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

For an 1890s-era property in Northborough, Massachusetts, we completely revitalized the kitchen to be a beautiful gathering spot for a busy family. The homeowners wanted to ensure the space paid homage to the heritage style of the home while maintaining an open and minimalist aesthetic. To that end, we removed all the wall cabinets and incorporated most of the storage in the base cabinets. The simple Shaker-style doors with brass hardware fit perfectly into the design, with the painted green and natural rustic walnut cabinets offering a gorgeous contrast to the white cabinets. To further transform the kitchen, we added more windows to the previously dark, enclosed space. The ceiling beams are reclaimed wood beams from a mill building in the area and complement the custom walnut butcher block and rustic walnut glass wall cabinet. Another unique feature is the weathered, matte soapstone finish of the black granite on the countertops rather than the more typical polished effect.

A garage conversion ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) is the process of transforming an existing garage space into a fully functional living unit. This conversion typically involves adding basic amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and living area, to create a comfortable, independent living space. It is a cost-effective way to add additional living space to a property, often used for rental income, guest housing, or as a private living area for family members.

John Cole Photography
Minimalist shed photo in DC Metro

The corner lot at the base of San Jacinto Mountain in the Vista Las Palmas tract in Palm Springs included an altered mid-century residence originally designed by Charles Dubois with a simple, gabled roof originally in the ‘Atomic Ranch’ style and sweeping mountain views to the west and south. The new owners wanted a comprehensive, contemporary, and visually connected redo of both interior and exterior spaces within the property. The project buildout included approximately 600 SF of new interior space including a new freestanding pool pavilion at the southeast corner of the property which anchors the new rear yard pool space and provides needed covered exterior space on the site during the typical hot desert days. Images by Steve King Architectural Photography

"big al" cement encaustic tile in federal blue/nautical blue/ white make a fascinating focal point within the clean lines of this updated kitchen by emily henderson. inspired by the grand palace located in Granada Spain, big al, takes this classic arabesque motif and gives it the grandeur befitting of this palatial estate. shop here: https://www.cletile.com/products/big-al-8x8-stock?variant=52702594886

Cathy Stancil Photography
This is an example of a transitional front yard landscaping in San Francisco.

A stunning rustic modern exterior blends organic materials and sleek design in this energy-efficient mountain retreat, showcasing sustainable construction and luxurious craftsmanship.

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Columbus with a fire pit

Photo by Grey Crawford
Example of a small beach style galley dark wood floor kitchen design in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black backsplash and no island

Sally Painter
Enclosed kitchen - craftsman u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Eat-in kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, solid surface countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Trendy bathroom photo in Chicago

Brett Zamore Design
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Houston with a roof extension and a bbq area

Photo: Marni Epstein-Mervis © 2018 Houzz
Pool - 1960s pool idea in Other

Photos By; Nate Grant
Design ideas for a contemporary side yard wood fence landscaping in Portland.

A perfect addition to your outdoor living is a seating wall surrounding a firepit. Cambridge Maytrx wall, Pyzique Fire Pit, Round table Pavers. Installed by Natural Green Landsacpe & Design in Lincoln, RI

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.

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Austin