The custom cabinetry, granite countertop and spacious cupboards are just a few of the traits that make the up the beautiful Taj Mahal kitchen. The spacious cabinets as well as wide open floor plan allow for easy living and accommodation of family.

Acquiring a new house is an exciting occasion but often has many challenges. My clients came to me to help modernize and update their new home that clearly had not been touched since the 70s. For the powder room, we pushed out into the garage on the other side of the wall to enlarge a very cramped, below-code space. Then we took organic textures and ocean and forest colors from the surrounding coastal and mountain region as inspiration. A gold and white porcelain floor runs up the wall accompanied by handmade artisanal tiles in a custom blue glaze. Grasscloth wallcovering backed with light blue paper, a sky blue ceiling, and an art photograph of blue ocean waves never fails to delight visitors. Photos by Bernardo Grijalva

The Miele induction cook top is inset down into the Ceasarstone countertop for a flush, easy clean solution. The angled plug strip from Task Lighting on the left side of the photo was a good way to meet the electrical code without encroaching on the drawer space inside the cabinets. I love the feel of the "Bunker" door into the pantry. Photography by Warren Smith, CMKBD,CAPS

Picture your family seated around this 54" round table with its knotty elm veneer, inlaid bands of darker wood for contrast, and unique pedestal style base. The table easily expands to seat 8 comfortably: simply open the geared wooden slide leaf mechanism and drop in the included 20" leaf. Seats up to 6 without leaf. W54" D54" H30" The casually sophisticated Artisanal collection brings pleasing curves, the texture of natural dry finishes or subtle painted brush strokes, and antiqued bronze hardware to your room. Inspired by the classic beauty of vintage British Campaign furniture and royal French style, this classic collection includes a bench, console table, tray cocktail table, long cocktail table, oval back side chair, round dining table, server, etagere, end table, chairside table, round lamp table, and hall chest.

This urban contemporary setting will bring out the designer in you along with endless nights of entertainment. The Cantrall corner sofa exhibits with generous seating the wonders of functionality and modern furniture. Unique combination of performance fabric with gimp trimming accents and a chrome base add a counterpoint to its taupe tone. Follow this dazzling look with the Old Hollywood Sealight, a stainless steel reproduction of a 19th-century British marine light used to transmit Morse code, finished in polished chrome.

Picture your family seated around this 54" round table with its knotty elm veneer, inlaid bands of darker wood for contrast, and unique pedestal style base. The table easily expands to seat 8 comfortably: simply open the geared wooden slide leaf mechanism and drop in the included 20" leaf. Seats up to 6 without leaf. W54" D54" H30" The casually sophisticated Artisanal collection brings pleasing curves, the texture of natural dry finishes or subtle painted brush strokes, and antiqued bronze hardware to your room. Inspired by the classic beauty of vintage British Campaign furniture and royal French style, this classic collection includes a bench, console table, tray cocktail table, long cocktail table, oval back side chair, round dining table, server, etagere, end table, chairside table, round lamp table, and hall chest.

Hammer & Hand and architect Mitch Snyder transformed a hot, cramped, non-code-compliant attic space into a bright and functional master suite. The existing upstairs attic space had two small and hard-to-access bedrooms and a dangerous staircase. The team added a new dormer on the west side of the house which added an additional 195 square feet to the home. The new space includes a master bedroom, master bathroom with vanity and shower, separate water closet, laundry, walk-in master closet, and option to add a small bedroom (the space is currently being used as an open office area). Additional improvements to the home include an upgraded building envelope, insulation, high efficiency water heater, and minisplit heat pump. Photos by Mitchell Snyder Architecture.

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

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

Rustic stone Siding & insulated vinyl siding in Naperville Illinois installed by Opal Enterprises. Plus replacement windows with Alside Energy Star windows.

Hammer & Hand and architect Mitch Snyder transformed a hot, cramped, non-code-compliant attic space into a bright and functional master suite. The existing upstairs attic space had two small and hard-to-access bedrooms and a dangerous staircase. The team added a new dormer on the west side of the house which added an additional 195 square feet to the home. The new space includes a master bedroom, master bathroom with vanity and shower, separate water closet, laundry, walk-in master closet, and option to add a small bedroom (the space is currently being used as an open office area). Additional improvements to the home include an upgraded building envelope, insulation, high efficiency water heater, and minisplit heat pump. Photos by Mitchell Snyder Architecture.

