Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
Example of a mid-sized 1960s gray one-story mixed siding gable roof design in DC Metro

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

Reeded-glass doors and warm metallic pulls add texture to the new dark wood cabinetry beside the fireplace. Paired with a quartz countertop, the cabinets provide practical living room storage while complementing the transitional finishes of this Old Oaks Street remodel.

Freestanding bathtub - contemporary stone slab freestanding bathtub idea in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets

The chef station on Howard Street made professional use of the galley space. Therador appliances in stainless steel with a pot filler over the stove and a professional range hood make this kitchen practical and dreamy.

Fun wallpaper, furniture in bright colorful accents, and spectacular views of New York City. Our Oakland studio gave this New York condo a youthful renovation: Designed by Oakland interior design studio Joy Street Design. Serving Alameda, Berkeley, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Piedmont, and San Francisco. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/

Photo and Construction by Kaufman Construction
Small transitional galley light wood floor utility room photo with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, gray walls and a stacked washer/dryer

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

A room that creates waves! with a jack and jill bathroom and a sail for a headboard this room is both fun and practical! To create your design for a Lancaster floor plan, please go visit https://www.gomsh.com/plans/two-story-home/lancaster/ifp

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

Galley kitchen - BlueStar range, Neolith countertops, Santos dimensional rhomboid backsplash tile Photo Credit: Nicolas Gutierrez
Minimalist kitchen photo in San Francisco

Photography by Nathan Webb, AIA
Inspiration for a modern courtyard patio container garden remodel in DC Metro with decking and no cover

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal and enclosed carpeted and beige floor living room remodel in Dallas with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue

We gave this charming Bay Area home a refreshing update and small remodel. For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to swap out their double oven for something smaller and more practical. To cater to such a change, we were able to design and build a brand new kitchen island! Not only did this open up previously used space but also provided much needed counter space and additional cabinets — plus it was a great place to add bold black accent hues! New lighting and a simple marble backsplash tied the entire space together. The living and dining areas also needed a little updating, so we added built-ins, colorful wallpaper and chairs, and a new statement light fixture to tie it all together. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/portfolio/florence-avenue