An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

This kitchen has an entire wall of dedicated storage - but it is designed to be in flow with the opposite wall which is the work area of the room. With opening up the main floor of this home, we reduced the wall area for storage, so it was important to add as much as possible to keep the utility, but lean in to a full contemporary space with minimal walls. Behind the doors are pull out drawers as well as open shelves.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

There are several engineered components in the main support structure for this deck creation. Large subterranean footings were used to reduce the number of footings needed and to allow the structure to extend for long distances. Glulam beams were used as the main substructure which then held the intermediate structure directly below the deck surface. The siding was removed from the house so that the wall framing could be modified to carry the additional loads from the structure. The final piece of the substructure installation was comprehensive sealing and flashing at all the house integration points to prevent any water damage.

Motorized Outdoor Patio Shades are perfect for the summer and seal out insects from your patio, as well as prevent glare and reduce 95% of UV rays while maintaining an outside view.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

An organic warm natural modern update for a primary bath that used to be dark and dingy. This new spa inspired bright open primary bathroom now functions better and helps to reduce stress and restore the homeowners after a long day. The materials used were green glass subway tiles, marble looking porcelain tiles, engineered quartz countertop, hand blown glass chandelier, and a custom designed floating walnut vanity.

Mid-sized elegant u-shaped light wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Cottage porch idea in Houston

Our tiny home in motion – nearly every feature shown is made possible by plastics, including the vinyl plastic siding and trim, vinyl plastic window frames, engineered plastic solar shingles and the tough polycarbonate plastic skylight. All these features help make the house more efficient, weather resistant and help reduce required maintenance.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. James Yochum