Zero Waste Home
Minimalist kitchen photo in San Francisco

The new Mt. Vernon Insert with Efficient Energy (E2) technology is the most powerful and efficient insert ever designed by Quadra-Fire. E2 technology helps achieve 87% efficiency—saving money by burning less fuel. Plus E2 technology automatically adjusts the blower to maintain desired room temperatures. A 47 lb hopper and easy-clean cast iron firepot reduce maintenance efforts. And the Mt. Vernon E2 is the only product available with cast iron construction on all major components—proving it’s built to last.

Soft colourful plantings along the pathway, seasonal interest begins in early spring and the planting is still colourful in late summer.
Design ideas for a small craftsman partial sun front yard brick driveway in New York for summer.

The turn-of-the-century home was in need of a major kitchen remodel to open it up properly. The result is a classic, traditional-style IKEA kitchen that is warm, inviting and provides an open gathering space for the entire family. The sink was left in its original location to reduce the costs of moving any plumbing and to keep it under the window. Meanwhile, the refrigerator and stove were moved to create an improved work triangle. This approach makes mealtime (including meal prep which they couldn’t do together before!) a much more enjoyable experience for the family.

-Renovation of waterfront high-rise residence -Most of residence has glass doors, walls and windows overlooking the ocean, making ceilings the best surface for creating architectural interest -Raise ceiling heights, reduce soffits and integrate drapery pockets in the crown to hide motorized translucent shades, blackout shades and drapery panels, all which help control heat gain and glare inherent in unit’s multi-directional ocean exposure (south, east and north) -Patterns highlight ceilings in major rooms and accent their light fixtures Andy Frame Photography

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

A major focus of the Hearth Residence renovation was creating dedicated storage solutions that support everyday family life. This custom mud hall combines a built-in bench, open shelving, concealed storage, and integrated hooks to keep daily essentials organized while reducing visual clutter. Designed as part of the home’s broader interior architecture and space planning strategy, the space transforms a high-traffic transition zone into a functional and welcoming arrival experience. Warm wood millwork and natural light contribute to the calm, cohesive design language carried throughout the home.

Here we had to come up with a creative way to address the fact that the door to the primary ensuite intersected with one of the gambrels. No one really wanted to just cut the corner of the door off so we decided to use a segmented top, playing off the mid century curves to make it look intentional. That also allowed us to reduce the height of this door by 2" relative to the rest of the doors so that the cut casing was less than it othewise would have been.

-Most of residence has glass doors, walls and windows overlooking the ocean, making ceilings the best surface for creating architectural interest -Raise ceiling heights, reduce soffits and integrate drapery pockets in the crown to hide motorized translucent shades, blackout shades and drapery panels, all which help control heat gain and glare inherent in unit’s multi-directional ocean exposure (south, east and north) -Patterns highlight ceilings in major rooms and accent their light fixtures

-Most of residence has glass doors, walls and windows overlooking the ocean, making ceilings the best surface for creating architectural interest -Raise ceiling heights, reduce soffits and integrate drapery pockets in the crown to hide motorized translucent shades, blackout shades and drapery panels, all which help control heat gain and glare inherent in unit’s multi-directional ocean exposure (south, east and north) -Patterns highlight ceilings in major rooms and accent their light fixtures

Teri Fotheringham
Trendy kitchen photo in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Deck - contemporary deck idea in Vancouver with a fire pit, decking and no cover

-Most of residence has glass doors, walls and windows overlooking the ocean, making ceilings the best surface for creating architectural interest -In the renovation, we raise ceiling heights, reduce soffits and integrate drapery pockets in the crown to hide motorized translucent shades, blackout shades and drapery panels, all which help control heat gain and glare inherent in unit’s multi-directional ocean exposure (south, east and north) -Patterns highlight the ceilings in major rooms and accent their light fixtures

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Orange County

The new Mt. Vernon Insert with Efficient Energy (E2) technology is the most powerful and efficient insert ever designed by Quadra-Fire. E2 technology helps achieve 87% efficiency—saving money by burning less fuel. Plus E2 technology automatically adjusts the blower to maintain desired room temperatures. A 47 lb hopper and easy-clean cast iron firepot reduce maintenance efforts. And the Mt. Vernon E2 is the only product available with cast iron construction on all major components—proving it’s built to last.

West Des Moines two story homes create challenges for homeowners with layouts including small rooms that don’t seem to flow together. The family that lives in this home found that entertaining and gathering in the kitchen was almost impossible with the current layout and asked for an addition to solve the problem. After listening to the challenges of that they faced and working with the homeowners, a new solution emerged without an addition, reducing the overall budget and allowing the whole main floor to be updated. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dinning room, the team was able to design an island for family and friends to congregate around. Then by flanking the island with a large commercial range surrounded by a custom backsplash and custom hood a picture perfect kitchen was born. Lastly by repeating elements within the range hood, island and fireplace, the team was able to create unity throughout the space. This visually makes the space feel larger and feels like the addition was built

Major alterations to the structure completely changed the way the existing spaces felt and functioned. A pitched ceiling replaced the flat livingroom ceiling. Large sliding doors opened the living room directly onto the deck. This functionally doubled the size of the living areas, despite not increasing the footprint. The master bedroom received large stacking slider opening onto the deck, designed for privacy from the living area. Laundry and kitchen are combined with ample storage behind minimalist cabinetry. Storage and bench space are maximised while keeping everything open and airy. The white cabinetry reduces the bulk of so much storage in a smaller space. New insulation, uPVC windows and energy efficient blinds improved thermal performance. A cold house became warm, inviting,cheaper to heat and cool. The outside of the building received new window frames, colour palette, deck, facade lightling, downpipes and gutters. Retaining cladding + floors made this a cost-effective, + radical transformation.

West Des Moines two story homes create challenges for homeowners with layouts including small rooms that don’t seem to flow together. The family that lives in this home found that entertaining and gathering in the kitchen was almost impossible with the current layout and asked for an addition to solve the problem. After listening to the challenges of that they faced and working with the homeowners, a new solution emerged without an addition, reducing the overall budget and allowing the whole main floor to be updated. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dinning room, the team was able to design an island for family and friends to congregate around. Then by flanking the island with a large commercial range surrounded by a custom backsplash and custom hood a picture perfect kitchen was born. Lastly by repeating elements within the range hood, island and fireplace, the team was able to create unity throughout the space. This visually makes the space feel larger and feels like the addition was built