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

Location: Port Townsend, Washington. Photography by Dale Lang
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped bamboo floor home design design in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Eudora Cabinetry Colony Maple Door Bright White Finish Hardware by Jeffrey Alexander Remodel by Advantage Builders
Inspiration for a large coastal l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Two Birds Photography
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Chicago

Rev-A-Shelf's fillers revolutionized otherwise wasted space in your kitchen. Normally a "filler" or extra space is simply covered up with a decorative front, but with Rev-A-Shelf's line of fillers, it turns that otherwise wasted space in to useful space. Fillers are intended to be installed in new kitchen cabinet construction and will not work in existing cabinets. The 434 Series is available for 3" and 6" widths and features a magnetic stainless panel that includes multiple hooks and pegs for multiple configurations.

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 Benjamin Benschneider

design: Studio TOOP, 2013 location: Rotterdam, NL status: built in 2014, Weldam Groenprojecten photo: Hans Clauzing, 2014 Our good friend Gerda is an avid photographer with a special interest in nature photography and butterflies. She also suffers from a lung disease that sometimes leaves her less mobile and able to head out to pursue this passion. A garden to take pictures in, even when you're not up to heading further out into the world. That was the main goal of this garden. With limited means and the use of affordable materials we created a wheel chair friendly garden that offers ample space for both human and wild life.

Inspiration for a large transitional porcelain tile porcelain tile and single-sink walk-in shower remodel in Providence with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Aluminum stringers and steps were used for reduced maintenance, and easy access to the basement doors. A steel linear drain provides drainage for rain and snow.

Pull out shelves and multi-level drawers in the kitchen base cabinets bring storage to the user. This ease of access reduces bending and reaching to get stored items. Items can also be more easily seen.

Contermporary home with large roof decks and balconies clad in integrally colored stucco with square channel siding. A series of small courtyards creatie private outdoor space sheltered from street. Drought tolerant landscape with drip irrigation and mulch conserves water and reduces maintenance.

This Siteline Cabinetry tall storage cabinet has roll-out shelves at a height that makes it easy to access. Deep shelves offer ample storage. Photo credit: Dennis Jourdan

The trash and recycle bins hidden within cabinetry provide convenient access and reduce clutter in the kitchen.
Large transitional l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen photo with a farmhouse sink, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets and gray cabinets

Small updates include removing abandoned stereo speakers (throughout the house), unnecessary and misplaced track lighting, and blinds reduce distractions and expose a beautiful patio access and amazing views. Photography: Fotovan, Albuquerque, NM

Traditional two-story exterior home idea with a hip roof

Kia Porter Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile alcove bathtub remodel in Vancouver with an undermount sink, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Dan Farmer, Seattle Home Tours
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Seattle

Beside the refrigerator, we tucked in some open shelves to provide a coffee station for easy access during busy mornings.
Inspiration for a modern u-shaped open concept kitchen remodel in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops