We closed off the open formal dining room, so it became a den with artistic barn doors, which created a more private entrance/foyer. We removed the wall between the kitchen and living room, including the fireplace, to create a great room. We also closed off an open staircase to build a wall with a dual focal point — it accommodates the TV and fireplace. We added a double-wide slider to the sunroom turning it into a happy play space that connects indoor and outdoor living areas. We reduced the size of the entrance to the powder room to create mudroom lockers. The kitchen was given a double island to fit the family’s cooking and entertaining needs, and we used a balance of warm (e.g., beautiful blue cabinetry in the kitchen) and cool colors to add a happy vibe to the space. Our design studio chose all the furnishing and finishes for each room to enhance the space's final look. Builder Partner – Parsetich Custom Homes Photographer - Sarah Shields --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/portfolio/hard-working-haven/

DUETTE® Honeycomb Shades THE ORIGINAL ENERGY-EFFICIENT HONEYCOMB SHADE An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Duette® Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills. Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior. KEY FEATURES Room Darkening—The LightLock™ system, the newest iteration from Duette, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light. Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time. Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, the Duette Vertiglide™ operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack Vertiglide shade, with each side operating independently. Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Duette Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room. LNG Blinds 19 Addison Pl Valley Stream, NY 11580 Call Us (516) 593-0044 #homesweethome #homedecor #lovemyhome #barenecessities #windows #instastyle #instadesign #interiordesign#blinds #privacy #embellishment #instahomes #propertyowner #renovation #customblindsbydesign #showcase #displays #windowtreatments #windowcoverings #shades #shutters #drapery #interiors #decor

This executive home in the Christchurch Port Hills underwent some major works including the installation of a new kitchen, a new laundry and new media room. Soundproofing was also on the client's wishlist so solutions were found in the installation of new windows and a ventilation system. The exterior cladding and upper level deck and balustratde were also replaced. Internally a new kitchen and laundry room was designed in conjunction with kitchen designer Nicky Claridge. Contrasting black and white handle-free cabinetry was chosen for the kitchen and an engineered oak floor. A white central bench maintains the black and white theme and provides a central entertaining space and the large wallpaper panel behind the clear splashback completes this kitchen's unique look. The laundry was designed to produce an efficient and functional space with maximum storage. The new media room included an overhead projection on to a specially imported screen from the US which linked to the client's computer network to allow for gaming as well as movies. The hallway was also painted and specialty wallpaper was chosen for redecoration of a further 2 rooms in the house. Externally the home was re-clad on the second storey, the existing polystyrene cladding system was removed and replaced with a barrier to provide bracing and sound and air seals. On top of this the large panel James Hardie Oblique board was chosen to give the traditional ship-lap style in keeping with the original building. The decking outside on the upper level balcony was also replaced with a hard wearing and low maintenance synthetic deck material by Outdure. The new balustrade was a bespoke steel to match the traditional look of the building and was manufactured by Christchurch Wrought Iron. All of the windows were replaced on the upper level of the house. Working with the client and the glass supplier Fairview Windows, the aim was to produce a glass configuration that reduced traffic noise as much as possible. The new windows were installed with sound seals to further reduce sound as much as possible. A mechanical ventilation system was also installed to allow the internal environment to be well ventilated without opening the windows and doors, creating a quieter and healthier home. Working with Smith & Sons Christchurch Port Hills to project manage the various renovation works, the client achieved many changes and improvements to their home.

Nature and design do not have to compete. With Aquastorm™ Grass-Filled pavers, they thrive together. This innovative Techo-Bloc system blends the structure of modern hardscape with the breathability of green space; transforming your driveway into a living design feature. Crafted for high-performance permeability, Aquastorm™ allows grass to grow within its geometric voids, reducing runoff while enhancing curb appeal with a soft, organic touch. It is engineered for stormwater management, erosion control, and long-term durability. Yet its beauty lies in how it softens the footprint of a home, offering an eco-luxury feel without compromising function. Imagine driving onto a surface that cools the earth, filters water, and contributes to the local ecosystem, without giving up the bold architectural lines you love. Aquastorm™ Grass-Filled pavers are a statement of modern living and sustainable responsibility. Let’s explore how this material can bring your outdoor story to life. Schedule your consultation today: 516-522-8249

Some surfaces are meant to be walked on. Others, like Techo-Bloc’s Aberdeen Slabs, are meant to be admired. Crafted for luxurious outdoor settings, Aberdeen Slabs offer the grandeur of natural stone with the modern durability of engineered materials. Designed in large-format dimensions with a surface that mimics the raw beauty of chiseled limestone, these slabs are perfect for pool decks, patios, and elegant walkways. Beyond their beauty, Aberdeen Slabs are slip-resistant and heat-resistant making them ideal for barefoot comfort around the pool. Their permeable-friendly design options also support eco-conscious drainage systems, reducing runoff and preserving the environment. Whether dry or wet, they maintain their performance and elegance under every condition. Choosing Aberdeen means choosing timeless sophistication with the technology of today. Your outdoor space deserves more than ordinary, it deserves a surface that elevates every step. Let’s bring your vision to life with materials that make a lasting impression. Schedule your consultation today: 516-522-8249

Located on the front lines of a public beach walkway, this elegant artist residence layers public and private spaces in order to dynamically connect one’s lifestyle with the regenerative power of nature. The material language shifts between glass, oak, and stone as it explores concepts of porosity, translucence,and privacy. One of the home’s most notable elements is the strategic removal of living square footage to create a spa courtyard on the third level. Tucked away behind a terracotta screen and surrounded by lush vegetation on all sides, the spa acts as a private oasis in the heart of the home for reflection and reconnection. Despite rigid parameters, the home packs cutting edge engineering and design techniques into every centimeter of space. The result is a razor thin roof and floor plane delicately balanced atop massive stone walls. By reducing the density of these elements both above and below, the architecture is able to breathe and expand into its unobstructed views of the ocean and breathtaking sunsets.

This executive home in the Christchurch Port Hills underwent some major works including the installation of a new kitchen, a new laundry and new media room. Soundproofing was also on the client's wishlist so solutions were found in the installation of new windows and a ventilation system. The exterior cladding and upper level deck and balustratde were also replaced. Internally a new kitchen and laundry room was designed in conjunction with kitchen designer Nicky Claridge. Contrasting black and white handle-free cabinetry was chosen for the kitchen and an engineered oak floor. A white central bench maintains the black and white theme and provides a central entertaining space and the large wallpaper panel behind the clear splashback completes this kitchen's unique look. The laundry was designed to produce an efficient and functional space with maximum storage. The new media room included an overhead projection on to a specially imported screen from the US which linked to the client's computer network to allow for gaming as well as movies. The hallway was also painted and specialty wallpaper was chosen for redecoration of a further 2 rooms in the house. Externally the home was re-clad on the second storey, the existing polystyrene cladding system was removed and replaced with a barrier to provide bracing and sound and air seals. On top of this the large panel James Hardie Oblique board was chosen to give the traditional ship-lap style in keeping with the original building. The decking outside on the upper level balcony was also replaced with a hard wearing and low maintenance synthetic deck material by Outdure. The new balustrade was a bespoke steel to match the traditional look of the building and was manufactured by Christchurch Wrought Iron. All of the windows were replaced on the upper level of the house. Working with the client and the glass supplier Fairview Windows, the aim was to produce a glass configuration that reduced traffic noise as much as possible. The new windows were installed with sound seals to further reduce sound as much as possible. A mechanical ventilation system was also installed to allow the internal environment to be well ventilated without opening the windows and doors, creating a quieter and healthier home. Working with Smith & Sons Christchurch Port Hills to project manage the various renovation works, the client achieved many changes and improvements to their home.

The best sleep solutions are built around balance. This serene bedroom showcases the Doctor's Choice Hybrid Medium Mattress from Denver Mattress, designed for sleepers seeking the ideal combination of pressure relief, responsive comfort, and supportive alignment. Featuring a hybrid design that combines advanced comfort materials with a supportive coil system, the Doctor's Choice® Hybrid Medium adapts to a variety of sleep styles while helping maintain healthy spinal posture throughout the night. The result is a sleep experience engineered to reduce pressure points, promote recovery, and support deeper, more restorative rest. Warm wood finishes, soft textures, natural elements, and ambient lighting create a calming retreat where wellness takes center stage. Together, thoughtful bedroom design and advanced sleep technology demonstrate how the right mattress can become the foundation for better sleep and better mornings.

Better sleep starts with the right balance of comfort and support. This contemporary bedroom showcases the Doctor's Choice® Elite Medium Mattress from Denver Mattress, designed for sleepers seeking pressure relief, responsive comfort, and proper spinal alignment throughout the night. As part of the premium Doctor's Choice® Collection, the Elite Medium delivers a balanced feel that adapts to a variety of sleep positions while providing the support needed for restorative rest. Advanced comfort materials and enhanced support technology work together to help reduce pressure points, promote healthy sleep posture, and support deeper, more comfortable sleep. The room's rich navy walls, warm wood furnishings, soft textures, and calming atmosphere create a sophisticated retreat focused on wellness and recovery. Together, thoughtful bedroom design and engineered sleep support create a space dedicated to helping you wake up feeling refreshed, recovered, and ready for the day ahead.

Rahim Villa Town: Crafting Modern Sanctuaries for Family Living. Discover Rahim Villa Town, a thoughtfully conceived residential project designed to elevate contemporary family lifestyles through intelligent space utilization and meticulous planning. Key Features Modern Residential Design: A 10 Marla project specifically engineered for the demands and comforts of modern family life. Efficient Space Utilization: Every square foot is optimized for functionality and flow, ensuring practical and comfortable living. Quality Construction: Whether completed or actively under construction, the project maintains a steadfast commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and materials. Benefits & Value Experience a home perfectly tailored for comfort, functionality, and the evolving needs of your family. Enjoy a sense of spaciousness and intelligent layout that enhances daily living and entertaining. Invest in a property built with precision and a forward-thinking approach to modern residential standards. Unique Selling Points Integrated Design Approach: Benefiting from a collaborative synergy across architectural, structural, and interior design principles for a cohesive outcome. Future-Ready Living: Designed with an emphasis on efficiency and sustainability, promising long-term value and reduced operational costs. Transparent Project Status: Clear communication and progress updates, providing peace of mind whether you're viewing a completed home or tracking construction. Envision your family thriving in a home where modern design meets practical #CommercialRealEstate #RetailSpaces #BusinessHub #ModernArchitecture #PropertyDevelopment #InvestmentOpportunity #HighRiseProject #FutureOfBusiness

Market Center Station Grass Pave Fire Lane Kansas City, Kansas. A grass pave project designed by AMR Architects Inc out of Little Rock, Arkansas and developed by Houston-based The Morgan Group Inc., Market Station is the largest new construction project erected in Downtown Kansas City since Quality Hill in 1984. AirPave was chosen as the solution for porous flexible paving in the 7,100 square foot grass pave fire lane. AirPave is a synthetic porous paving and drainage system for grass fire lanes, flexible porous paving and swales. With over 400 installations AirPave is 233psi unfilled, 6747psi sand filled and is made of 100% recycled content which can contribute to LEED™ points. AirPave can ship more than 91,000 sqft per truck load and 798 sqft per pallet with each part weighing only 3.1 lbs. AirPave can save the owner up to $0.80 per square foot or more over our competitors. Benefits of an AirPave Grass Paving System Include: Incredible load bearing strength Protects plant root systems Slows stormwater runoff Filters stormwater pollutants Captures airborne dust and pollutants Safely consumes moderate engine oil drippings Reduces uncomfortably hot surface temperature Increased oxygen production Reduces or eliminates costly stormwater structures Applications Overflow Parking Fire lanes Event Parking Driveways Employee Parking Utility Access On-street Parking Pedestrian Access Handicap Parking Emergency Access Infiltration Basins To discuss your grass pave construction project, call AirField Systems at (405) 359-3775.

