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.

SOLERA® Soft Shades ENERGY-EFFICIENT ROMAN SHADES WITH SCULPTURAL APPEAL Enjoy the timeless beauty of Roman shades with a contemporary twist. The fluid, unique look of Solera® Soft Shades is created by combining the soft folds of a classic Roman shade with the construction of a cellular shade. These cordless soft shades bring together soft, diaphanous folds of fabric with a cellular construction. The result? A striking soft window treatment that’s also energy-efficient. Smartly designed pockets trap air and keep your home warmer or cooler, depending on the season. Key Features Energy Efficiency—The cellular construction increases insulating properties and helps lower your energy consumption, ultimately reducing your heating and cooling bills. Fabrics & Colors—The Solera fabric collection is full of luxurious woven and innovative non-woven fabrics, colors, textures and patterns. To suit your needs, every fabric is available in both light-filtering and room-darkening opacities. Light Control—The Top-Down/Bottom-Up design option allows for versatile operation. All of your privacy needs are met, and you still have access to natural light. Sound Absorption—The insulating cellular construction can also improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside noise. LNG Blinds 19 Addison Pl Valley Stream, NY 11580 Call Us (516) 593-0044 #homesweethome #homedecor #lovemyhome #barenecessities #windows #instastyle #instadesign #interiordesign #blinds #privacy #embellishment #instahomes #propertyowner #renovation #customblindsbydesign #hunterdouglas #showcase #displays #windowtreatments #windowcoverings #shades #shutters #drapery #interiors #decor

SOLERA® Soft Shades ENERGY-EFFICIENT ROMAN SHADES WITH SCULPTURAL APPEAL Enjoy the timeless beauty of Roman shades with a contemporary twist. The fluid, unique look of Solera® Soft Shades is created by combining the soft folds of a classic Roman shade with the construction of a cellular shade. These cordless soft shades bring together soft, diaphanous folds of fabric with a cellular construction. The result? A striking soft window treatment that’s also energy-efficient. Smartly designed pockets trap air and keep your home warmer or cooler, depending on the season. Key Features Energy Efficiency—The cellular construction increases insulating properties and helps lower your energy consumption, ultimately reducing your heating and cooling bills. Fabrics & Colors—The Solera fabric collection is full of luxurious woven and innovative non-woven fabrics, colors, textures and patterns. To suit your needs, every fabric is available in both light-filtering and room-darkening opacities. Light Control—The Top-Down/Bottom-Up design option allows for versatile operation. All of your privacy needs are met, and you still have access to natural light. Sound Absorption—The insulating cellular construction can also improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside noise. LNG Blinds 19 Addison Pl Valley Stream, NY 11580 Call Us (516) 593-0044 #homesweethome #homedecor #lovemyhome #barenecessities #windows #instastyle #instadesign #interiordesign #blinds #privacy #embellishment #instahomes #propertyowner #renovation #customblindsbydesign #hunterdouglas #showcase #displays #windowtreatments #windowcoverings #shades #shutters #drapery #interiors #decor

The backyard of this house was a no-man’s land when the owners moved in. With little more than a few established trees and a big, noisy air-conditioning unit, the yard was an almost open canvas bordering the Los Padres National Forest in a high-fire zone. We installed a large infiltration swale to capture as much rainfall as possible from the house rain gutters, so the water can be stored in the soil where plants can access it, reducing the amount of irrigation this landscape needs. Plantings obscure the air-conditioning unit, and a water feature was installed so the sound of trickling water would drown-out its sound. The plants we chose are drought tolerant and attractive to native birds and insects. We paid special attention to the plantings nearest to the house, keeping them fairly low growing as to not create a fire ladder beneath the eves. The plants also hold a good deal of moisture in their stems and leaves and are easily kept free of desiccated material, making them fire-wise plants that can actually reduce the chances of the property burning in the event of a nearby wildfire.

This remodeled home offers a vibrant welcome, standing with style and a fresh finish. This 3bed 2bath 1,732 sqft. property includes a central AC/ nest thermostat unit and accessibility to washer/ dryer hook-ups inside the vicinity for your convenience. The family room includes an open layout, featuring recessed lighting throughout the ceiling and dual paned windows offering an abundance of natural light all while reducing outside noise. Step into the kitchen and you'll find brand-new stainless-steel kitchen appliances, alluring quartz countertops, soft white shaker cabinets, and a center island perfect for entertaining and hosting your next gathering. The beautiful dual vanity sinks in the master bath creates a relaxing ambiance. Also equipped with a private driveway leading up to a 2-car garage for security and privacy.

Clean lines reduce visual clutter: Coffee nook, concealed small appliance storage behind a lift-up door with a motion sensor for lighting inside (closed). Open shelves add display space and accessibility In black to accent the wood tones.

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

My husband and I cook a lot, and because of that I wanted to have our everyday dishes easily accessible, so I have them stored on floating shelves next to the cook top. I selected stainless steel shelves to compliment the stainless steel hood and back splash. It was imperative to have the stainless steel back splash making it easy to clean up, instead of grease build up on the brick. The wall cabinets have lift up hinges, because it clears the floating shelf...if I had used standard swing hinge...I would have had to reduce the width of the wall cabinets.

