The Owners of a home that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan wanted a home that would not only stand the test of aesthetic time, but survive the vicissitudes of the environment. With the assistance of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as well as the consulting civil engineer and the City of Grand Haven Zoning Department, a soil stabilization site plan was developed based on raising the new home’s main floor elevation by almost three feet, implementing erosion studies, screen walls and planting indigenous, drought tolerant xeriscaping. The screen walls, as well as the low profile of the home and the use of sand trapping marrum beachgrass all help to create a wind shadow buffer around the home and reduce blowing sand erosion and accretion. The Owners wanted to minimize the stylistic baggage which consumes most “cottage” residences, and with the Architect created a home with simple lines focused on the view and the natural environment. Sustainable energy requirements on a budget directed the design decisions regarding the SIPs panel insulation, energy systems, roof shading, other insulation systems, lighting and detailing. Easily constructed and linear, the home harkens back to mid century modern pavilions with present day environmental sensitivities and harmony with the site. James Yochum

A bento box is more than just a lunch container—it’s a reflection of Japanese culture, mindful eating, and balanced nutrition. Traditionally used in Japan, bento boxes have gained global popularity due to their practicality, aesthetic appeal, and ability to promote healthy eating habits. What Is a Bento Box? A bento box is a single-portion packed meal, neatly arranged in a compartmentalized container. The word “bento” originates from the Chinese term meaning convenient, which perfectly describes its purpose. A typical bento includes rice or noodles, protein like fish, meat, or tofu, and a variety of vegetables or side dishes, all placed in separate sections to maintain flavor and presentation. Cultural Significance of Bento Boxes In Japan, bento boxes represent care, effort, and balance. Parents often prepare bento meals for their children as a symbol of love, while office workers rely on them for nutritious meals during busy days. Special versions like ekiben (railway station bento) and character bento (decorated meals shaped like animals or cartoons) highlight the creativity and cultural importance of bento-making. Health Benefits of Using a Bento Box One of the biggest advantages of a bento box is its role in portion control and balanced nutrition. Since the box has fixed compartments, it encourages variety without overeating. A well-prepared bento typically follows the principle of: 40–50% carbohydrates 30–40% vegetables 20–30% protein This balance helps maintain energy levels, supports digestion, and reduces the reliance on unhealthy fast food. Modern Bento Boxes and Their Uses Today’s bento boxes are designed to suit modern lifestyles. They are available in microwave-safe, leak-proof, and eco-friendly materials such as stainless steel, BPA-free plastic, and bamboo fiber. Many come with insulated layers, sauce containers, and cutlery, making them ideal for: Office lunches School meals Travel and picnics Fitness and meal-prep routines With the rise of sustainable living, reusable bento boxes also help reduce single-use plastic waste. Bento Boxes in Everyday Life Bento boxes are no longer limited to Japanese cuisine. People worldwide use them to pack Indian, Western, vegan, or keto meals. From chapati and sabzi to pasta and salads, bento boxes adapt easily to different food preferences while keeping meals fresh and organized. Why Bento Boxes Are So Popular Today The popularity of bento boxes is driven by busy schedules, health awareness, and social media trends. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest showcase beautifully arranged bento meals, inspiring people to eat better and enjoy the process of food preparation. They combine functionality, aesthetics, and mindfulness, making meals more enjoyable. Conclusion A bento box is a smart and stylish way to enjoy homemade meals while staying healthy and organized. Whether you’re looking to improve your diet, save money, or reduce environmental impact, a bento box offers a simple yet effective solution. With its deep cultural roots and modern versatility, the bento box continues to be a timeless companion for everyday meals.

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

Homeowner had been considering construction of a pergola for quite some time, but was reluctant to do so due to lack of rain protection. Although there are several pergola kit retrofit products that meet most of their goals, none of them were a good fit by matching all. The desire was for a retractable patio awning that aesthetically matched a pergola, but was retractable, and provided protection from both UV and inclement weather on their south facing patio. Part of the goal was to provide a flexible outdoor entertaining area, but also to integrate a front drop shade to help reduce the summer's afternoon sun from entering the space; as well as the bay window and sliding doors. The "Gennius", a waterproof retractable awning by Durasol Awnings was selected by the homeowner for aesthetics and function, with a solar screen drop shade integrated between the upright support posts. As young parents, it was of utmost importance to find a durable fabric for the drop shade that not only blocked an adequate amount of sun, but retained as much view of the pool for safety when deployed. Mermet brand Natte was chosen for the drop shade. Both the retracting fabric roof and the integrated drop shade are operated by radio controlled motors and hand-held remote control. The homeowner now has complete control of the area, with on-demand protection to suit their tastes.

The SIX is a 52-unit affordable housing project provides a home, support services and rehabilitation for disabled veterans. It is located in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. McArthur Park has one of the highest densities in the USA with over 38,000 people per square mile and a total population of 120,000 people in 2.72 square miles. Offering shelter and comfort, the SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private "zones" in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space. The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area. The SIX distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design emerged from close consideration and employment of passive design strategies. These strategies include: locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize day lighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing windows to maximize natural ventilation; utilizing low flow fixtures and storm water management; shaping and planning the interior to enhance daylight and natural air flow distribution. These passive strategies alone make this building 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure.

Homeowner had been considering construction of a pergola for quite some time, but was reluctant to do so due to lack of rain protection. Although there are several pergola kit retrofit products that meet most of their goals, none of them were a good fit by matching all. The desire was for a retractable patio awning that aesthetically matched a pergola, but was retractable, and provided protection from both UV and inclement weather on their south facing patio. Part of the goal was to provide a flexible outdoor entertaining area, but also to integrate a front drop shade to help reduce the summer's afternoon sun from entering the space; as well as the bay window and sliding doors. The "Gennius", a waterproof retractable awning by Durasol Awnings was selected by the homeowner for aesthetics and function, with a solar screen drop shade integrated between the upright support posts. As young parents, it was of utmost importance to find a durable fabric for the drop shade that not only blocked an adequate amount of sun, but retained as much view of the pool for safety when deployed. Mermet brand Natte was chosen for the drop shade. Both the retracting fabric roof and the integrated drop shade are operated by radio controlled motors and hand-held remote control. The homeowner now has complete control of the area, with on-demand protection to suit their tastes.

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

Example of a large 1960s concrete floor home office design in Sacramento with gray walls

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

The SIX is a 52-unit affordable housing project provides a home, support services and rehabilitation for disabled veterans. It is located in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. McArthur Park has one of the highest densities in the USA with over 38,000 people per square mile and a total population of 120,000 people in 2.72 square miles. Offering shelter and comfort, the SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private "zones" in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space. The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area. The SIX distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design emerged from close consideration and employment of passive design strategies. These strategies include: locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize day lighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing windows to maximize natural ventilation; utilizing low flow fixtures and storm water management; shaping and planning the interior to enhance daylight and natural air flow distribution. These passive strategies alone make this building 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure.

Inspired by this Arvada kitchen renovation? Our design process blends refined materials, custom details, and thoughtful space planning to create homes that are as functional as they are beautiful. For clients seeking a luxury kitchen remodel with warmth, elegance, and everyday ease, this bespoke custom kitchen, project "Nest and Nurture" is a beautiful example of what is possible when design is tailored to the way a family truly lives. This kitchen was designed to support the rhythm of modern family living while honoring timeless, elevated craftsmanship. This transitional kitchen began as a structural redesign, requiring engineering expertise to open up the heart of the home and create a more connected, light-filled space where cooking, gathering, hosting, and everyday routines could happen with ease. The result is a warm and highly functional luxury kitchen layered with enduring materials and thoughtful details. Rich walnut cabinetry brings depth and natural character, while Taj Mahal quartzite countertops introduce soft movement, creamy warmth, and refined elegance. Brushed brass hardware, plumbing, and lighting add a tailored glow throughout the space, balancing the organic wood tones with a polished, sophisticated finish. Durable ceramic tile completes the palette, offering texture, practicality, and timeless appeal. Designed with both beauty and convenience in mind, this Arvada kitchen remodel features bespoke storage solutions crafted around the family’s daily life. Custom pull-outs, hidden organizational systems, specialty cookware storage, integrated towel storage, and finely crafted cabinetry create a kitchen that feels effortless to use and beautiful from every angle. Every detail was designed to reduce clutter, improve flow, and make the kitchen work harder without sacrificing style. With its blend of classic detailing, modern openness, and fashion-forward functionality, Nest and Nurture reflects a truly elevated approach to transitional kitchen design. This renovation transformed the home into a more generous, welcoming, and highly personalized space—one built for connection, comfort, and the everyday rituals that make a house feel deeply lived in.

