Emily Followill
Beach style living room photo in Atlanta

Leigh Castelli photography
This is an example of an eclectic landscaping in San Diego.

Agave close up Leigh Castelli photography
Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in San Diego.

Control every lights and shades to maximize energy saving and convenience. Outside lighting will turn on before dark and off at desire time.

After searching for years for the perfect home in Nantucket, they feel in love with the large garden, rare within the town limits, of this traditional Nantucket bungalow. While the garden was perfect, the house needed to be renovated and expanded to host family and friends. By smartly capturing every inch of space within the existing footprint, the house was transformed into a bright and airy 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath vacation home.

Large minimalist concrete floor and brown floor front door photo with brown walls and a glass front door

Taking advantage of this yards natural slope by adding stone steppers gives dimension to this yard.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard garden path in Denver.

Example of a large minimalist concrete floor and brown floor front door design with brown walls and a glass front door

After searching for years for the perfect home in Nantucket, they feel in love with the large garden, rare within the town limits, of this traditional Nantucket bungalow. While the garden was perfect, the house needed to be renovated and expanded to host family and friends. By smartly capturing every inch of space within the existing footprint, the house was transformed into a bright and airy 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath vacation home.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Mexican Sage Close up Leigh Castelli photography
Design ideas for an eclectic landscaping in San Diego.

A smart shade solution for discerning home owners, businesses and designers striving for controllable outdoor entertaining environments.

Smart Focus Photography
Elegant patio photo in Raleigh

Inspiration for a 1950s garage remodel in San Francisco

Patio - large tropical backyard stone patio idea in Hawaii with a roof extension

Smart contemporary courtyard. K Rend walls and raised planters, Evergreen planting including evergreen pleached trees, olive trees, box balls and ornamental grasses. Slatted timber screening for privacy

Bigger is not always better, but something of highest quality is. This amazing, size-appropriate Lake Michigan cottage is just that. Nestled in an existing historic stretch of Lake Michigan cottages, this new construction was built to fit in the neighborhood, but outperform any other home in the area concerning energy consumption, LEED certification and functionality. It features 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an open concept kitchen/living room, a separate mudroom entrance and a separate laundry. This small (but smart) cottage is perfect for any family simply seeking a retreat without the stress of a big lake home. The interior details include quartz and granite countertops, stainless appliances, quarter-sawn white oak floors, Pella windows, and beautiful finishing fixtures. The dining area was custom designed, custom built, and features both new and reclaimed elements. The exterior displays Smart-Side siding and trim details and has a large EZE-Breeze screen porch for additional dining and lounging. This home owns all the best products and features of a beach house, with no wasted space. Cottage Home is the premiere builder on the shore of Lake Michigan, between the Indiana border and Holland.

A modern rooftop garden in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, designed for relaxed city living. This penthouse terrace blends clean lines, lush planting, and smart functionality to create a chic urban retreat for entertaining and everyday enjoyment.