Vertical supports keep crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans, and some squashes off the ground as well as provide visual interest. Cathy Edger, Edger Landscape Design

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.

Rear Gabions filled with salvaged "rounds" from storm felled local trees. ©ToddHaimanLandscapeDesign2014
Photo of a small eclectic partial sun backyard gravel water fountain landscape in New York.

We have years of experience working in houses, high-rise residential condominium buildings, restaurants, offices and build-outs of all commercial spaces in the Chicago-land area.

Low maintenance, stain- and scratch-resistant AZEK Deck carries a limited lifetime warranty and is designed to last beautifully. Available in 17 colors and several grain textures, AZEK Deck has a color to complement any housing exterior. Shown here is AZEK Deck in Acacia with AZEK Deck in Kona used as a border. Offering easy living at its finest, AZEK Deck lets you enhance your backyard experience. With superior workability, AZEK Deck is perfect to create complete outdoor spaces with built-in benches, planters, and even works great around hot tubs and pools.

Photo of a contemporary front yard landscaping in Boston.

Ryann Ford
Design ideas for a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

Seattle architect Curtis Gelotte restores life to a dated home.
Mid-sized 1950s multicolored mixed siding house exterior photo in Seattle with a hip roof and a metal roof

Erin Lau
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

Mark Woods
This is an example of a modern gravel landscaping in Seattle with a pergola.

Tigerwood Horizontal Fence on Cinder Block Patio Wall. Opened Entire Front of House Adding New Windows, Patio Doors and Clerestory. Photo by David Lauer. www.davidlauerphotography.com

A rain chain collects roof runoff and delivers it to the rain garden. The rain garden collects water and lets it soak into the ground slowly, so it doesn't run off into nearby waterways.

Vista Estate Imaging
Example of a country freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office design in Seattle with yellow walls

Design credit: Bill Bib Photo credit: Melissa Preston
This is an example of a transitional side yard landscaping in Dallas.

With edible gardens surrounding the home, keep the kitchen's pantry stocked with canned tomatoes from the season's bumper crop.
Kitchen pantry - large contemporary u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen pantry idea in San Francisco with white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Shawn-Paul Luchin Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Open kitchen has great views to the beautiful back yard through new Fleetwood aluminum windows and doors. The large glass door at left fully pockets into the wall. Cabinets are a combination of natural walnut and lacquer painted uppers with Caesarstone countertops and backsplashes. Duda bar stools by Sossego in walnut neatly fit into the new island. To reduce costs the new kitchen was designed around the owners existing appliances.