Photos By; Nate Grant
Design ideas for a contemporary side yard wood fence landscaping in Portland.

Andrew Pogue Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary black three-story stucco flat roof remodel in Seattle

Example of a large mid-century modern master white tile and glass tile ceramic tile and white floor walk-in shower design in Los Angeles with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

The Garage Apartments in Asheville, NC demonstrate how even a small roof can make a big impact on the ecological health of the city. The new plantings are the first step in developing a dynamic urban community that supports native pollinator populations, reduces heat island effect and allows the rain that falls at this spot to infiltrate and evapotranspire more like it would in nature. The living roof also demonstrates how leftover spaces in the city can be reimagined and reinvigorated. The plantings were designed to support native plants in a very intentional way, creating a pocket of beauty in an unexpected place.

The Garage Apartments in Asheville, NC demonstrate how even a small roof can make a big impact on the ecological health of the city. The new plantings are the first step in developing a dynamic urban community that supports native pollinator populations, reduces heat island effect and allows the rain that falls at this spot to infiltrate and evapotranspire more like it would in nature. The living roof also demonstrates how leftover spaces in the city can be reimagined and reinvigorated. The plantings were designed to support native plants in a very intentional way, creating a pocket of beauty in an unexpected place.

"Brandon Stengel - www.farmkidstudios.com”
Alcove shower - small contemporary gray tile, red tile and white tile alcove shower idea in Minneapolis with white walls, open cabinets and a two-piece toilet

Serving residential, commercial and national retail markets, American Window Film, Inc. is well prepared to guide you to the appropriate window film selection for your home or office. Call us for your free estimate and demonstration of our window film features and benefits.

Window Film Chattanooga installed energy-saving solar control film on a residential property in Chattanooga, TN. The film blocks significant solar heat gain in summer, reducing air conditioning costs while keeping interiors comfortable year-round. Low-e coating also helps retain warmth in winter. The homeowner saw measurable utility bill reductions within the first billing cycle. This installation demonstrates the comfort and cost savings professional window film delivers to Chattanooga homeowners and businesses throughout the metro area.

Window Film Chattanooga installed energy-saving solar control film on a residential property in Chattanooga, TN. The film blocks significant solar heat gain in summer, reducing air conditioning costs while keeping interiors comfortable year-round. Low-e coating also helps retain warmth in winter. The homeowner saw measurable utility bill reductions within the first billing cycle. This installation demonstrates the comfort and cost savings professional window film delivers to Chattanooga homeowners and businesses throughout the metro area.

Possibly Cantara’s most important project in terms of true systems integration, Honda Smart Home US is a showcase for environmental innovation, demonstrating Honda’s vision for zero-carbon living and personal mobility. A vision of a lifestyle of renewable energy for home and transportation, HSH features new technologies to greatly reduce the amount of energy consumed by individual households, including the use of solar power to directly charge a Honda Fit EV battery electric vehicle.

Est. in 1975, American Window Film, Inc., offers window films manufactured by 3M. Our films carry comprehensive warranties backed by the leader in the development of innovative adhesives and films. Call for a free demonstration on window films designed to satisfy energy conservation, safety & security, solar control, designer, architectural and privacy requirements.

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.

This 5,400-square-foot custom home in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood combines refined transitional architecture with advanced high-performance construction. Built by Eco Custom Homes, the residence was designed to significantly reduce energy consumption while providing the comfort, craftsmanship, and amenities expected in a luxury Atlanta custom home. The home’s energy system includes a 20 kW solar array paired with 40 kWh of battery storage, providing substantial on-site renewable energy generation and backup power capability. The project combines energy efficiency, building science, and resilient home technology with extensive outdoor living and entertainment areas designed for Atlanta’s climate. The Morningside Net Zero Home demonstrates Eco Custom Homes’ approach to high-performance construction: creating architecturally distinctive homes that are not only beautiful, but more efficient, comfortable, resilient, and designed to perform for generations.

This 5,400-square-foot custom home in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood combines refined transitional architecture with advanced high-performance construction. Built by Eco Custom Homes, the residence was designed to significantly reduce energy consumption while providing the comfort, craftsmanship, and amenities expected in a luxury Atlanta custom home. The home’s energy system includes a 20 kW solar array paired with 40 kWh of battery storage, providing substantial on-site renewable energy generation and backup power capability. The project combines energy efficiency, building science, and resilient home technology with extensive outdoor living and entertainment areas designed for Atlanta’s climate. The Morningside Net Zero Home demonstrates Eco Custom Homes’ approach to high-performance construction: creating architecturally distinctive homes that are not only beautiful, but more efficient, comfortable, resilient, and designed to perform for generations.

Complete renovation of a 19th century brownstone in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. Modern interiors that preserve many original details. Kate Glicksberg Photography

Our pioneer project, Casita de Tierra in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, showcases the natural building techniques of a rubble trench foundation, earthbag construction, natural plasters, earthen floors, and a composting toilet. Our earthbag wall system consists of locally available, cost-efficient, polypropylene bags that are filled with a formula of clay and aggregate unearthed from our building site. The bags are stacked like bricks in running bonds, which are strengthened by courses of barbed wire laid between each row, and tamped into place. The walls are then plastered with a mix composed of clay, sand, soil and straw, and are followed by gypsum and lime renders to create attractive walls. The casita exhibits a load-bearing wall system demonstrating that thick earthen walls, with no rebar or cement, can support a roofing structure. We, also, installed earthen floors, created an indoor dry-composting toilet system, utilized local woods for the furniture, routed all grey water to the outdoor garden, and maximized air flow by including cross-ventilating screened windows below the natural palm frond and cane roof. Casita de Tierra exemplifies an economically efficient, structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing, environmentally kind, and socially responsible home.

The home’s original fireplace and mantel create a traditional focal point within this eclectic living room. A vivid contemporary painting introduces personality and an unexpected burst of colour, demonstrating how artwork can enliven a neutral interior without overwhelming it. The client’s heirloom writing desk adds another layer of character; to help it appear to float and reduce visual clutter, one leg was painted white to align with the height of the surrounding trim—a subtle detail that illustrates the value of thoughtful design.

Like many modern homes, this family's primary entrance is through the garage, making the laundry and mudroom an essential part of everyday life. Rather than treating it as a purely utilitarian space, the renovation transformed the room into a beautiful, highly functional transition area that welcomes the homeowner with the same level of design and craftsmanship found throughout the rest of the home. Thoughtful cabinetry, durable finishes, and refined details prove that hardworking spaces can be both practical and luxurious. In keeping with the project's commitment to sustainable luxury and thoughtful resourcefulness, the natural stone countertop from the original kitchen island was repurposed for the laundry room. Reusing this premium material not only reduced waste but also introduced the elegance and durability of natural stone into a hardworking space. The result is a custom laundry room that combines timeless design, environmental responsibility, and everyday functionality—demonstrating that luxury is as much about thoughtful planning as it is about beautiful materials.