garden design, ipe deck, landscape lighting, lawn, planters, solar panels
Deck - small contemporary backyard deck idea in DC Metro with decking and no cover

Rooftop residential solar project installed on a comp shingle roof.
Inspiration for a timeless exterior home remodel in San Francisco

Mid-sized urban rooftop deck photo in New York with a pergola

close-up of rooftop terrace solar photovoltaic pergola
Inspiration for an eclectic deck remodel in Cincinnati

rear addition and rooftop terrace with solar photovoltaic pergola
Eclectic exterior home photo in Cincinnati

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard brick formal garden in DC Metro.

NaturEnergy Inc

rear addition and rooftop terrace with solar photovoltaic pergola
Example of an eclectic exterior home design in Cincinnati

©Nathan Kirkman 2013
Example of a trendy rooftop rooftop deck design in Chicago

rear addition and rooftop terrace with solar photovoltaic pergola
Inspiration for an eclectic exterior home remodel in Cincinnati

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Trendy dining room photo in Minneapolis

Fireplaces, water features, and fire pits warm up the courtyard with style and comfort in the EVOKE Luxe home.
Inspiration for a contemporary deck remodel in Seattle with a fireplace

Imbue Design
Example of a mid-sized minimalist one-story stone flat roof design in Salt Lake City

Trendy home design photo in Minneapolis

Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Seattle

Wanting to create an oasis in the city, our clients needed this garden to be lush and vibrant for their high-rise office space in Midtown, Manhattan. The garden needed to function as an area where clients and employees could hold meetings, have lunch, host after work functions or just take a relaxing break during work. The evergreen shrubs and grasses give those working inside their privacy while the tall trees provide shade for the terrace that is in full sun most of the day. We used a mix of drought-tolerant plants as well as annuals to create a look that is full and at the same time low maintenance. Photo: Lori Cannava

SunPower® home solar panels can help lower your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
Inspiration for a large southwestern beige one-story stucco exterior home remodel in San Francisco