Type of Project: Kitchen Style of Project: Transitional Cabinetry: Tedd Wood Wood: Maple Finishes: Greystone Door: Lincoln Countertop: Granite Other Design Elements: • Stunning x-mullion glass doors • Appliance garage to keep counters clutter free • Soothing Greystone finish as an alternate to transitional white • Shaker doors Project Year: 2018 Designed for a family that love to cook and entertain, this kitchen may be small in scale but it is huge in form and function. Our clients loved their neighborhood so decided to take on an extensive remodel rather than building a new house. Once the walls and windows were realigned, we undertook a design that would maximize the space but maintain a complete sense of calm. The Graystone finish enhances that tranquility as do the handsome mouldings and clean shaker doors. Lots of accessory built-ins including an appliance garage reduce any distracting clutter and the x-mullion glass doors add a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Type of Project: Kitchen Style of Project: Transitional Cabinetry: Tedd Wood Wood: Maple Finishes: Greystone Door: Lincoln Countertop: Granite Other Design Elements: • Stunning x-mullion glass doors • Appliance garage to keep counters clutter free • Soothing Greystone finish as an alternate to transitional white • Shaker doors Project Year: 2018 Designed for a family that love to cook and entertain, this kitchen may be small in scale but it is huge in form and function. Our clients loved their neighborhood so decided to take on an extensive remodel rather than building a new house. Once the walls and windows were realigned, we undertook a design that would maximize the space but maintain a complete sense of calm. The Graystone finish enhances that tranquility as do the handsome mouldings and clean shaker doors. Lots of accessory built-ins including an appliance garage reduce any distracting clutter and the x-mullion glass doors add a touch of elegance and sophistication.

This spa-inspired walk-in shower was designed to create a calm, luxurious retreat within the home. Soft coastal blue tile, warm brass fixtures, and frameless glass combine to produce a bright, open feel while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic. The custom shower features a rainfall shower head, handheld sprayer, recessed storage niche, and a built-in bench for comfort and functionality. Large-format tile and minimal grout lines enhance durability while creating a seamless, upscale appearance. Every detail was carefully selected to deliver both beauty and long-term performance — transforming an ordinary bathroom into a relaxing, resort-style space homeowners can enjoy every day.

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

In order to make this kitchen more functional we had to play with the layout. We decided to switch the range and the fridge to better balance the space. We reduced the size of the bulky soffit to allow for taller cabinets and make the space feel more open. We shifted all the appliances down and added a built-in coffee machine & ice maker. In choosing the finishes, our client decided to go with an accent island. The white perimeter and gray stained island really updated this kitchen. Previously, the back half of the island sat at bar height. To make efficient use of space, we made it all one height. Since we extended the entire kitchen, this deleted the dining table. To accommodate for this, the large island seats six & has additional storage underneath! We used a beautiful quartz throughout the kitchen and bar area. We used a gray glass subway tile for the backsplash with an accent tile in a similar color over the range. We used that same accent tile for the bar adjacent to the kitchen. This area was previously a blank wall that our client didn't know what to do with. We added some storage, 2 wine fridges, and floating shelves with lighting to brighten up the space.

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Lou Boxer Builder Photographer: Greg Premru Photography
Example of a mid-sized cottage open concept medium tone wood floor, vaulted ceiling, brown floor and shiplap wall living room design in Boston with no tv and white walls