Various Types Of Rugs Rugs are necessary for every household as it makes the house look good as well as provides relief for bare feet. Rugs are better than carpets because they are easier to clean and they are also available in many colours. There are many types of rugs such as the classical rugs which are usually from Persia and other Oriental countries and the machine made rugs of today which are made everywhere. Rugs make a room complete. A popular rug of the 70’s was the shaggy rug and this rug is making a comeback now. It is an affordable rug and it makes your room look a lot comfortable. It adds a lot of warmth to the room. The shaggy rugs come in a variety of colours and you can match them with your furniture or wall. These rugs are great for your bedroom too as it adds the necessary warmth in the cool winters. Another type of rug is the area rug which is usually rectangle in shape but comes in other shapes as well. These rugs cover the area completely and protect your floor well. These rugs also insulate the room from heat too. Persian rugs are very famous and they are handmade. The designs have been in existence for over centuries and Iran is the place where these rugs are made majorly. Persian rugs are woven very tight compared to others. If you like history or if you like the classic look then you should opt for a Persian rug. Another classic rug that has its origins in Greece is the Flokati rug. These rugs are traditional rugs that are made from very fine quality wool. A Flokati rug adds luxury to your room. These types of rugs are used extensively for photography and many photographers use it in photo shoots. If you have slippery stairways or slippery floors, you can add rugs known as Runner rugs. These rugs cover the stairs or are great under dining tables. Runner rugs are known to reduce accidents as chances of slipping reduces considerably. There are many rug websites like Rug Traders, where you can get many types of rugs at very low prices. You can just search on any search engine for quality rugs or cheap rugs and you will get a list of rug traders, you can visit their websites and compare the prices, quality, delivery time etc. Once you are satisfied that you are getting a good price, you can then buy the rug of your choice.

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in San Francisco

Timex Metals is a reliable Wire Mesh Manufacturer in India, offering high-performance mesh products for industrial, commercial, construction, engineering, and infrastructure applications. We manufacture our products using quality materials and precise production methods to achieve excellent strength, durability, dimensional accuracy, and long-term performance. As an experienced Wire Mesh Supplier in India, we cater to diverse project requirements with dependable solutions designed to meet demanding industry standards. Our product portfolio includes Expanded Metal Mesh for walkways, safety barriers, partitions, ventilation, screening, and industrial protection, along with Stainless Steel Wire Mesh for applications requiring superior corrosion resistance and durability. We also provide Welded Wire Mesh for structural, construction, and fabrication requirements, while our Sintered Mesh is suitable for precision filtration, separation, and screening applications where consistent performance and reliability are essential. Each product is developed to deliver efficient operation, reduced maintenance, and lasting value. With a strong emphasis on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Timex Metals continues to serve domestic and international markets, including Qatar and the USA, while expanding its presence across South Africa and Nepal. We are also recognized as a Triply Circles Manufacturer in India, supplying products aligned with evolving industrial requirements and international quality expectations.

