Richmond Hill high rise condo owners needed a window treatment for their floor-to-ceiling living room windows with southern exposure that would reduce heat gain yet still allow them to see the fabulous downtown Toronto skyline and chose Signature Series solar roller shades with a 5% openness factor. Fabric is Spectra 5 and colour is Sterling which perfectly complements their decor. A cassette valance was chosen which gives the shades a nice finished look. In addition to improving interior comfort by reducing solar heat gain, solar roller shades also protect flooring, furniture, and artwork from harmful UV rays.

This project is another example of how to maximize small spaces. This customer’s small Brentwood yard was centered around their new plunge pool. However, the existing pavers and layout left much to be desired. We reworked the pavers to create usable spaces and clean lines, and a vines and lighting work with the custom pergola to increase the privacy and add a soft vertical element to encourage the intimate feel of the space. Two other structures block the pool equipment and AC compressor from sight. This reduces the visual weight of these areas and allows the eye to focus on the crown jewel of the space… the pool.

Louisa, San Clemente Coastal Modern Architecture The brief for this modern coastal home was to create a place where the clients and their children and their families could gather to enjoy all the beauty of living in Southern California. Maximizing the lot was key to unlocking the potential of this property so the decision was made to excavate the entire property to allow natural light and ventilation to circulate through the lower level of the home. A courtyard with a green wall and olive tree act as the lung for the building as the coastal breeze brings fresh air in and circulates out the old through the courtyard. The concept for the home was to be living on a deck, so the large expanse of glass doors fold away to allow a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoors and feeling of being out on the deck is felt on the interior. A huge cantilevered beam in the roof allows for corner to completely disappear as the home looks to a beautiful ocean view and Dana Point harbor in the distance. All of the spaces throughout the home have a connection to the outdoors and this creates a light, bright and healthy environment. Passive design principles were employed to ensure the building is as energy efficient as possible. Solar panels keep the building off the grid and and deep overhangs help in reducing the solar heat gains of the building. Ultimately this home has become a place that the families can all enjoy together as the grand kids create those memories of spending time at the beach. Images and Video by Aandid Media.

Permeable paving in the driveway allows water to drain into the soil slowly. This takes stress off sewer and storm drainage systems. Specially designed concrete pavers with gaps let the water flow through to the underlying gravel. The gravel — which has no fine particles — provides a place for beneficial microbes that help clean the runoff water. Pollutants are filtered out before they reach streams and Puget Sound.

These modest homeowners were looking for drainage solutions, low maintenance plantings, and an entertainment space they could enjoy outside. Mowing the grass had been a pain in the past, so with this design we decided to remove it entirely. Instead, more native grasses were utilized to take in water and reduce erosion. A new fence modernized and updated the space and allowed the interior of the backyard to be leveled providing more opportunities for design elements like a floating bench and custom built fire pit.

Build On Your Own Lot...Costa's New Life Home Building Program allows you to build on your lot or ours. We eliminate the fear of surprise costs and reduce stress while helping to save time and money.

Improved system performance: Tangled wires can lead to interference and signal degradation, affecting the overall performance of your audio and video systems. Organized wiring ensures optimal signal quality and system performance. Easier maintenance and troubleshooting: Well-organized wiring simplifies system maintenance and makes it easier to identify and fix issues when they arise. Enhanced safety: Proper wire management reduces the risk of accidents due to tripping, fire hazards, or damaged equipment. Extended equipment lifespan: Organized wiring allows for better airflow and cooling, reducing the strain on your equipment and extending its lifespan.

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/

These modest homeowners were looking for drainage solutions, low maintenance plantings, and an entertainment space they could enjoy outside. Mowing the grass had been a pain in the past, so with this design we decided to remove it entirely. Instead, more native grasses were utilized to take in water and reduce erosion. A new fence modernized and updated the space and allowed the interior of the backyard to be leveled providing more opportunities for design elements like a floating bench and custom built fire pit.

Inspiration for a coastal bathroom remodel in San Francisco

Entry Door Retractable Screen. A retractable screen on the entry door allows a cross breeze into the home that helps reduce energy costs and keeps the bugs and other pests out! • Colors available in White, Adobe, Brownstone, Desert Tan • Sturdy Milano pull bar • Cast metal color matching adjustable height handles • Superior gliding using low friction technology • Easy to install and operate • Speed reducer (brake) provides safety and controlled retraction • Recess and surface mount applications • Full length magnetic seal • Available in single or double panel door screens • Charcoal color 18x16 insect screen fabric (other optional fabrics available)

Tash Hopkins
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Auckland

Build On Your Own Lot...Costa's New Life Home Building Program allows you to build on your lot or ours. We eliminate the fear of surprise costs and reduce stress while helping to save time and money.

