The open space plan on the main level of the Prairie Style home is deceiving of the actual separation of spaces. This home packs a punch with a private hot tub, craft room, library, and even a theater. The interior of the home features the same attention to place, as the natural world is evident in the use of granite, basalt, walnut, poplar, and natural river rock throughout. Floor to ceiling windows in strategic locations eliminates the sense of compression on the interior, while the overall window design promotes natural daylighting and cross-ventilation in nearly every space of the home. Glo’s A5 Series in double pane was selected for the high performance values and clean, minimal frame profiles. High performance spacers, double pane glass, multiple air seals, and a larger continuous thermal break combine to reduce convection and eliminate condensation, ultimately providing energy efficiency and thermal performance unheard of in traditional aluminum windows. The A5 Series provides smooth operation and long-lasting durability without sacrificing style for this Prairie Style home.

Compact in size, but big on fun is the High Flyer base. This is the perfect cedar swingset for imaginative and action-packed play while being quite affordable. This starter set is perfect for small backyards that don't have the length or width to fit a full size swing set.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: Award of Excellence PROJECT: Hazelwood Neighborhood Center CLIENT: ACTION-Housing, Inc. ARCHITECTURE FIRM: Thoughtful Balance ENGINEERS: Iams Consulting, LLC; WBCM Engineering CONTRACTORS: Nelcon Construction PHOTOGRAPHER: Denmarsh Photography DESCRIPTION: This building is in the heart of Hazelwood’s main commercial area and has a deep history with the community. The ground level houses office space for local non-profit groups and the upper floor is the new home of the Hazelwood branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. This project allowed the library to double the size of its space, providing a place to gather and come together. The renovation used the Passive House Retrofit Standard, focusing on a well-insulated building envelope with controlled ventilation, optimized passive solar heating, and energy efficiency. JURY COMMENTS: The project demonstrates the potential in creative planning by increasing the useable size of an existing building and reducing the environmental impact at the same time. Metrics matter and this building made a point of demonstrating what the metrics of its sustainable design yielded.

For this project, we removed the old sod and excavated 3 to 4 inches of topsoil. We capped the sprinklers and then spread a base of crushed aggregate, which was packed down. The artificial turf was laid out and trimmed. Then seamed and staked into place, we spread infill and power broomed the turf so the blades would stand up straight. We used Tigerturf (Tiger Cool) Everglade Fescue. Created by Tencate, a worldwide innovator of space-age yarns for NASA and Boeing, TigerCool® yarns are engineered with heat reflective color pigments and advanced U.V. inhibitors that reduce surface temperatures. A series of solar panel tests indicate that artificial grass featuring TigerCool® technology successfully reduces turf temperatures by 30% and up to 17 degrees! That’s a difference that you can feel. The homeowner also selected a border of river rocks with a slight wave that gives a lush cool grassy Island effect. Photo by Greg Hawks

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Inspiration for an industrial galley dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black backsplash, no island and black countertops

The modern and industrial vibe is continued outside to the outdoor patio. Sonance ceiling speakers produce quality sound for quite evenings or action-packed BBQ's. Photographer: Alexandra White Photography

Jalapeño grown organically in a 7-gallon Smart Pot. This plant produced 69 jalapeños! Photo by Steve Masley
Example of an eclectic home design design in San Francisco

Photo by Daniel O'Connor Photography
Family room - small transitional open concept family room idea in Denver with white walls

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

The modern and industrial vibe is continued outside to the outdoor patio. Sonance ceiling speakers produce quality sound for quite evenings or action-packed BBQ's. Photographer: Alexandra White Photography

For this high-end kitchen remodel in Redmond, we focused on maximizing space and enhancing functionality. Key actions included widening the hall entry to the dining room and relocating major appliances for a more efficient layout. We also reduced the depth of the full-height cabinets for a spacious look, without compromising storage. The result is a stylish, high-end kitchen with a more open and user-friendly design.

LED downlights have a longer lifespan, typically lasting tens of thousands of hours. Compared to traditional lighting fixtures, this significantly reduces the frequency of bulb replacements and maintenance costs, providing users with a more convenient experience.

For this high-end kitchen remodel in Redmond, we focused on maximizing space and enhancing functionality. Key actions included widening the hall entry to the dining room and relocating major appliances for a more efficient layout. We also reduced the depth of the full-height cabinets for a spacious look, without compromising storage. The result is a stylish, high-end kitchen with a more open and user-friendly design.

For this high-end kitchen remodel in Redmond, we focused on maximizing space and enhancing functionality. Key actions included widening the hall entry to the dining room and relocating major appliances for a more efficient layout. We also reduced the depth of the full-height cabinets for a spacious look, without compromising storage. The result is a stylish, high-end kitchen with a more open and user-friendly design.

The modern and industrial vibe is continued outside to the outdoor patio. Sonance ceiling speakers produce quality sound for quite evenings or action-packed BBQ's. Photography: Alexandra White Photography

RediRoot BREATHE is a decorative air-pruning planter. Made for home gardeners and houseplant lovers the 360-degree aeration and drainage provided by BREATHE helps deliver beneficial oxygen to plants and allows for even drying. As a plant grows up in BREATHE the roots will be air-pruned as they come in contact with light and air. This action reduces circling roots and signals the plant to grow more lateral roots, increasing the plants' ability to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. Email grow@rediroot.com or call 800-654-2116 for more information.

Outdoor Dining woodland style in East Hampton Amongst the seclusion of the woodlands in East Hampton reveals some of the most desirable and majestic areas of the Hamptons. An unbelievable space from seashore to farm land raises the best organic farm to table food in Long Island. With access to the beach, sitting around the pool or by the fire always brings up the subject of outdoor dining and entertaining. This action packed Outdoor Kitchen run says it all. Outdoor Beverage, Ice and Legriddle next to the Lynx Grill supports many fine dinners outdoors with friends and family.

Outdoor Dining woodland style in East Hampton Amongst the seclusion of the woodlands in East Hampton reveals some of the most desirable and majestic areas of the Hamptons. An unbelievable space from seashore to farm land raises the best organic farm to table food in Long Island. With access to the beach, sitting around the pool or by the fire always brings up the subject of outdoor dining and entertaining. This action packed Outdoor Kitchen run says it all. Outdoor Beverage, Ice and Legriddle next to the Lynx Grill supports many fine dinners outdoors with friends and family.

Outdoor Dining woodland style in East Hampton Amongst the seclusion of the woodlands in East Hampton reveals some of the most desirable and majestic areas of the Hamptons. An unbelievable space from seashore to farm land raises the best organic farm to table food in Long Island. With access to the beach, sitting around the pool or by the fire always brings up the subject of outdoor dining and entertaining. This action packed Outdoor Kitchen run says it all. Outdoor Beverage, Ice and Legriddle next to the Lynx Grill supports many fine dinners outdoors with friends and family.