Inspired by this Arvada kitchen renovation? Our design process blends refined materials, custom details, and thoughtful space planning to create homes that are as functional as they are beautiful. For clients seeking a luxury kitchen remodel with warmth, elegance, and everyday ease, this bespoke custom kitchen, project "Nest and Nurture" is a beautiful example of what is possible when design is tailored to the way a family truly lives. This kitchen was designed to support the rhythm of modern family living while honoring timeless, elevated craftsmanship. This transitional kitchen began as a structural redesign, requiring engineering expertise to open up the heart of the home and create a more connected, light-filled space where cooking, gathering, hosting, and everyday routines could happen with ease. The result is a warm and highly functional luxury kitchen layered with enduring materials and thoughtful details. Rich walnut cabinetry brings depth and natural character, while Taj Mahal quartzite countertops introduce soft movement, creamy warmth, and refined elegance. Brushed brass hardware, plumbing, and lighting add a tailored glow throughout the space, balancing the organic wood tones with a polished, sophisticated finish. Durable ceramic tile completes the palette, offering texture, practicality, and timeless appeal. Designed with both beauty and convenience in mind, this Arvada kitchen remodel features bespoke storage solutions crafted around the family’s daily life. Custom pull-outs, hidden organizational systems, specialty cookware storage, integrated towel storage, and finely crafted cabinetry create a kitchen that feels effortless to use and beautiful from every angle. Every detail was designed to reduce clutter, improve flow, and make the kitchen work harder without sacrificing style. With its blend of classic detailing, modern openness, and fashion-forward functionality, Nest and Nurture reflects a truly elevated approach to transitional kitchen design. This renovation transformed the home into a more generous, welcoming, and highly personalized space—one built for connection, comfort, and the everyday rituals that make a house feel deeply lived in.

Inspired by this Arvada kitchen renovation? Our design process blends refined materials, custom details, and thoughtful space planning to create homes that are as functional as they are beautiful. For clients seeking a luxury kitchen remodel with warmth, elegance, and everyday ease, this bespoke custom kitchen, project "Nest and Nurture" is a beautiful example of what is possible when design is tailored to the way a family truly lives. This kitchen was designed to support the rhythm of modern family living while honoring timeless, elevated craftsmanship. This transitional kitchen began as a structural redesign, requiring engineering expertise to open up the heart of the home and create a more connected, light-filled space where cooking, gathering, hosting, and everyday routines could happen with ease. The result is a warm and highly functional luxury kitchen layered with enduring materials and thoughtful details. Rich walnut cabinetry brings depth and natural character, while Taj Mahal quartzite countertops introduce soft movement, creamy warmth, and refined elegance. Brushed brass hardware, plumbing, and lighting add a tailored glow throughout the space, balancing the organic wood tones with a polished, sophisticated finish. Durable ceramic tile completes the palette, offering texture, practicality, and timeless appeal. Designed with both beauty and convenience in mind, this Arvada kitchen remodel features bespoke storage solutions crafted around the family’s daily life. Custom pull-outs, hidden organizational systems, specialty cookware storage, integrated towel storage, and finely crafted cabinetry create a kitchen that feels effortless to use and beautiful from every angle. Every detail was designed to reduce clutter, improve flow, and make the kitchen work harder without sacrificing style. With its blend of classic detailing, modern openness, and fashion-forward functionality, Nest and Nurture reflects a truly elevated approach to transitional kitchen design. This renovation transformed the home into a more generous, welcoming, and highly personalized space—one built for connection, comfort, and the everyday rituals that make a house feel deeply lived in.

The SIX is a 52-unit affordable housing project provides a home, support services and rehabilitation for disabled veterans. It is located in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. McArthur Park has one of the highest densities in the USA with over 38,000 people per square mile and a total population of 120,000 people in 2.72 square miles. Offering shelter and comfort, the SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private "zones" in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space. The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area. The SIX distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design emerged from close consideration and employment of passive design strategies. These strategies include: locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize day lighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing windows to maximize natural ventilation; utilizing low flow fixtures and storm water management; shaping and planning the interior to enhance daylight and natural air flow distribution. These passive strategies alone make this building 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure.

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

The SIX is a 52-unit affordable housing project provides a home, support services and rehabilitation for disabled veterans. It is located in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. McArthur Park has one of the highest densities in the USA with over 38,000 people per square mile and a total population of 120,000 people in 2.72 square miles. Offering shelter and comfort, the SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private "zones" in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space. The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area. The SIX distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design emerged from close consideration and employment of passive design strategies. These strategies include: locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize day lighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing windows to maximize natural ventilation; utilizing low flow fixtures and storm water management; shaping and planning the interior to enhance daylight and natural air flow distribution. These passive strategies alone make this building 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure.

The SIX is a 52-unit affordable housing project provides a home, support services and rehabilitation for disabled veterans. It is located in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. McArthur Park has one of the highest densities in the USA with over 38,000 people per square mile and a total population of 120,000 people in 2.72 square miles. Offering shelter and comfort, the SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private "zones" in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space. The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area. The SIX distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design emerged from close consideration and employment of passive design strategies. These strategies include: locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize day lighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing windows to maximize natural ventilation; utilizing low flow fixtures and storm water management; shaping and planning the interior to enhance daylight and natural air flow distribution. These passive strategies alone make this building 50% more efficient than a conventionally designed structure.