A complete two bath & kitchen renovation in a condo. Client wanted a larger kitchen area and better layout for bathrooms. We removed a wall near the entrance and extended the kitchen with additional cabinetry and storage area. Laundry room was reduced to accommodate the larger kitchen. The shared and primary bathrooms were gutted and fully remodeled as well. Enlarged shower enclosure in shared bath for more space. Layout of primary bathroom was changed for better accessibility and flow in the area. Vanity and shower was relocated to create a more spacious and inviting environment. Client didn’t like the current floors, we replaced it with luxury vinyl planks for durability.

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by NIls Finne

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

Our client planned to spend more time in this home and wanted to increase its livability. The project was complicated by the strata-specified deadline for exterior work, the logistics of working in an occupied strata complex, and the need to minimize the impact on surrounding neighbours. By reducing the deck space, removing the hot tub, and moving out the dining room wall, we were able to add important livable space inside. Our homeowners were thrilled to have a larger kitchen. The additional 500 square feet of living space integrated seamlessly into the existing architecture. This award-winning home features reclaimed fir flooring (from the Stanley Park storm), and wood-cased sliding doors in the dining room, that allow full access to the outdoor balcony with its exquisite views. Green building products and processes were used extensively throughout the renovation, which resulted in a modern, highly-efficient, and beautiful home.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

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.

Our client planned to spend more time in this home and wanted to increase its livability. The project was complicated by the strata-specified deadline for exterior work, the logistics of working in an occupied strata complex, and the need to minimize the impact on surrounding neighbours. By reducing the deck space, removing the hot tub, and moving out the dining room wall, we were able to add important livable space inside. Our homeowners were thrilled to have a larger kitchen. The additional 500 square feet of living space integrated seamlessly into the existing architecture. This award-winning home features reclaimed fir flooring (from the Stanley Park storm), and wood-cased sliding doors in the dining room, that allow full access to the outdoor balcony with its exquisite views. Green building products and processes were used extensively throughout the renovation, which resulted in a modern, highly-efficient, and beautiful home.

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

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

Cibes Primo Home Elevator – Black with Laminated Glass The Cibes Symmetry Primo is a premium self-supporting home elevator that combines Scandinavian design with advanced engineering to create a stunning architectural feature in any home. Finished in elegant black with full laminated glass sides, this luxury residential elevator offers panoramic views, abundant natural light, and a sleek contemporary aesthetic that complements modern and transitional home designs. Unlike traditional residential elevators, the Cibes Primo requires no machine room, no conventional elevator shaft, and minimal construction, making it an ideal solution for both new custom homes and renovation projects. Its self-supporting design reduces installation time while preserving valuable living space, allowing homeowners to add accessibility without compromising the home's architecture. The all-glass cabin creates an open, airy feel while laminated safety glass enhances durability, security, and peace of mind. Whether installed in a foyer, living room, stairwell, or open-concept space, the Primo becomes a centerpiece that adds both function and sophistication. Powered by Cibes Symmetry's proven screw-driven lift technology, the Primo delivers exceptionally smooth, quiet operation with low maintenance requirements. Advanced safety features include obstruction sensors, battery-powered emergency lowering, emergency communication, automatic lighting, and intuitive controls for dependable everyday performance. Perfect For: Luxury homes Modern and contemporary home design Aging in place Wheelchair accessibility Multigenerational living New home construction Home renovations and remodels Designed for homeowners who refuse to compromise between style and accessibility, the Cibes Symmetry Primo transforms vertical transportation into a design statement. Its striking black finish, panoramic laminated glass enclosure, premium craftsmanship, and space-saving design make it one of the most elegant and innovative home elevators available today.

Cibes Primo Home Elevator – Black with Laminated Glass The Cibes Symmetry Primo is a premium self-supporting home elevator that combines Scandinavian design with advanced engineering to create a stunning architectural feature in any home. Finished in elegant black with full laminated glass sides, this luxury residential elevator offers panoramic views, abundant natural light, and a sleek contemporary aesthetic that complements modern and transitional home designs. Unlike traditional residential elevators, the Cibes Primo requires no machine room, no conventional elevator shaft, and minimal construction, making it an ideal solution for both new custom homes and renovation projects. Its self-supporting design reduces installation time while preserving valuable living space, allowing homeowners to add accessibility without compromising the home's architecture. The all-glass cabin creates an open, airy feel while laminated safety glass enhances durability, security, and peace of mind. Whether installed in a foyer, living room, stairwell, or open-concept space, the Primo becomes a centerpiece that adds both function and sophistication. Powered by Cibes Symmetry's proven screw-driven lift technology, the Primo delivers exceptionally smooth, quiet operation with low maintenance requirements. Advanced safety features include obstruction sensors, battery-powered emergency lowering, emergency communication, automatic lighting, and intuitive controls for dependable everyday performance. Perfect For: Luxury homes Modern and contemporary home design Aging in place Wheelchair accessibility Multigenerational living New home construction Home renovations and remodels Designed for homeowners who refuse to compromise between style and accessibility, the Cibes Symmetry Primo transforms vertical transportation into a design statement. Its striking black finish, panoramic laminated glass enclosure, premium craftsmanship, and space-saving design make it one of the most elegant and innovative home elevators available today.