Our installation experts at Independent Home just completed a walk in tub installation for our customer Edward of Haddonfield. Find out why he decided to go with Independent Home along with how the installation was completed. Edward began shopping around for walk in tubs about a month ago. He was looking for a tub that was not only safe but could help with his arthritis. He received quotes from a few different companies but in the end decided on Independent Home. We were chosen because our salesmen were not pushy and were patient with answering all of Edward’s questions. A pre-installation meeting was then scheduled. The pre-installation meeting involved our installation experts and, of course, Edward. The meeting consisted of discussing what tub would be best for Edward’s needs, where the best location would be, and what type of finish should be added. Edward and our experts decided to go with our celebrity walk in tub with hydrotherapy model. The celebrity was the best choice for Edward because it had all of the requirements he was looking for. It met his safety requirements with a non-slip floor, an ADA compliant seat, and a low threshold for an easy entrance and exit. The tub’s hydrotherapy features will be able to reduce Edward’s arthritis pain. All he has to do is turn on the jets and relax. The way that the jets move will increase his circulation which will help his muscles and joints rehabilitate. The entire installation process only took a couple of days to complete. This consisted of removing Edward’s old tub and foundation, bringing in the new tub, leveling the legs, connecting the water, and testing for leaks. The last step of the installation was building the finish with a simple tile wall surround that Edward had requested. Edward loves his new tub. The hydrotherapy features have decreased his arthritis pain, allowing him to get out more.

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements. Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma. Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house" Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden. Builder: East Shore Builders Photographer: Michael Eric Berube

Residents of Bishop, California have seen many benefits from installing a 7.56 kW LG & ENPHASE system with the help of Green Home Systems. The project was completed in less than a month and has already made an impact on the local community. Green Home Systems has been providing unparalleled solar solutions at the most economical price and best customer service in the industry for decades. They specialize in providing customized renewable energy solutions to meet individual needs and goals, all while ensuring performance and durability guarantees and excellent customer service. The customer was looking for a way to reduce their utility bill, take advantage of government incentives, and utilize utility company incentives. After extensive research, they decided that Green Home Systems would be the perfect choice for their home solar installation project. The customer chose Green Home Systems due to their wide selection of solar panels, performance and durability guarantees, and excellent reputation. The team inspected the roof and then got started on the installation process. The project was completed quickly and efficiently thanks to Green Home System's expert craftsmanship. The results of this project have been impressive - increased home value, reduced carbon footprint, and increased property value are just some of the positive outcomes that residents are seeing from their new solar panel system installation. In addition, they are now taking advantage of competitive pricing which has allowed them to save money on their monthly utility bills as well as receive credits back from the utility company for unused power generated by their new system. At Green Home Systems we strive to provide our customers with the best service possible - from our knowledgeable staff to our competitive pricing - we put our customers first every time. We are proud to have been able to help this Bishop resident go solar and make a positive impact on both their wallet and environment through renewable energy solutions.

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

Photo: Tyler Van Stright, JLC Architecture Architect: JLC Architecture General Contractor: Naylor Construction Interior Design: KW Designs Cabinetry: Peter Vivian

The new space feels light, airy and open exuding a tranquil sophistication. A relaxed, meditative atmosphere is achieved by combining glass tile, white walls, dark cabinets and a porcelain countertop.

Docking Drawer Blade Series

Jennifer Cheung
Example of a large french country backyard patio design in Los Angeles

Several years ago, Jill and Brian remodeled their kitchen with TKS Design Group and recently decided it was time to look at a primary bath remodel. Jill and Brian wanted a completely fresh start. We tweaked the layout slightly by reducing the size of the enormous tub deck and expanding the vanities and storage into the old tub deck zone as well as pushing a bit into the awkward carpeted dressing area. By doing so, we were able to substantially expand the existing footprint of the shower. We also relocated the French doors so that the bath would take advantage of the light brought in by the skylight in that area. A large arched window was replaced with a similar but cleaner lined version, and we removed the large bulkhead and columns to open the space. A simple freestanding tub now punctuates the area under the window and makes for a pleasing focal point. Subtle but significant changes. We chose a neutral gray tile for the floor to ground the space, and then white oak cabinetry and gold finishes bring warmth to the pallet. The large shower features a mix of white and gray tile where an electronic valve system offers a bit of modern technology and customization to bring some luxury to the everyday. The bathroom remodel also features plenty of storage that keeps the everyday necessities tucked away. The result feels modern, airy and restful!

Inspiration for a rustic brown one-story wood gable roof remodel in Seattle

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography