Quite often rear yards are often broken up into separate spaces that do not complement each other. This small urban yard was no exception and to address this bsq redesigned a smaller deck that was opened up to the rear yard. An integrated concrete seat bench added a fun element while removing the need for railings that would otherwise cut off the deck from the yard. Entertainment space was key for this family so the garden areas had to be reduced. Stainless steel cables were added as an architectural feel and to add support for vertical greening and flowering vines. An existing Corten steel planter that was a treasured art piece was turned into a gas fireplace with a removable wood top to provide double duty as a coffee table that did not take up too much space.

Quite often rear yards are often broken up into separate spaces that do not complement each other. This small urban yard was no exception and to address this bsq redesigned a smaller deck that was opened up to the rear yard. An integrated concrete seat bench added a fun element while removing the need for railings that would otherwise cut off the deck from the yard. Entertainment space was key for this family so the garden areas had to be reduced. Stainless steel cables were added as an architectural feel and to add support for vertical greening and flowering vines. An existing Corten steel planter that was a treasured art piece was turned into a gas fireplace with a removable wood top to provide double duty as a coffee table that did not take up too much space.

Dimitri Ganas
Large elegant master beige tile, multicolored tile and stone tile travertine floor corner shower photo with beige cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a two-piece toilet

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

A built-in kitchen desk provides a convenient place for household planning, paperwork and everyday tasks without requiring a separate home office. Positioned between two full-height cabinets, this compact workstation makes use of the kitchen’s vertical space through a combination of open shelving, a slim drawer and concealed storage. Mirrored cabinet doors reflect light and reduce the visual weight of the cabinetry, while the upholstered Louis-style chair adds softness, color and personality.

Inspiration for a 1950s l-shaped light wood floor and exposed beam eat-in kitchen remodel in Portland with a drop-in sink, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The Solstice team worked with these Crofton homeowners to achieve their vision of having a kitchen design that is the center of home life in this Chapman Farm home. The result is a kitchen located in the heart of the home, that serves as a welcome destination for family and visitors, with a highly effective layout. The addition of a peninsula adds extra seating and also separates the kitchen work zone from an external doorway and the living area. HomeCrest kitchen cabinets in willow finish Sedona maple includes customized pull out storage accessories like cooking utensil and knife storage inserts, pull out shelves, and more. The gray cabinetry is accented by an amazing Cambria "Langdon" quartz countertop and gray subway tile backsplash. An Allora USA double bowl sink with American Standard pull out sprayer faucet is situated facing the window, and includes an InSinkErator Evolution garbage disposal and InstaHot water dispenser in chrome. The design is accented by stainless appliances, a warm wood floor, and under- and over-cabinet lighting.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Transitional pool photo in DC Metro

On the rear of the house was a two story screen porch running 3/4 the length of the house. On the first floor we reduced the porch size by half, to relocate the new kitchen. We enclosed the entire second floor vaulted area of the screen porch to create a new walk in closet off the existing master bedroom. We also added a new modern bathroom for my client. She decided on two separate vanities with illuminated and anti-fog mirrors. A corner shower with hand head shower head was created and a new toilet added.

Awarded "Best Smart Home of the Year" by EH, this home's living area features Meridian 7200 speakers and Sonance in wall and in ceiling speakers. In order for the homeowners to enjoy different music and entertainment in various rooms, 14 zones of video and 26 zones of audio were necessary. To control the lighting and offer privacy from the large windows, Spire installed Lutron motorized shades that seamless descends from hidden soffits. Spire outfitted this beautiful Michigan home with the best in high quality luxury technology. The homeowners enjoy the complete control of their home, from lighting and shading to entertainment and security, through the Savant Control System.

Back to back bathroom vanities make quite a unique statement in this main bathroom. Add a luxury soaker tub, walk-in shower and white shiplap walls, and you have a retreat spa like no where else in the house!

Photo of a small contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in San Francisco.

CHALLENGE: -Owners want easy to maintain (white) kitchen -Must also serve as a workspace & accommodate three laptops & separate personal files -Existing kitchen has odd, angled wall of cabinets due to configuration of stairs in foyer SOLUTION: -Expand space by removing wall between kitchen & dining room -Relocate dining room into (rarely used) study -Remove columns between kitchen & new dining -Enlarge walk-in pantry by squaring off angles in stair wall -Make pantry entry a camouflaged, surprising feature by creating doors out of cabinetry -Add natural illumination with 6’ picture window -Make ceiling one plane -Add calculated runways of recessed LED lights on dimmers -Lighting leads to dynamic marble back splash behind range on back wall -New double islands & ceiling-high cabinetry quadruple previous counter & storage space -9’ island with seating includes three workstations -Seating island offers under counter electronics charging ports & three shelves of storage per workstation in cabinets directly in front of stools -Behind stools, lower cabinetry provides one drawer & two pull-out shelves per workstation -7’ prep island services 48” paneled refrigerator & 48” gas range & includes 2nd sink, 2nd dishwasher & 2nd trash/recycling station -Wine/beverage chiller located opposite island sink -Both sink spigots are touch-less & are fed by whole-house water filtration system -Independent non-leaching faucet delivers purified, double-pass reverse osmosis drinking water -Exhaust fan for gas range is hidden inside bridge of upper cabinets -Flat, easy-to-clean, custom, stainless-steel plate frames exhaust fan -New built-in window seat in bay window increases seating for informal dining while reducing floor space needed for table and chairs -New configuration allows unobstructed windows & French doors to flood space with natural light & enhances views -Open the screened porch doors to circulate fresh air throughout the home

Mannington Haven Wood Look Tile Flooring is a sleek, modern porcelain tile perfect for any bathroom, bedroom, living room or dining room space.
Minimalist gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

I created these large metal and glass barn doors to give optional privacy between a large kitchen and a living room in a custom home in San Diego. This sleek modern style of glass and metal work is a departure from my usual nature and fine art based work. The resulting look is a combination of Japanese screen panels with mid century modern design into a sleek, functional and stylish finished product. The glass is custom colored to match the amazing matching colored Florentine finish on the walls throughout the home. These large door panels telescope back to leave the entire room open or closed for entertaining while the kitchen is preparing food for the guests while they are dining. Contact me here if you would like something similar for your home or business.

Xeric landscape designed and built by Southern Landscape. This Austin homeowner reduced their turf area by over 17,000 square feet, reducing water consumption and maintenance. The remaining turf areas were required for the septic leach field. Limestone retaining walls with leuders caps control erosion. The plant palette contains lantana, plumbago, various grasses, and yuccas, all chosen for their specific water usage appropriate to the area. Landscape lighting was also added to highlight the beauty of this large xeriscape.

Trendy u-shaped brown floor and dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, gray backsplash, gray countertops, flat-panel cabinets, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula