The kitchen sink is uniquely positioned to overlook the home’s former atrium and is bathed in natural light from a modern cupola above. The original floorplan featured an enclosed glass atrium that was filled with plants where the current stairwell is located. The former atrium featured a large tree growing through it and reaching to the sky above. At some point in the home’s history, the atrium was opened up and the glass and tree were removed to make way for the stairs to the floor below. The basement floor below is adjacent to the cave under the home. You can climb into the cave through a door in the home’s mechanical room. I can safely say that I have never designed another home that had an atrium and a cave. Did I mention that this home is very special?

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz Although the Williamsons were not expecting to go through with completely gutting their new home, the discovery of invasive pest and mold problems required all walls to come down. Amidst such surprises, the couple also discovered double-brick wall beneath the layers of paneling lining every room. "We hit the jackpot on that one!" Catherine laughs. It was at this point that the couple's design intentions took a shift. Whereas their previous home had been full of color and decorative accents, they opted for a more neutral, spare sense in this home. As Catherine explains, "We felt that the walls, and ceilings and floors spoke for themselves, and we didn't want our furniture to to take away from these features." Antique crates inherited from Catherine's family can be found throughout the home. Containing extra household items from books, to blankets, to collectibles, they are a way to keep clutter at bay.

Creative ways to solve challenges was the name of the game in this project. We had to have a railing for the stair for safety but the stair was also very narrow making moving furniture into the basement difficult even when the railing wasn’t there. Working with a local artisan who is known for his play with steel rod sculptures playing in light and motion, we found an opportunity for artistry as well as function. We worked together incorporating the lines and curves used in the furniture to create a screen made up of panels that seem to shift and move while staying light and translucent. Photos by Keith Isaacs

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

By Design "I WANT THAT" Wednesday find of the week . . . pull out drawers in the kitchen, pantry and bathrooms are not new. This feature has been making stationary shelves obsolete BUT add some LED tape light and an "instant on" or "motion sensor" feature to the space and you've REALLY got something! The possibilities are endless.

Phillip Frink Photography
Modern exterior home idea in Boston

I chose a Sensor Faucet because I enjoy cooking and I do tend to get my hands covered in flour etc. so the sensor faucet is perfect for me! A water filter tap and incinerator where also added. The stainless steel lid inserted into the bench top is for trash and very handy when preparing vegetables and food. Mosaic tiles are from mosaics.com and these look amazing! I also added acrylic panelling (not widely used in construction in the USA) but I wanted a glass like finish without the cost of glass. All tiling and acrylic are edged with Schluter for a nice clean finish. Everything was ordered ONLINE.

Clean Spacious mechanical room, easy access to all home systems.
Example of a minimalist home design design in Philadelphia

This air bath tub sits on a granite surround. Frame and panel custom made cover hides all the mechanicals. Marble subway tiles surround the tub and keep the "hard scape" soft. A custom built in soap niche is to the right. Photo Credit: N. Leonard

Created for a busy and health conscious CEO, this executive desk raises from sitting height to standing height and back again at the touch of a button. The high quality frame and lift mechanism is solid and reliable and clad in removable walnut panels. The top/sides telescope the clad frame for a finished appearance in any position. The walnut is local and the finish is Ultra Low VOC pre-cat Acrylic.

Arbor's smooth profile is tailored to perfection. The slight flare of the handle and the curve of the spout make this a transitional look that works with a variety of decorating styles, while Moen’s MotionSense Wave™ touchless technology offers hands-free convenience. Faucets with MotionSense Wave feature a single-sensor touchless activation, allowing users to easily turn water on and off with the wave of a hand. 1. featuring single-sensor touchless activation, MotionSense wave™ allows you to easily turn water on and off with the wave of a hand. no need to touch the faucet with dirty or wet hands. 2. Spot Resist™ stainless finish resists fingerprints and water spots for a cleaner looking kitchen 3. Power Clean™ spray technology provides 50 percent more spray power versus most of our pulldown and pullout faucets without the Power Clean™ technology. 4. equipped with the Reflex™ system for smooth operation, easy movement and secure docking of the pulldown/pullout spray head 5. faucet pulldown hose offers flexible water delivery and hose retracts with ease 6. features Duralock™ quick connect system for easy installation 7. one-handle lever handle makes it easy to adjust the water 8. aerated stream for everyday cleaning; powerful rinse for heavy-duty cleaning; pause function lets you conveniently stop water flow from the spray head 9. single hole mount creates a cleaner look against custom countertops 10. complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications 11. meets current legislation, including ab1953 (california) and s152 (vermont) 12. 5 year warranty on digital components; limited lifetime trim warranty

The two prefabricated modules are connected to the site built garage. Alpinfoto
Small minimalist two-story mixed siding flat roof photo in Seattle

Stylish brewery owners with airline miles that match George Clooney’s decided to hire Regan Baker Design to transform their beloved Duboce Park second home into an organic modern oasis reflecting their modern aesthetic and sustainable, green conscience lifestyle. From hops to floors, we worked extensively with our design savvy clients to provide a new footprint for their kitchen, dining and living room area, redesigned three bathrooms, reconfigured and designed the master suite, and replaced an existing spiral staircase with a new modern, steel staircase. We collaborated with an architect to expedite the permit process, as well as hired a structural engineer to help with the new loads from removing the stairs and load bearing walls in the kitchen and Master bedroom. We also used LED light fixtures, FSC certified cabinetry and low VOC paint finishes. Regan Baker Design was responsible for the overall schematics, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, as well as the selection and procurement of all fixtures, cabinets, equipment, furniture,and accessories. Key Contributors: Green Home Construction; Photography: Sarah Hebenstreit / Modern Kids Co.

Kitchen island & window. Showing the induction cook top, veggie sink & faucet, and square double sink & motion sensor faucet.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

AFTER RENO

This beautiful beachy ensuite has motion sensor under cabinet lighting that turns on when you enter the bathroom and heated tile flooring. Mornings made easy.

This whole home reno involved creating a kitchen greatroom on the main floor and significantly re configuring the upper floor including making a full master bathroom and converting an extra bedroom into walk in closet. An old family home transformed into a modern home for a great young family home of busy professionals.

This modern bathroom displays floating cabinets with motion sensor under cabinet lighting and a long slender window to allow the natural light to flood in.

AFTER RENO