Wine cubbie hiding on the end of the island! So cute.
Large transitional u-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, granite countertops and ceramic backsplash

Enjoy the outdoors with the Charles fireplace. Constructed with fiberglass reinforced cement, this chiminea is elegantly designed with a antique copper finish and decorative trim detail. The Iron double doors are fixed on both sides for easy accessibility, and the iron shields offer ample protection to enjoy a chat fireside with your guests. Adding this piece will bring warmth to your backyard or patio area, for those summer and winter nights. Features: Constructed with fiberglass reinforced cement for durability Features protective iron double door shields Easy to assemble (tools and instructions included) Contemporary style will add warmth and elegance to your backyard or patio Ideal for entertaining guests outdoors Product Specifications Manufactured By Great Deal Furniture Sold By Great Deal Furniture Width 33.75" Depth 17.75" Height 51.25" Category Firepits Great Deal Furniture

This Furlong, PA in ground pool was designed to fit perfectly in this backyard. The pool deck was extended so that sun bathing chairs could be facing out into the open views of the land. The natural wooded area of the back of the property was softened by various rows of colorful plantings. An aluminum fence surrounds the pool following code. A small pocket of grasses and river jack stone add beauty to the pool side.

Example of a mid-sized beach style light wood floor and brown floor dining room design in Atlanta with white walls and no fireplace

1911. Art school, then restaurant, then home. The building at 463 Commercial Street has been a landmark on Provincetown Harbor since 1911. It started as Ambrose Webster's art school, an early hub of the Provincetown art colony. By mid-century it had become Pat Patrick's Flagship Bar and Grill, where a young Anthony Bourdain got his start in restaurant kitchens. When I was hired to rebuild it in 2012, the wharf and the structure both needed serious work, and the project had to satisfy Provincetown's historic codes and Massachusetts state waterfront codes simultaneously. The brief was to convert the restaurant into a private residence without losing the building's soul. That meant preserving what mattered most. The wide plank floors. The porthole windows. The dory, which has been the bar since the Flagship era and still is. New systems and modern living, all sitting carefully behind the scenes. Marble island, brass faucet, a sculptural light over the kitchen, full water views from the harbor side. Outside, the original wooden pilings still hold the structure above the tideline, weathered green where the tide reaches. In 2019 the house was featured in HGTV's Ultimate House Hunt in the waterfront homes category and covered by Cape Cod Home magazine. This is the project I'm proudest of. It's the closest thing I've done to architecture as a form of memory. The building has held a piece of Provincetown's working waterfront for more than a century. The job was making sure it could keep doing that as a home.

1911. Art school, then restaurant, then home. The building at 463 Commercial Street has been a landmark on Provincetown Harbor since 1911. It started as Ambrose Webster's art school, an early hub of the Provincetown art colony. By mid-century it had become Pat Patrick's Flagship Bar and Grill, where a young Anthony Bourdain got his start in restaurant kitchens. When I was hired to rebuild it in 2012, the wharf and the structure both needed serious work, and the project had to satisfy Provincetown's historic codes and Massachusetts state waterfront codes simultaneously. The brief was to convert the restaurant into a private residence without losing the building's soul. That meant preserving what mattered most. The wide plank floors. The porthole windows. The dory, which has been the bar since the Flagship era and still is. New systems and modern living, all sitting carefully behind the scenes. Marble island, brass faucet, a sculptural light over the kitchen, full water views from the harbor side. Outside, the original wooden pilings still hold the structure above the tideline, weathered green where the tide reaches. In 2019 the house was featured in HGTV's Ultimate House Hunt in the waterfront homes category and covered by Cape Cod Home magazine. This is the project I'm proudest of. It's the closest thing I've done to architecture as a form of memory. The building has held a piece of Provincetown's working waterfront for more than a century. The job was making sure it could keep doing that as a home.

1911. Art school, then restaurant, then home. The building at 463 Commercial Street has been a landmark on Provincetown Harbor since 1911. It started as Ambrose Webster's art school, an early hub of the Provincetown art colony. By mid-century it had become Pat Patrick's Flagship Bar and Grill, where a young Anthony Bourdain got his start in restaurant kitchens. When I was hired to rebuild it in 2012, the wharf and the structure both needed serious work, and the project had to satisfy Provincetown's historic codes and Massachusetts state waterfront codes simultaneously. The brief was to convert the restaurant into a private residence without losing the building's soul. That meant preserving what mattered most. The wide plank floors. The porthole windows. The dory, which has been the bar since the Flagship era and still is. New systems and modern living, all sitting carefully behind the scenes. Marble island, brass faucet, a sculptural light over the kitchen, full water views from the harbor side. Outside, the original wooden pilings still hold the structure above the tideline, weathered green where the tide reaches. In 2019 the house was featured in HGTV's Ultimate House Hunt in the waterfront homes category and covered by Cape Cod Home magazine. This is the project I'm proudest of. It's the closest thing I've done to architecture as a form of memory. The building has held a piece of Provincetown's working waterfront for more than a century. The job was making sure it could keep doing that as a home.

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