This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master black and white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and gray floor drop-in bathtub remodel in Los Angeles with a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

THE DREAM White Kitchen! This room is elegant and visually stunning with clean modern lines, and yet replete with warm, inviting charm in every aspect of its design. This gorgeous white kitchen by Courthouse Design/Build with wonderful Wood-Mode cabinetry from the Courthouse Kitchens & Baths Design Studio seamlessly combines traditional elements with contemporary, modern design to bring that perfect dream of a white kitchen to life. Kenneth M. Wyner Photography Inc.

Small beach style 3/4 blue tile and mosaic tile ceramic tile and blue floor alcove bathtub photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, medium tone wood cabinets and white walls

Beach style white tile medium tone wood floor corner shower photo in New York

Photography: Werner Straube
Large transitional enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Chicago with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

C.L. Fry Photo - www.clfryphoto.com
Farmhouse white exterior home idea in Austin

Mid-sized trendy galley light wood floor open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a contemporary backyard deck remodel in San Diego with decking and no cover

This colorful kitchen is a take on modern farmhouse design. The red stools add just the right pop of color against the charcoal, white and light gray color scheme. The frosted glass cabinets add an airy quality while keeping the overall look clutter-free. The simple white pendants add just the right light to the kitchen island where the family gathers. The butcher block countertop adds warmth to the overall look and feel. Photo taken by: Michael Partenio

C.L. Fry Photo - www.clfryphoto.com
Inspiration for a cottage porch remodel in Austin

Paul Dyer Photography
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in San Francisco

Michelle Peek Photography
Corner shower - mid-sized contemporary white tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor corner shower idea in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink and brown countertops

Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu 
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects 
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers 
Staging: Da Lusso Design 
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed 
Location: Los Altos, CA
 Year completed: 2017

Photo Credit: Neil Landino, Counter Top: Calacatta Gold Honed Marble, Kitchen Sink: 39" Wide Risinger Double Bowl Fireclay, Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray 1577, Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove, Kitchen Faucet: Perrin and Rowe Bridge Kitchen Faucet, Pendant Lights: Benson Pendant | Restoration Hardware, Island Cabinets: Greenfield Custom Cabinetry-Color-Eucalyptus

The formal proportions, material consistency, and painstaking craftsmanship in Five Shadows were all deliberately considered to enhance privacy, serenity, and a profound connection to the outdoors. Architecture by CLB – Jackson, Wyoming – Bozeman, Montana. Interiors by Philip Nimmo Design.

ErIc Rorer
Example of a trendy galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects, and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Expanding on the original walls of glass and connection to nature that is common in mid-century modern homes. The completely openable walls allow the homeowners to truly open up the living space of the house, transforming it into an open air pavilion, extending the living area outdoors to the private side yards, and taking maximum advantage of indoor-outdoor living opportunities. Taking the concept of borrowed landscape from traditional Japanese architecture, the fountain, concrete bench wall, and natural landscaping bound the indoor-outdoor space. The Truly Open Eichler is a remodeled single-family house in Palo Alto. This 1,712 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, and Angela Todorova Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Flegels Construction Photography ©2014 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2014