These modest homeowners were looking for drainage solutions, low maintenance plantings, and an entertainment space they could enjoy outside. Mowing the grass had been a pain in the past, so with this design we decided to remove it entirely. Instead, more native grasses were utilized to take in water and reduce erosion. A new fence modernized and updated the space and allowed the interior of the backyard to be leveled providing more opportunities for design elements like a floating bench and custom built fire pit.

River rock facing the gate-post, as well as the rip-rap, is locally sourced. The pervious concrete of the drive allows water to drain through to below without being dumped onto the municipal streets, thus reducing downstream flooding & erosion. Greg Mix, Andy Jessup

These modest homeowners were looking for drainage solutions, low maintenance plantings, and an entertainment space they could enjoy outside. Mowing the grass had been a pain in the past, so with this design we decided to remove it entirely. Instead, more native grasses were utilized to take in water and reduce erosion. A new fence modernized and updated the space and allowed the interior of the backyard to be leveled providing more opportunities for design elements like a floating bench and custom built fire pit.

The owners requested that their home harmonize with the spirit of the surrounding Colorado mountain setting and enhance their outdoor recreational lifestyle - while reflecting their contemporary architectural tastes. The site was burdened with a myriad of strict design criteria enforced by the neighborhood covenants and architectural review board. Creating a distinct design challenge, the covenants included a narrow interpretation of a “mountain style” home which established predetermined roof pitches, glazing percentages and material palettes - at direct odds with the client‘s vision of a flat-roofed, glass, “contemporary” home. Our solution finds inspiration and opportunities within the site covenant’s strict definitions. It promotes and celebrates the client’s outdoor lifestyle and resolves the definition of a contemporary “mountain style” home by reducing the architecture to its most basic vernacular forms and relying upon local materials. The home utilizes a simple base, middle and top that echoes the surrounding mountains and vegetation. The massing takes its cues from the prevalent lodgepole pine trees that grow at the mountain’s high altitudes. These pine trees have a distinct growth pattern, highlighted by a single vertical trunk and a peaked, densely foliated growth zone above a sparse base. This growth pattern is referenced by placing the wood-clad body of the home at the second story above an open base composed of wood posts and glass. A simple peaked roof rests lightly atop the home - visually floating above a triangular glass transom. The home itself is neatly inserted amongst an existing grove of lodgepole pines and oriented to take advantage of panoramic views of the adjacent meadow and Continental Divide beyond. The main functions of the house are arranged into public and private areas and this division is made apparent on the home’s exterior. Two large roof forms, clad in pre-patinated zinc, are separated by a sheltering central deck - which signals the main entry to the home. At this connection, the roof deck is opened to allow a cluster of aspen trees to grow – further reinforcing nature as an integral part of arrival. Outdoor living spaces are provided on all levels of the house and are positioned to take advantage of sunrise and sunset moments. The distinction between interior and exterior space is blurred via the use of large expanses of glass. The dry stacked stone base and natural cedar cladding both reappear within the home’s interior spaces. This home offers a unique solution to the client’s requests while satisfying the design requirements of the neighborhood covenants. The house provides a variety of indoor and outdoor living spaces that can be utilized in all seasons. Most importantly, the house takes its cues directly from its natural surroundings and local building traditions to become a prototype solution for the “modern mountain house”. Overview Ranch Creek Ranch Winter Park, Colorado Completion Date October, 2007 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

This project is another example of how to maximize small spaces. This customer’s small Brentwood yard was centered around their new plunge pool. However, the existing pavers and layout left much to be desired. We reworked the pavers to create usable spaces and clean lines, and a vines and lighting work with the custom pergola to increase the privacy and add a soft vertical element to encourage the intimate feel of the space. Two other structures block the pool equipment and AC compressor from sight. This reduces the visual weight of these areas and allows the eye to focus on the crown jewel of the space… the pool.

Just off the driveway, a 7’ deep collection well filled with sand and rock connects to a retention-swale to effectively capture most of the storm water. A retention-swale is a depression in the ground that channels storm water away from the foundation but keeps the water on the property rather than allow it to flow into the lake. It allows water to percolate down through the soil, reducing erosion and keeping pollutants from washing into the lake. Water coming off the south side of the house is directed toward the plants, trees, and sod.