Window film installed on residential windows can help homeowners enjoy the view of the water with reduced heat and glare Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a mid-sized tuscan open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Dallas with blue walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a modern living room remodel in Los Angeles

Shelly Miller Leer
Inspiration for an eclectic home design remodel in Indianapolis

David Woo The main fridge is counter depth with French doors so it doesn't interfere with traffic. To make up for a smaller fridge volume, a two drawer under counter fridge was installed in the peninsula. We put drinks in the under counter fridge and food in the main fridge which has the added benefit of distributing the traffic to either side of the kitchen. This works amazingly well. The space above the fridge we turned into a display area which acknowledges that this is a hard to reach area and best used for non-daily activity. LED strip lighting lights the space and reduces a potential dark spot in the kitchen.

Natural Cleft Bluestone random pattern patio & walkway, LED mood lighting, landscape design & construction, masonry fire pit, seating wall and planter using cultured stone veneer, new composite deck installed wit water proofed understory, Bluestone steps, drainage installation, outdoor TV, cultured stone veneer on foundation walls of house installation, outdoor TV, cultured stone veneer on foundation walls of house

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Study room - transitional built-in desk study room idea in Boston with gray walls

Classic White Kitchen With Gray Accents. Spring White Granite and Stormy Sky Quartz. Wine Bottle Rack, Wicker Baskets, Multiple Levels, Spun Glass Pendants from West Elm, Island Seating, Island Table, Under counter Microwave,

This is an example of a large mediterranean drought-tolerant and partial sun hillside stone and wood fence landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit for summer.

Homeowners may enjoy the view and natural light more with reduced heat and glare with window film installed Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional formal dark wood floor living room remodel in Las Vegas with yellow walls

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 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

Liz Daly Photography
Mid-sized transitional galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

After window film is installed the natural light comes through the windows with reduced heat and glare. Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Dallas with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Base cabinetry does not always need to follow the standard 24-inch depth. Because this wall leads toward a large bay window, full-depth cabinets would have extended across it and created an awkward sightline. Instead, 15-inch-deep cabinetry preserves the window opening while providing useful storage and the perfect surface for coffee and countertop appliances. A slim brushed-aluminum shelf keeps favorite mugs and everyday items within easy reach.

This deck entertainment area was constructed using an Azek composite wood product. The advantages of using a material such as this is that maintenance is greatly reduced (no need to stain or seal) for a longer lasting product.

Photographer: Michael Del Rossi
Modern black one-story flat roof idea in Boston

The kitchen was created in collaboration with Smallbone of Devizes. The electronic stove from Wolf has a stainless steel finish and allows residents to choose from ten different cooking modes with even temperatures and airflow throughout. The available dual fuel ranges are natural or LP gas. The refrigerator is a product of Sub-Zero and is built into the surrounding cabinetry. To ensure freshness of food and water, the refrigerator features an air purification system, that reduces stench, odors, bacteria and viruses. The residents will be accustom to cleaning without error, with the help of their fully integrated dishwasher from Miele.

Doug Petersen Photography
Mudroom - large traditional light wood floor mudroom idea in Boise with beige walls and a black front door

Landscape Architect: Stephen Prassas, RLA; Photography: Linda Oyama Bryan
Design ideas for an asian landscaping in Chicago.