What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

What used to be a dated 1980's u-shaped kitchen without any flow or interest is now an open and inviting gathering space with plenty of room to cook and for everyone to sit or walk around. We squared off the bay window area making cabinets with drawers and pull-outs a possibility, plus the extra deep sink cabinet has room for a filtered water/carbonated water system. The side windows are easy to reach, and one is a pass through to the BBQ area. The island doubles as a large dining table and has a prep sink that can also be used by the bar area and refrigerator/microwave/leftovers area without bothering the chef. Also in the island is a Perlick ice maker, wicker pull out baskets for fruits and vegetable and an open bookcase for cookbooks and to tuck away school/homework supplies. All the tall items like the refrigerator, pantry and wall ovens are grouped together to one side to keep the room from getting too choppy. The bar area has a beverage refrigerator and liquor and stemware storage but also has a charging station and drop zone storage since it is next to the door coming from the garage. (Photo credit; Shawn Lober Construction)

LEED Certification Level: V4 Builder: BPC Green Builders, LLC Architect: Trillium Architects. The Taft School faculty home serves as a high performance residence and learning lab for students. The project also earned certification through ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, Water Sense, PHIUS, and Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes with Living Building Challenge Petal recognition pending. The project team was honored with third place in the 2014 Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. Excluding the photovoltaic installation the HERS index was 33, and with the 13.1 kW the HERS index is -14. A year of utility bills show the home is producing more electricity than it uses. Located on a quiet street adjacent to campus the existing, historic home was deconstructed and materials donated or reused where possible. Challenged to find high efficiency windows that were historic commission acceptable, the team installed Klearwall awnings or casements over fixed glass (to mimic double hungs) with simulated divided lites (u-values as low as 0.13). A high solar heat gain coefficient (0.58) facilitates the passive solar gain for winter months, while well designed overhangs and a pergola shade summer sun. Double stud walls have 2¼” closed cell foam plus 8½” dense pack cellulose for a R-49 cavity. The exterior sheathing is R-6.6 Zip Wall System with taped seams to create the continuous air barrier. Inside the solid concrete foundation is 3” closed cell foam behind 2x4 stud walls and R-32 cellulose in the cavity. Prefabricated TJI joists frame the attic floor, an insulated “room” houses the heat recovery ventilator and ductwork, and blown in cellulose blankets it all in R-86. The house tested 0.6ACH50 proving the effectiveness of its air-tight envelope and attention to air sealing. Heating and cooling is provided by efficient air source heat pumps (9.2 HSPF, 16.5 SEER) and delivered by short duct runs which tested extremely tight. A heat pump water heater provides domestic hot water and an on-demand switch, with an occupancy sensor at each bath, ensures hot water is delivered fast and efficiently. Low flow fixtures are WaterSense certified, appliances are Energy Star labeled, and all LED lighting. A Zehnder Novus 300 (93.3% efficient) HRV supplies 112 cfm of continuous fresh air while using only 32 watts of power and running quietly. The homeowners control the mechanical ventilation through the intuitive wall-mounted control pad to shut off or increase the ventilation. Chemicals and contaminants were reduced by using low VOC and GreenGuard certified sealants, adhesives, primers, and paints. A walk-off matt at the side entry and hardwood floors help control dirt and dust. The granite front steps were salvaged and local stone used for the patio and stone walls. Storm water runoff from the roof, patio, and driveway is managed by the rain garden. The native landscaping is low maintenance, a community garden produces vegetables, and the chicken coop is powered by its own roof mounted PV panels. Taft School Director of Environmental Stewardship, Carly Borken has used the design and construction process as a teaching tool for her science classes. With access to the home monitoring system they can virtually access the residents’ consumption.

LEED Certification Level: V4 Builder: BPC Green Builders, LLC Architect: Trillium Architects The Taft School faculty home serves as a high performance residence and learning lab for students. The project also earned certification through ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, Water Sense, PHIUS, and Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes with Living Building Challenge Petal recognition pending. The project team was honored with third place in the 2014 Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. Excluding the photovoltaic installation the HERS index was 33, and with the 13.1 kW the HERS index is -14. A year of utility bills show the home is producing more electricity than it uses. Located on a quiet street adjacent to campus the existing, historic home was deconstructed and materials donated or reused where possible. Challenged to find high efficiency windows that were historic commission acceptable, the team installed Klearwall awnings or casements over fixed glass (to mimic double hungs) with simulated divided lites (u-values as low as 0.13). A high solar heat gain coefficient (0.58) facilitates the passive solar gain for winter months, while well designed overhangs and a pergola shade summer sun. Double stud walls have 2¼” closed cell foam plus 8½” dense pack cellulose for a R-49 cavity. The exterior sheathing is R-6.6 Zip Wall System with taped seams to create the continuous air barrier. Inside the solid concrete foundation is 3” closed cell foam behind 2x4 stud walls and R-32 cellulose in the cavity. Prefabricated TJI joists frame the attic floor, an insulated “room” houses the heat recovery ventilator and ductwork, and blown in cellulose blankets it all in R-86. The house tested 0.6ACH50 proving the effectiveness of its air-tight envelope and attention to air sealing. Heating and cooling is provided by efficient air source heat pumps (9.2 HSPF, 16.5 SEER) and delivered by short duct runs which tested extremely tight. A heat pump water heater provides domestic hot water and an on-demand switch, with an occupancy sensor at each bath, ensures hot water is delivered fast and efficiently. Low flow fixtures are WaterSense certified, appliances are Energy Star labeled, and all LED lighting. A Zehnder Novus 300 (93.3% efficient) HRV supplies 112 cfm of continuous fresh air while using only 32 watts of power and running quietly. The homeowners control the mechanical ventilation through the intuitive wall-mounted control pad to shut off or increase the ventilation. Chemicals and contaminants were reduced by using low VOC and GreenGuard certified sealants, adhesives, primers, and paints. A walk-off matt at the side entry and hardwood floors help control dirt and dust. The granite front steps were salvaged and local stone used for the patio and stone walls. Storm water runoff from the roof, patio, and driveway is managed by the rain garden. The native landscaping is low maintenance, a community garden produces vegetables, and the chicken coop is powered by its own roof mounted PV panels. Taft School Director of Environmental Stewardship, Carly Borken has used the design and construction process as a teaching tool for her science classes. With access to the home monitoring system they can virtually access the residents’ consumption.

Lighting by Idlewood Electric's dedicated Lighting Sales Specialists.
Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and black floor enclosed kitchen design in Chicago with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

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Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard landscaping in Houston.

This is a school project in Menlo Park that Cesar installed.
Design ideas for a huge traditional drought-tolerant and full sun courtyard landscaping in San Francisco for spring.

The historic Santa Barbara High School Peabody Stadium was built in 1924. The Grandstand Replacement and Stadium Renovation Project intends to modernize the nearly 100-year-old stadium’s infrastructure and athletic field. Plant material was supplied by Bidscape in three separate phases.

The historic Santa Barbara High School Peabody Stadium was built in 1924. The Grandstand Replacement and Stadium Renovation Project intends to modernize the nearly 100-year-old stadium’s infrastructure and athletic field. Plant material was supplied by Bidscape in three separate phases.

Michal Utterback
Example of a minimalist living room design in Los Angeles

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

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.