Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Project by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This project tests the theory of bringing high quality design to a prefabricated factory setting. Enrolled in the LEED-Home Pilot, this residence completed certification. The modular home was conceived as two boxes that slide above one another to create outdoor living space and a lower covered rear entry. The passive solar design invites large amounts of light from the south while minimizing openings to the east and west. Factory construction saves both time and costs while reducing waste and using a controlled labor force. Built in a factory north of Denver, the home arrived by flatbed truck in two pieces and was craned into place in about 4 hours providing a fast, sustainable, cost effective alternative to traditional homebuilding techniques. Upgraded lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, doors, door hardware, windows, tile and bamboo flooring were incorporated into the design. 80% of the residence was completed in the factory in less than 3 weeks and other items were finished on site including the exterior stucco, garage, metal railing and stair. Stack-Slide-Stitch describes the conceptual process of how to tie together two distinct modular boxes. Stack refers to setting one modular directly on top of the other. Slide refers to the action that creates an upper southern deck area while simultaneously providing a covered rear entry area. The stitching or interlocking occurs with the upward extension of the lower volume with the front deck walls and with the rear two story vertical.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

The clients for this small bathroom project are passionate art enthusiasts and asked the architects to create a space based on the work of one of their favorite abstract painters, Piet Mondrian. Mondrian was a Dutch artist associated with the De Stijl movement which reduced designs down to basic rectilinear forms and primary colors within a grid. Alloy used floor to ceiling recycled glass tiles to re-interpret Mondrian's compositions, using blocks of color in a white grid of tile to delineate space and the functions within the small room. A red block of color is recessed and becomes a niche, a blue block is a shower seat, a yellow rectangle connects shower fixtures with the drain. The bathroom also has many aging-in-place design components which were a priority for the clients. There is a zero clearance entrance to the shower. We widened the doorway for greater accessibility and installed a pocket door to save space. ADA compliant grab bars were located to compliment the tile composition. Andrea Hubbell Photography

