Elegant and energy efficient. This bathroom was part of a Net Zero Ready home that we recently built. Net Zero homes produce as much energy as they consume and are 80% more efficient than current homes built to code. To help reduce energy consumption in this bathroom, we installed low flow fixtures, LED lights in the mirrors and an ERV (energy recovery ventilator). Because less energy is required to lower the temperature of dry air compared to moist air, an ERV can reduce the work your air conditioner needs to do and save you money. It also brings in fresh air flow and help with humidity levels, improving overall health and air quality. Another great feature of this bathroom is the shower which has a large clear glass window. This allows for direct sunlight from the window to access the shower, while the patterned glass on the bathroom/vanity side still provides a level of privacy for the user. We’re certain that these clients will be enjoying many sunny mornings in this oasis.

Elegant and energy efficient. This bathroom was part of a Net Zero Ready home that we recently built. Net Zero homes produce as much energy as they consume and are 80% more efficient than current homes built to code. To help reduce energy consumption in this bathroom, we installed low flow fixtures, LED lights in the mirrors and an ERV (energy recovery ventilator). Because less energy is required to lower the temperature of dry air compared to moist air, an ERV can reduce the work your air conditioner needs to do and save you money. It also brings in fresh air flow and help with humidity levels, improving overall health and air quality. Another great feature of this bathroom is the shower which has a large clear glass window. This allows for direct sunlight from the window to access the shower, while the patterned glass on the bathroom/vanity side still provides a level of privacy for the user. We’re certain that these clients will be enjoying many sunny mornings in this oasis.

Elegant and energy efficient. This bathroom was part of a Net Zero Ready home that we recently built. Net Zero homes produce as much energy as they consume and are 80% more efficient than current homes built to code. To help reduce energy consumption in this bathroom, we installed low flow fixtures, LED lights in the mirrors and an ERV (energy recovery ventilator). Because less energy is required to lower the temperature of dry air compared to moist air, an ERV can reduce the work your air conditioner needs to do and save you money. It also brings in fresh air flow and help with humidity levels, improving overall health and air quality. Another great feature of this bathroom is the shower which has a large clear glass window. This allows for direct sunlight from the window to access the shower, while the patterned glass on the bathroom/vanity side still provides a level of privacy for the user. We’re certain that these clients will be enjoying many sunny mornings in this oasis.

Architect: Michelle Penn, AIA This is remodel & addition project of an Arts & Crafts two-story home. It included the Kitchen & Dining remodel and an addition of an Office, Dining, Mudroom & 1/2 Bath. The new Mudroom has a bench & hooks for coats and storage. The skylight and angled ceiling create an inviting and warm entry from the backyard. Photo Credit: Jackson Studios

Jerrica Zaric Interior Design, LLC transformed a Milwaukee client's spare bedroom into a full dressing room. This is a photograph of the entryway into the room. Cube storage, a closet rack and baskets simplify and organize the client's closet. Curtains hand painted by Jerrica Zaric Interior Design. Photo by: Ryan Hainey http://www.ryanhainey.com/

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Example of a classic exterior home design in New York

A bird's eye view allows a glimpse of the green roofs of the home, nestled into the treelines and overlooking the bay and small islands. Green roofs provide visual beauty from the roadway access on the top of the hill, and reduce the air conditioning load on the interior spaces in the home.

This new 1,700 sf two-story single family residence for a young couple required a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, packaged to fit unobtrusively in an older low-key residential neighborhood. The house is located on a small non-conforming lot. In order to get the maximum out of this small footprint, we virtually eliminated areas such as hallways to capture as much living space. We made the house feel larger by giving the ground floor higher ceilings, provided ample natural lighting, captured elongated sight lines out of view windows, and used outdoor areas as extended living spaces. To help the building be a “good neighbor,” we set back the house on the lot to minimize visual volume, creating a friendly, social semi-public front porch. We designed with multiple step-back levels to create an intimacy in scale. The garage is on one level, the main house is on another higher level. The upper floor is set back even further to reduce visual impact. By designing a single car garage with exterior tandem parking, we minimized the amount of yard space taken up with parking. The landscaping and permeable cobblestone walkway up to the house serves double duty as part of the city required parking space. The final building solution incorporated a variety of significant cost saving features, including a floor plan that made the most of the natural topography of the site and allowed access to utilities’ crawl spaces. We avoided expensive excavation by using slab on grade at the ground floor. Retaining walls also doubled as building walls.

