This green custom home is a sophisticated blend of rustic and refinement. Everything about it was purposefully planned for a couple committed to living close to the earth and following a lifestyle of comfort in simplicity. Affectionately named "The Idea Farm," for its innovation in green and sustainable building practices, this home was the second new home in Minnesota to receive a Gold Rating by MN GreenStar. Todd Buchanan Photography

LEED Platinum rated home with a compact backyard featuring California native meadow grass, grey water irrigation, extended eaves and custom-crafted redwood shade overhangs sized and optimized specifically for the Silicon Valley climate. High Performance Living in Silicon Valley. One Sky Homes Designs and Builds the healthiest, most comfortable and energy balanced homes on the planet. Passive House and Zero Net Energy standards for both new and existing homes.

"Net-Zero" home by WoodCraft Building. This home is rated to generate as much energy as it uses and will cost "zero" dollars to operate. Winner of the 2013 Earth Advantage Green Home Builder, 2013 Energy Star Home of the Year, and 2013 COBA Green Building Award.

#1 Home Staging company! High end furnishings, Aspen Home Staging highlights comfort and luxury to your discriminating client.
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room remodel in Denver

We recently took a trip into Philadelphia to install a GENNIUS retractable awning system onto a rooftop penthouse patio. Normally people think that awnings are just for suburban backyards, but that’s not the case! This retractable, pergola-style awning provides on-demand protection from sun & rain with a 55 mph wind rating. Now, this roof deck has a great view of the city with added shade, ensuring that these homeowners can spend more time outside comfortably.

We recently took a trip into Philadelphia to install a GENNIUS retractable awning system onto a rooftop penthouse patio. Normally people think that awnings are just for suburban backyards, but that’s not the case! This retractable, pergola-style awning provides on-demand protection from sun & rain with a 55 mph wind rating. Now, this roof deck has a great view of the city with added shade, ensuring that these homeowners can spend more time outside comfortably.

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/

soothing beach colors create a comfortable casual space
Beach style home design photo in Houston

This green custom home is a sophisticated blend of rustic and refinement. Everything about it was purposefully planned for a couple committed to living close to the earth and following a lifestyle of comfort in simplicity. Affectionately named "The Idea Farm," for its innovation in green and sustainable building practices, this home was the second new home in Minnesota to receive a Gold Rating by MN GreenStar. Todd Buchanan Photography

LEED Platinum rated home with a compact backyard featuring California native meadow grass, grey water irrigation, extended eaves and custom-crafted redwood shade overhangs sized and optimized specifically for the Silicon Valley climate. High Performance Living in Silicon Valley. One Sky Homes Designs and Builds the healthiest, most comfortable and energy balanced homes on the planet. Passive House and Zero Net Energy standards for both new and existing homes.

Close-up of Steelcase chairs. Sheepskin throws added to soften industrial edge to the look. These chairs are the most comfortable I have ever sat in. The ergonomic design is first rate. The quality is amazing. Each chair weights approximately 75 lbs. Photographer: Jared Olmsted / www.jodesigns.ca

The rear exterior view of the home is layered with amenities which include a full summer kitchen with grill and smoke, storage drawers, mini fridge, double sinks, and beer tap. Comfortable barstools line the bar ready entertaining, with poolside lounge furniture strategically placed on the lanai for optimal comfort and flow.

Inspiration for a large coastal master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom remodel in Los Angeles with gray walls and no fireplace

This green custom home is a sophisticated blend of rustic and refinement. Everything about it was purposefully planned for a couple committed to living close to the earth and following a lifestyle of comfort in simplicity. Affectionately named "The Idea Farm," for its innovation in green and sustainable building practices, this home was the second new home in Minnesota to receive a Gold Rating by MN GreenStar. Todd Buchanan Photography

The Legacy™ S260 is designed with convenience and high-heating capacity in mind. Blending outstanding heating with unique styling, the Legacy boasts a large firebox for easy loading and the ability to heat up to 2,500 square feet. The unique T-top design provides greater heat output than conventional flat-top stoves. And to add your distinctive style, the Legacy can be customized with options for a perfect, personalized appearance. Aesthetics Unique, integral airwash system keeps the glass clean and clear for a wide-open view of the fire. Constructed from premium materials, like heavy-gauge stainless steel, for dependable performance and striking appearance. Comfort Ceramic-fiber blanket utilizes technology developed by NASA that has 10 times the insulation value of firebrick, radiating heat back into the firebox and creating higher efficiencies and cleaner gas. Uniquely designed refractory baffle assists in igniting fuel-rich gases, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. Stainless steel afterburner tubes mix oxygen with unburned gases and smoke to create a secondary burn, lowering fuel costs. Heavy-duty door contains no nuts or washers, forming a 360° seal for long-lasting durability. EPA Phase II-certified for clean and efficient operation. Ease of Operation Singular draft control for simple operation and burn rate adjustment. Design Versatility Five unique door finishes and a choice of glass styling options. Pedestal or leg choices provide customization for personalized styling preference. *Square-feet heating capacities are approximations only. Actual performance may vary depending upon home design and insulation, ceiling heights, climate, condition and type of wood used, appliance location, burn rate, accessories chosen, chimney installation and how the appliance is operated.

Small master beige floor bedroom photo in Houston with gray walls

Large impacted-rated windows allow nearly unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway Margaret Wright Photography
Example of a trendy open concept light wood floor family room design in Charleston with white walls

LEED Platinum rated home with a compact backyard featuring California native meadow grass, grey water irrigation, extended eaves and custom-crafted redwood shade overhangs sized and optimized specifically for the Silicon Valley climate. High Performance Living in Silicon Valley. One Sky Homes Designs and Builds the healthiest, most comfortable and energy balanced homes on the planet. Passive House and Zero Net Energy standards for both new and existing homes.

Our client requested a design that reflected their need to renovate their dated bathroom into a transitional floor plan that would provide accessibility and function. The new shower design consists of a pony wall with a glass enclosure that has beautiful details of brushed nickel square glass clamps. The interior shower fittings entail geometric lines that lend a contemporary finish. A curbless shower and linear drain added an extra dimension of accessibility to the plan. In addition, a balance bar above the accessory niche was affixed to the wall for extra stability. The shower area also includes a folding teak wood bench seat that also adds to the comfort of the bathroom as well as to the accessibility factors. Improved lighting was created with LED Damp-location rated recessed lighting. LED sconces were also used to flank the Robern medicine cabinet which created realistic and flattering light. Designer: Marie Cairns Contractor: Charles Cairns Photographer: Michael Andrew