Oasis in the Desert You can find a whole lot of fun ready for the kids in this fun contemporary play-yard in the dessert. Theme: The overall theme of the play-yard is a blend of creative and active outdoor play that blends with the contemporary styling of this beautiful home. Focus: The overall focus for the design of this amazing play-yard was to provide this family with an outdoor space that would foster an active and creative playtime for their children of various ages. The visual focus of this space is the 15-foot tree placed in the middle of the turf yard. This fantastic structure beacons the children to climb the mini stumps and enjoy the slide or swing happily from the branches all the while creating a touch of whimsical nature not typically found in the desert. Surrounding the tree the play-yard offers an array of activities for these lucky children from the chalkboard walls to create amazing pictures to the custom ball wall to practice their skills, the custom myWall system provides endless options for the kids and parents to keep the space exciting and new. Rock holds easily clip into the wall offering ever changing climbing routes, custom water toys and games can also be adapted to the wall to fit the fun of the day. Storage: The myWall system offers various storage options including shelving, closed cases or hanging baskets all of which can be moved to alternate locations on the wall as the homeowners want to customize the play-yard. Growth: The myWall system is built to grow with the users whether it is with changing taste, updating design or growing children, all the accessories can be moved or replaced while leaving the main frame in place. The materials used throughout the space were chosen for their durability and ability to withstand the harsh conditions for many years. The tree also includes 3 levels of swings offering children of varied ages the chance to swing from the branches. Safety: Safety is of critical concern with any play-yard and a space in the harsh conditions of the desert presented specific concerns which were addressed with light colored materials to reflect the sun and reduce heat buildup and stainless steel hardware was used to avoid rusting. The myWall accessories all use a locking mechanism which allows for easy adjustments but also securely locks the pieces into place once set. The flooring in the treehouse was also textured to eliminate skidding.

Oasis in the Desert You can find a whole lot of fun ready for the kids in this fun contemporary play-yard in the dessert. Theme: The overall theme of the play-yard is a blend of creative and active outdoor play that blends with the contemporary styling of this beautiful home. Focus: The overall focus for the design of this amazing play-yard was to provide this family with an outdoor space that would foster an active and creative playtime for their children of various ages. The visual focus of this space is the 15-foot tree placed in the middle of the turf yard. This fantastic structure beacons the children to climb the mini stumps and enjoy the slide or swing happily from the branches all the while creating a touch of whimsical nature not typically found in the desert. Surrounding the tree the play-yard offers an array of activities for these lucky children from the chalkboard walls to create amazing pictures to the custom ball wall to practice their skills, the custom myWall system provides endless options for the kids and parents to keep the space exciting and new. Rock holds easily clip into the wall offering ever changing climbing routes, custom water toys and games can also be adapted to the wall to fit the fun of the day. Storage: The myWall system offers various storage options including shelving, closed cases or hanging baskets all of which can be moved to alternate locations on the wall as the homeowners want to customize the play-yard. Growth: The myWall system is built to grow with the users whether it is with changing taste, updating design or growing children, all the accessories can be moved or replaced while leaving the main frame in place. The materials used throughout the space were chosen for their durability and ability to withstand the harsh conditions for many years. The tree also includes 3 levels of swings offering children of varied ages the chance to swing from the branches. Safety: Safety is of critical concern with any play-yard and a space in the harsh conditions of the desert presented specific concerns which were addressed with light colored materials to reflect the sun and reduce heat buildup and stainless steel hardware was used to avoid rusting. The myWall accessories all use a locking mechanism which allows for easy adjustments but also securely locks the pieces into place once set. The flooring in the treehouse was also textured to eliminate skidding.

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/

This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in Montreal with blue walls

OVERVIEW Set into a mature Boston area neighborhood, this sophisticated 2900SF home offers efficient use of space, expression through form, and myriad of green features. MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING Designed to accommodate three family generations, paired living spaces on the first and second levels are architecturally expressed on the facade by window systems that wrap the front corners of the house. Included are two kitchens, two living areas, an office for two, and two master suites. CURB APPEAL The home includes both modern form and materials, using durable cedar and through-colored fiber cement siding, permeable parking with an electric charging station, and an acrylic overhang to shelter foot traffic from rain. FEATURE STAIR An open stair with resin treads and glass rails winds from the basement to the third floor, channeling natural light through all the home’s levels. LEVEL ONE The first floor kitchen opens to the living and dining space, offering a grand piano and wall of south facing glass. A master suite and private ‘home office for two’ complete the level. LEVEL TWO The second floor includes another open concept living, dining, and kitchen space, with kitchen sink views over the green roof. A full bath, bedroom and reading nook are perfect for the children. LEVEL THREE The third floor provides the second master suite, with separate sink and wardrobe area, plus a private roofdeck. ENERGY The super insulated home features air-tight construction, continuous exterior insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The walls and basement feature foam-free cavity & exterior insulation. On the rooftop, a solar electric system helps offset energy consumption. WATER Cisterns capture stormwater and connect to a drip irrigation system. Inside the home, consumption is limited with high efficiency fixtures and appliances. TEAM Architecture & Mechanical Design – ZeroEnergy Design Contractor – Aedi Construction Photos – Eric Roth Photography

The owners love the open plan and large glazed areas of house. Organizational improvements support school-aged children and a growing home-based consulting business. These insertions reduce clutter throughout the home. Kitchen, pantry, dining and family room renovations improve the open space qualities within the core of the home. Photographs by Linda McManus Images

Installed Tiger Cool Everglade Fescue Pro by Tiger Turf. What is Tiger Cool? 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. Don’t let the heat interfere with your life. TigerCool® makes any outdoor event a cool and pleasant experience. It’s perfect for any front yard, backyard, commercial property, public park, or municipality. Like all of our turf products, it’s safe for children and is pet-friendly! Photo by Greg Hawks

The owners love the open plan and large glazed areas of house. Organizational improvements support school-aged children and a growing home-based consulting business. These insertions reduce clutter throughout the home. Kitchen, pantry, dining and family room renovations improve the open space qualities within the core of the home. Photographs by Linda McManus Images

The owners love the open plan and large glazed areas of house. Organizational improvements support school-aged children and a growing home-based consulting business. These insertions reduce clutter throughout the home. Kitchen, pantry, dining and family room renovations improve the open space qualities within the core of the home. Photographs by Linda McManus Images

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.

The Opulence, an ever trending rectangle pool with a custom sundeck in the shallow end provides ample space for children and adults to cool off while still catching sun rays. (The steps and sundeck span the width of the pool). This pool also encompasses a custom bench in the deep end of the pool. This pool also boasts an auto cover, which provides safety for children and pets and encloses heat for late night swims. The auto cover also prevents leaves and other debris from falling into the pool, which reduces the upkeep of the pool significantly. The perimeter of this pool is the highly sought after Norwegian Buff perfectly complimented by Bluestone Coping. This yard also has a custom pool house, conversational lounge area, and lounge chaises proving the perfect outdoor entertaining space. The luscious greenery, vibrant plants, and patio stepping stones, create a secret garden like feel in Essex County.