Inspiration for a timeless front porch remodel with decking and a roof extension

Mediterranean beige two-story exterior home idea in San Francisco with a hip roof

Example of a tuscan patio design in Austin with a roof extension

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Inspiration for a small scandinavian formal light wood floor living room remodel in Moscow with white walls, a plaster fireplace and a ribbon fireplace

Example of a country l-shaped light wood floor kitchen design in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets and an island

Julia Lynn
Example of a beach style white three-story exterior home design in Charleston with a hip roof

come on in for a stunning taste sure to appeal to your senses of a little bit of nantucket, california and st barths' a la mode!
Photo of a coastal full sun backyard landscaping in Boston with decking.

Photo Credit: kee sites
Inspiration for a rustic master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

In this home we employed many of our high performance home techniques to build a very comfortable, healthy and beautiful home. The architects were Moskow-Linn of Boston. Photography: Gil Jacobs

Architect: Peter Becker General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Ciro Coelho
Living room - large mediterranean enclosed dark wood floor living room idea in Santa Barbara with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Amber Frederiksen Photography
Mid-sized transitional gray one-story stucco house exterior photo in Miami with a hip roof

michael mcdonough
Inspiration for a small rustic brown two-story wood gable roof remodel

Angle Eye Photography
Mid-sized farmhouse brick floor and red floor sunroom photo in Philadelphia with a skylight

Beautiful craftsman details on this Legato in Layton, Utah by Symphony Homes.
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts gray one-story concrete fiberboard gable roof design in Salt Lake City with a shingle roof

Example of a small beach style white two-story wood gable roof design in Orange County

© Coles Hairston
Mediterranean stone exterior home idea in Austin

Traditional Style Speculative Home in West University. The home maximizes a 5250 sq ft lot with a 4000 sq foot home and room for a pool. Architecture by J Marshall Porterfield. Interior, Exterior and Landscaping Design by Jennifer Hamelet of Mirador Builders.

Jeff Roberts
This is an example of a coastal side porch design in Portland Maine with a roof extension and decking.