This project was an entry to the Water Wise Landscape Recognition Program in Brantford. Features include: Spillway from downspout directed to supply water to drip-line of young Red Maple. This replaced a lawn that was in constant battle with invasive weeds and crabgrass. The grade of the yard was changed to retain as much rain water as possible to significantly reduce run-off. All plants used require little to no water need outside of what Mother Nature provides.

Since the completion of the home our company has maintained this property. Originally built by a local builder as a speculation home, it was purchased by two busy professionals. Why is this important? Let's just say the clients are particular and like it when things aren't just so. Both have high level careers, travel often and expect their landscape to be pristine. Year after year our company rises to this challenge. When originally installed, the builder wanted larger plant material to provide a full and mature look. The continued growth provides a pruning challenge, especially when the client prefers a clean, neat and "compact" landscape. We continually monitor growth and hand prune accordingly, including yearly winter pruning. The backyard is particularly difficult due to the shade, moisture run-off from neighboring properties. The turf requires constant monitoring and adjustment to the irrigation system. The trees create a mess requiring clean up along with yearly power washing of the stone. While the challenges are many, the fine maintenance has led to happy clients and numerous referrals.

Inspired by the vivid tones of the surrounding waterways, we created a calming sanctuary. The grand, multi-story entry required us to define areas for greeting, staircase and sitting that were cohesive with overall design. Oversized chandelier's and art were used to enhance the soaring ceilings. The thread of the teal color weaves from room to room as a constant reminder of the beauty surrounding the home. Lush textures make each room a tactile experience as well as a visual pleasure. Robert Brantley Photography

Add more fun to your game room with the Wind Chill Air Hockey® table. Sleek contemporary styling on a sturdy pedestal base features dual abacus scorers and constant flow UL blower. Two mallets and four pucks included with each table kit. Available in seven-foot size. Some assembly required. NOTE: Please allow (up to) 2-4 weeks for delivery. Thank you

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

CLIENT ISSUES/PROBLEMS o English style garden requiring scaling back of plants and hedges o relocation of plants to maintain equality of colour throughout garden and throughout the seasons MOMENTOUS APPROACH o 3 years of maintenance to-date, gardens are constantly growing, so require on-going work o seasonal planters and annual planting every year o weekly maintenance for general gardening, large tree and hedge pruning, relocation of plants, addition of soil to keep beds healthy and provide nutrients RESULTS o Year round seasonal colour throughout the garden o Complimentary-English-style garden with abundance of perennials o Balance in size of shrubs and bushes to create clean, well-maintained look

Inspiration for a mediterranean living room remodel in Los Angeles

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

Location: Mountain View, CA Remodeling a home requires constant decision making, and every choice feels expensive and permanent. We worked closely with our clients and their contractor to make the process easy and fun, with stunning results! In this bath, the floor tile flows up the main walls of the shower, while a dramatic vertical accent of purple-toned glass mosaic spills from the ceiling, through the recessed niche, and across the shower floor all the way to the door.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

The outdoor pool area originally featured a simple, dark boundary wall that created a heavy and closed-off feeling in the space. While the pool and decking were modern and well-designed, the plain wall lacked texture, warmth, and visual interest. The surrounding landscape felt incomplete, and the overall atmosphere didn’t fully match the relaxing, resort-style environment the homeowners wanted to achieve. The space needed a solution that would soften the hard surfaces and introduce a natural element without requiring constant maintenance.