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club installs AirField Systems AirDrain. The AirField Systems AirDrain for Golf Greens installed at Robert Trent Jones, home of The President’s Cup, continues to perform since 2004. Stronger roots, healthier turf, superior drainage and the ability to make it’s own nearly perfect perched water table without organics make AirDrain Golf Greens by AirField the choice of the most discriminating golf course architects, designers, owners and superintendents – and the savings in time, installation and maintenance make it the choice for everyone. View AirDrain Golf Greens in action after years of use at one of the most prestigious courses on the east coast. Thru a research project conducted at Texas A&M, it was concluded that you can reduce your irrigation needs using AirField Systems AirDrain. The five year research project was jointly funded by the United States Golf Association and AirField Systems and was a collaborative effort between Texas A&M, AirField Systems and the United States Golf Association. The data from the research showed that the AirField Systems drainage profile provided between one to three more days of plant available water than a United States Golf Association recommended gravel and sand profile. In addition, AirDrain by AirField Systems can significantly save on installation time because much less excavation is required compared to the traditional gravel drainage layers that have a much deeper profile. AirDrain arrives on site in 53” trailers, palletized and ready for install. Unlike gravel drainage, with AirDrain there is no need for heavy dump trucks that can compact your golf course. Benefits of an AirField System Design for Golf Greens include: 1 to 3 more days of plant available water stored in the root zone (depending on climate) Significantly reduces daily irrigation needs (as told to us by our customers) Healthier turf / Stronger root system (as told to us by our customers) 100% Vertical Drainage under the entire playing surface AirDrain is a 100% recycled copolymer with the impact modifier “metallocene” qualifying it as a “No Break” plastic Helps eliminate standing water / Simplifies maintenance (as told to us by our customers) Minimal site disturbance / Far less excavation and disposal Several Installation days are saved over a gravel installation Compact shipping that reduces overall storage and transportation costs An AirDrain System sand profile creates its own perched water table without peat moss or clay AirDrain’s sand profile and minimal organics puts it at very little risk for issues of mold or disease http://www.rtjgc.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club installs AirField Systems AirDrain. The AirField Systems AirDrain for Golf Greens installed at Robert Trent Jones, home of The President’s Cup, continues to perform since 2004. Stronger roots, healthier turf, superior drainage and the ability to make it’s own nearly perfect perched water table without organics make AirDrain Golf Greens by AirField the choice of the most discriminating golf course architects, designers, owners and superintendents – and the savings in time, installation and maintenance make it the choice for everyone. View AirDrain Golf Greens in action after years of use at one of the most prestigious courses on the east coast. Thru a research project conducted at Texas A&M, it was concluded that you can reduce your irrigation needs using AirField Systems AirDrain. The five year research project was jointly funded by the United States Golf Association and AirField Systems and was a collaborative effort between Texas A&M, AirField Systems and the United States Golf Association. The data from the research showed that the AirField Systems drainage profile provided between one to three more days of plant available water than a United States Golf Association recommended gravel and sand profile. In addition, AirDrain by AirField Systems can significantly save on installation time because much less excavation is required compared to the traditional gravel drainage layers that have a much deeper profile. AirDrain arrives on site in 53” trailers, palletized and ready for install. Unlike gravel drainage, with AirDrain there is no need for heavy dump trucks that can compact your golf course. Benefits of an AirField System Design for Golf Greens include: 1 to 3 more days of plant available water stored in the root zone (depending on climate) Significantly reduces daily irrigation needs (as told to us by our customers) Healthier turf / Stronger root system (as told to us by our customers) 100% Vertical Drainage under the entire playing surface AirDrain is a 100% recycled copolymer with the impact modifier “metallocene” qualifying it as a “No Break” plastic Helps eliminate standing water / Simplifies maintenance (as told to us by our customers) Minimal site disturbance / Far less excavation and disposal Several Installation days are saved over a gravel installation Compact shipping that reduces overall storage and transportation costs An AirDrain System sand profile creates its own perched water table without peat moss or clay AirDrain’s sand profile and minimal organics puts it at very little risk for issues of mold or disease http://www.rtjgc.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Southern Pines, NC designed a primary bathroom featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry’s Gannon door style in Evercore with a Moonshine finish. Selections for bathroom include Silestone Quartz in a Pearl Jasmine finish vanity countertops along with fixtures and accessories from Kohler and Moen. The shower features 12x24 and 2x2 Bakersfield Pumice floor tile, shower floor tile and 10x12 Bianco shower wall tile. The client emphasized Nancy's pivotal role in the remodel's success. "She was respectful of our budget, our needs (more handicap-friendly and storage space, fewer doors) and was knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t doable in our situation. Her excellent design suggestions took into consideration our choices for cabinets, fixtures, countertops, flooring and etc. She was interested and always available to help throughout the entire project," said the client. Nancy highlighted the bathroom's outdated features from the era of the garden tub. "The homeowner wanted to add storage, enlarge the shower and overall update the bathroom. By removing the tub, we added a cabinet with two roll-out shelves, a trash cabinet, and laundry hamper cabinet. Kohler mirrored medicine cabinets added personal storage above the sinks. To allow easier access to the bathroom, the entry door was widened. As a result, the vanity needed to be reduced to 18” deep." "The Kohler Veticyl 13” square sink was the perfect choice for the limited space! The shower insert was replaced with a tile shower, a glass panel and large door. We also removed the water closet door and reduced the height of the wall. There is still privacy and allows for easier access to the area. My favorite part of the project is the area where the tub was once located. The cabinetry and the arched window are lovely!” said Nancy. Photo courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements. Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma. Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house" Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden. Builder: East Shore Builders Photographer: Michael Eric Berube

Like many modern homes, this family's primary entrance is through the garage, making the laundry and mudroom an essential part of everyday life. Rather than treating it as a purely utilitarian space, the renovation transformed the room into a beautiful, highly functional transition area that welcomes the homeowner with the same level of design and craftsmanship found throughout the rest of the home. Thoughtful cabinetry, durable finishes, and refined details prove that hardworking spaces can be both practical and luxurious. In keeping with the project's commitment to sustainable luxury and thoughtful resourcefulness, the natural stone countertop from the original kitchen island was repurposed for the laundry room. Reusing this premium material not only reduced waste but also introduced the elegance and durability of natural stone into a hardworking space. The result is a custom laundry room that combines timeless design, environmental responsibility, and everyday functionality—demonstrating that luxury is as much about thoughtful planning as it is about beautiful materials.

Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Coastal Living Room with Cobalt Sheer Curtains – Crete Set in a beachfront residence in Crete, this living room project was designed to enhance the uninterrupted connection between interior space and the sea beyond. Cobalt sheer curtains were installed with a minimal x2 pleating fullness, intentionally reduced to ensure the fabric remained light, unobtrusive, and did not compete with the expansive sea view. The curtains frame the opening to the first-floor balcony, allowing natural light to flow freely while maintaining a soft sense of privacy. Within an otherwise earthy, adobe-toned interior, the cobalt fabric serves as the sole accent colour, creating a refined visual link to the surrounding sea and island landscape. This subtle contrast brings depth and atmosphere without overwhelming the calm, natural palette of the space. The client was presented with two colour options — cobalt blue and a soft verdant pastel green — ultimately selecting cobalt for its stronger reference to the coastal setting and its ability to echo the tones of the Aegean Sea.

Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements. Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma. Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house" Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden. Builder: East Shore Builders Photographer: Michael Eric Berube