A truly restorative bedroom is designed around comfort, support, and the moments that make home feel like home. This welcoming space features the Doctor's Choice® Elite Soft Mattress from Denver Mattress, crafted for sleepers who prefer a softer feel while still benefiting from advanced support and pressure-relieving comfort. As part of the premium Doctor's Choice® Collection, the Elite Soft is engineered to cushion key pressure points while helping maintain healthy spinal alignment throughout the night. Its combination of plush comfort and supportive design creates a sleep surface that helps reduce tossing and turning, promoting deeper, more restorative rest. Surrounded by rich wood furnishings, calming colors, soft textures, and personal touches, this bedroom demonstrates how thoughtful design can support both relaxation and well-being. Whether enjoying a quiet morning, unwinding after a busy day, or sharing time with loved ones, the space is designed to help you feel comfortable, supported, and at ease.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Hillside Modernism In Context. The owners of this modern hillside home sought to have a home in a nice Los Angeles neighborhood wherein they could raise their burgeoning family. The owners purchased a 1948 2000sf, single story, 2 bedroom English Cottage styled home (believed to have been originally owned by Yul Brynner) on a ½ acre hillside site in the exclusive Brentwood area of Los Angeles. The property slopes downward away from the street and overlooks a mini eucalyptus arroyo. The owners love their new location but are now faced-with having to raise their new and growing family on a hillside with extremely limited yard spaces for children to play and in a location where nature is very close – deer as well as coyotes wander the arroyo. In 2000 the owners commissioned architect Richard Best to add 2500sf to the cottage and transform it into a home more fitting to their growing family’s needs. Subsequently, in 2014/15, the owners again commissioned Richard to create a 2-story master suite addition. Living in or visiting the completed project - the original 1948 home remodeled + the 2000 addition + the 2014/15 addition, one goes through an unexpected and delightful experience as the spaces of the home “unfold” to reveal intimacy and environmental immersion. It was important to Richard and to the owners that their remodels and additions be appropriately designed to fit into the neighborhood and have the feel, scale, and soul of the original cottage. With this in-mind, Richard has interpreted the design intentions of the original cottage - “modernizing” the architectural vocabulary and creating open-plan, 2-story additions which promote site “engagement” at various floor levels and openness to the outdoors in a manner clearly inspired by the original cottage, yet modern. At the front door of the original (still remains as it was) 1948 structure, one is presented with a quaint a low-slung entry which establishes a very comfortable sense of scale. Inside, the remodeled spaces of the original cottage exude comfort and a cozy sensibility evoked by the reuse of the original home’s exposed timber framing structure, open-plan circulation, and an inventive two-sided steel fireplace which acts as a room divider between the living room and a home office. Accordion wood doors connect these rooms to a newly formed outdoor rear patio. At this point one also gets ones first hint that something very interesting is happening just beyond – a glimpse of the 2000 & 2014/15 additions. Moving from the original 1948 structure into the 2-story 2000 addition, one is greeted by a modern and open linear floor plan arrangement – a kitchen, casual dining and family room extend perpendicularly from the 1948 structure into the rear yard and down the hillside. The open framed cathedral ceiling and wood roof trusses establish a lofty feeling and a rhythm discretely separating the open rooms one from the other. Extensive use of windows and French doors connect the indoors to the outdoors and provide abundant natural lighting. This new appendage ends with a symmetrical family room which has no corners – it is a geometry composed of two overlapped squares - one rotated 45 degrees atop the other to create double opportunities for bay windows. The design not only connects the home to the desired exterior flat yards spaces, but it also takes full advantage of the sloping terrain by adding a floor below the original level so as to maintain a scale appropriate to the neighborhood. The exterior materials were chosen taking “hints” from the original 1948 structure – natural redwood siding, reused brick veneer and wood doors/windows all serving to aesthetically connect the addition back-to the spirit of the original structure. By 2014/15 the owners’ family has fully blossomed - the children are now teenagers and there is a need for additional space. However, the owners are very content with their remodeled cottage and Richard’s 2000 addition – unsure how to add to a home which they feel is quite perfect as it is … wanting whatever changes are to be made to be sympathetic to it. They are also concerned about potential additions blocking-out their views of the eucalyptus arroyo. The owners approached Richard with trepidation – we love our perfect house but we need it to be a bit bigger and we don’t want to block-out the arroyo views or create a hemmed-in feeling – how can we add but still see the arroyo. In response Richard created a private yet connected 2-story master suite, which by its positioning, dynamic geometries and extensive glazing create the fourth side of the former rear patio, making it into exterior courtyard with views around and through the new addition into the arroyo. A dynamic angularity in the new master addition (inspired by the 2000 addition) simultaneously reduces the apparent size/presence of the master suite addition on the edge of the eucalyptus arroyo while creating framed views into the arroyo from the newly formed courtyard. The new master suite - a master bathroom, master closet and a master sleeping loft each having exterior decks and/or patios, is connected back to the 2000 addition via a glazed hallway which provides a sense of connectedness and privacy. A modern rustic aesthetic of exposed board-formed concrete, natural finished Corten steel exterior cladding, frameless metal windows, and clear finished Douglas Fir planks serve to “extend” the soul of the original cottage into the master suite. The project is a highly sustainable design as well. Energy use is reduced by employing a high efficiency heat pump heating and cooling system, dual paned/gasketed metal window/door systems, natural lighting through a Kalwall skylight and generous exterior glazing with extensive eaves for shading, rigid roof insulation, and earthen backing – the lower floor is up-against the hillside which tends to even-out the day/night temperature differential. Credits: Architecture & Interior Design: Richard Best Architect Inc. Structural Engineering: Dan Echeto & David Choi Associates Interior Decor: Noelle Schoop Landscape: Connie Heitzman Photos: Carmel McFayden and Adriano Sarmento / James Porschen

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography