mid-sized trendy backyard ground level deck photo in Los Angeles with a pergola