The Ranch Pass Project consisted of architectural design services for a new home of around 3,400 square feet. The design of the new house includes four bedrooms, one office, a living room, dining room, kitchen, scullery, laundry/mud room, upstairs children’s playroom and a three-car garage, including the design of built-in cabinets throughout. The design style is traditional with Northeast turn-of-the-century architectural elements and a white brick exterior. Design challenges encountered with this project included working with a flood plain encroachment in the property as well as situating the house appropriately in relation to the street and everyday use of the site. The design solution was to site the home to the east of the property, to allow easy vehicle access, views of the site and minimal tree disturbance while accommodating the flood plain accordingly.

Revamping the pantry is a transformative project that elevates both form and function in the kitchen space. Introducing adjustable shelving and pull-out trays optimizes storage, making it easier to access and organize a variety of items. Customized storage solutions for spices, canned goods, and dry ingredients enhance efficiency and reduce clutter. Consideration of lighting, such as LED strips or motion-sensor lights, improves visibility and adds a modern touch. A fresh coat of paint or stylish wallpaper can breathe new life into the pantry, contributing to an overall aesthetic upgrade. Additionally, investing in a smart organization system, such as labeled bins or baskets, ensures everything has a designated place. Redoing the pantry is not just about practicality; it's an opportunity to create a well-organized, visually appealing space that enhances the overall kitchen experience.

Her side has a useful pull-out to store the hairdryer. The cord plugs-in inside the cabinet maintaining a clean look.
Large transitional master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor drop-in bathtub photo in Austin with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, an undermount sink, blue walls, a hinged shower door, beige countertops and a two-piece toilet

Made for distraction-free team meetings, this soundproof modular office fits four people comfortably while making efficient use of a small footprint. The QUAD can also be configured as a spacious single office by removing the included benches and table and adding the furniture of your choice. 5 × 7 ft footprint 3 power outlets: 1 USB, 1 USBC, 1 ethernet port Automatic motion-sensor light and fan saves energy Reduces sound by 26+ decibels Monitor-mount-ready Wheelchair accessible option Best price out there

- Exceeds Air tightness requirements of Passive House at .51 air changes per hour - 53.6 % more efficient than comparable new homes - In-floor heating using Warmboard to provide 16 different floor heating zones for ultimate comfort. - Air conditioning uses 2 Mitsubishi heat pumps that allow for 8 separate cooling zones. - Reduced-carbon lightweight limestone exterior cladding - Large outdoor patio over main floor garage. - Secondary suite for parents to age in place, including elevator for full home accessibility. - Private basement for hosting friends, visiting family, or exchange students

Made for distraction-free team meetings, this soundproof modular office fits four people comfortably while making efficient use of a small footprint. The QUAD can also be configured as a spacious single office by removing the included benches and table and adding the furniture of your choice. 5 × 7 ft footprint 3 power outlets: 1 USB, 1 USBC, 1 ethernet port Automatic motion-sensor light and fan saves energy Reduces sound by 26+ decibels Monitor-mount-ready Wheelchair accessible option Best price out there

Wooden paneling paired with hardwood floor gives this bedroom a rustic, beachy feel. We partnered with Jennifer Allison Design on this project. Her design firm contacted us to paint the entire house - inside and out. Images are used with permission. You can contact her at (310) 488-0331 for more information.

Although the front yard didn't allow much space for planting, a layered look was created by using Snow In Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) in the foreground, a mid-ground of Pink Breath of Heaven (Coleonema), and Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense 'Hine's Purple') surrounding Forest Pansy Canadian Redbud (Cercis). A vine arbor was built to conceal trash cans while providing convenient access. Photo: Billy Goodnick

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

A relatively new existing home on a steep downsloping lot where you park and enter at the upper floor needed to have a dramatic stairway entry. By refining and reducing structure and scale, introducing new glass railing and a combination of wood and white cabinetry, the space now expresses a clean, crisp aesthetic reflecting how the owners want to live. Working with German cabinets by Leicht the kitchen area was sculpted to create more usable cabinet pantry and counter area in a combination of white oak and gloss white lacquer paint. Final touches include a new porcelain tiled fireplace surround and hearth with gas insert and powder room with figured wall and floating walnut vanity. Previously partially blocked by cabinetry, now the new kitchen, dining and living rooms now all share equal access to dramatic views of the bay. Photo Credits: Treve Johnson.