This homeowner wanted to reduce the heat gain in their sitting room. The solution was to install 2 Sunair retractable window awnings. These awnings can be fully or partially opened or closed. The fabric used in 100% acrylic awning fabric. This Eastham homeowner uses their patio and window awnings frequently and partakes in annual services.

Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

This spring container has been planted with a variety of perennials (English primrose & Lamium), annuals (pansies), bulbs (daffodils & hyacinths) and incorporates freshly cut forsythia branches. Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC

Study room - mid-sized 1950s built-in desk study room idea in Los Angeles with gray walls

The primary considerations for this project were to offer color and textural interest to the street-side view while reducing maintenance and water use. The majority of the plants fall into the are low-growing to create the illusion of more space, and form a tapestry of cheery bright green hues. (photo by Billy Goodnick)

Billy Goodnick
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Grevillea 'Long John' will grow to about 15 feet high by 6 feet wide, "plugging" the view of the street from within the property, while also serving as a curious focal point from the street. A mix of Yellow and Pink Kangaroo Paw plants bring harmony and contrast in the mid-view. photo by Billy Goodnick

Dark Delight New Zealand Flax were left in place from the previous garden, underplanted with Pork and Beans Sedum ground cover, which will develop blushes of red and brown in the summer. A few California poppy seeds blew in during the installation. They're welcome for now, but could overtake other plants in time. photo by Billy Goodnick

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/

Dark Delight New Zealand Flax frame what will soon be a majestic Pincushion flower (Leucospermum) transplanted from the back garden (seen through the breezeway). Purple flowers and foliage echo each other and lots of open space was preserved to avoid clutter. photos by Billy Goodnick

Look closely and you'll see there are two similar Sedum ground covers: 'Angelina' in the foreground with its tiny chartreuse leaves and upright stems, and Pork and Beans (Sedum rubrotinctum) at the bend in the path. It's a subtle combination only noticed when walking slowly through the garden. It pays to slow down. photo by Billy Goodnick

Meadow edge detail Photo: Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a large craftsman drought-tolerant and full sun backyard landscaping in Santa Barbara for spring.

Acacia cultriformis / Knifeblade Acacia Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean full sun hillside landscaping in Santa Barbara for winter.

Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

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/

Garden 31 in La Canada Flintridge

Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

The two mounds are hugelkultur beds reserved for annual vegetables. They have a core of well aged wood that will slowly release nutrients and heat over time as it breaks down. The wood also absorbs an incredible amount of water over the winter and spring thus drastically reducing the amount of watering needed over the dry summer. There are three keyhole garden beds on the far side of the dry creek as well. Two are for annual vegetables while the middle one has a combination of asparagus and delicious little alpine strawberries. 2016 Mark Wolfe Photography. www.mwolfephotography.com

Billy Goodnick
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.