Bathroom - large mid-century modern master white tile terrazzo floor, white floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, white countertops and a built-in vanity

French doors lead out to the lake side deck of this home. A wet bar features an under counter wine refrigerator, a small bar sink, and an under counter beverage center. A reclaimed wood shelf runs the length of the wet bar and offers great storage for glasses, alcohol, etc for parties. The exposed wood beams on the vaulted ceiling add so much texture, warmth, and height. Photographer: Martin Menocal

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

The original kitchen in this 1990s two-story traditional home had cabinet peninsulas that made moving in and out and around the kitchen awkward. It was also “tired” with a dated design. The owners looked to Rick Jacobson for a transformation. They wanted an open kitchen with comfortable spaces for food prep and cooking, entertaining, and raising a family. The before and after photos on our website tell the story. The original design included two peninsulas; one with two bar seats for casual dining, and another that was essentially granite-topped cabinet for storage. While enclosing the kitchen, the design limited traffic flow. The stove, refrigerator and dishwasher needed to be replaced. Oak cabinets were showing their age. Oak trim around the windows were bland. The window blinds weren’t all that appealing. Lighting was tired. Flooring needed help as well. The good news: A new, bright, open, inviting and functional design could totally transform the room without having to relocate plumbing and electrical. The project began by getting rid of everything old and starting over. The popcorn ceiling was scraped down and replaced with a knock-down finish. The window trim was replaced with white painted poplar Princeton trim. New white translucent blinds let light in and offers privacy. The floors were sanded and dark stained with an oil base finish. And the floorboards were replaced with a three-part pine base. The new white kitchen cabinets feature Classic White Dura Supreme cabinetry with Kendal panels and rubbed oil hardware. The new countertops are made with Alaska White Granite from Capital Granite. The beautiful back splash was constructed with Rubbed Oil and Glass features from the Tile Shop. The Kraus open bay under mount stainless steel sink works well with Kohler brushed Nickel fixtures. All the appliances were replaced with stainless steel finishes. A gas cooktop replaced the original electric, with a new stainless steel range hood that was vented to the outdoors - a major improvement because the old range hood just had circulating filters. All the lights, including those lighting the counter, are on dimmers, making the room easily adjustable. A fresh new coat of Benjamin Moore Pashmina Af-100 paint on the walls, and Benjamin Moore White Dove Pm-19 paint on the trim, adds a light and neutral color that gives a fresh and crisp but warm feel. The result: A bright, open, functional kitchen, perfect for entertaining and raising a family. The owners love it!

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The original kitchen in this 1990s two-story traditional home had cabinet peninsulas that made moving in and out and around the kitchen awkward. It was also “tired” with a dated design. The owners looked to Rick Jacobson for a transformation. They wanted an open kitchen with comfortable spaces for food prep and cooking, entertaining, and raising a family. The before and after photos on our website tell the story. The original design included two peninsulas; one with two bar seats for casual dining, and another that was essentially granite-topped cabinet for storage. While enclosing the kitchen, the design limited traffic flow. The stove, refrigerator and dishwasher needed to be replaced. Oak cabinets were showing their age. Oak trim around the windows were bland. The window blinds weren’t all that appealing. Lighting was tired. Flooring needed help as well. The good news: A new, bright, open, inviting and functional design could totally transform the room without having to relocate plumbing and electrical. The project began by getting rid of everything old and starting over. The popcorn ceiling was scraped down and replaced with a knock-down finish. The window trim was replaced with white painted poplar Princeton trim. New white translucent blinds let light in and offers privacy. The floors were sanded and dark stained with an oil base finish. And the floorboards were replaced with a three-part pine base. The new white kitchen cabinets feature Classic White Dura Supreme cabinetry with Kendal panels and rubbed oil hardware. The new countertops are made with Alaska White Granite from Capital Granite. The beautiful back splash was constructed with Rubbed Oil and Glass features from the Tile Shop. The Kraus open bay under mount stainless steel sink works well with Kohler brushed Nickel fixtures. All the appliances were replaced with stainless steel finishes. A gas cooktop replaced the original electric, with a new stainless steel range hood that was vented to the outdoors - a major improvement because the old range hood just had circulating filters. All the lights, including those lighting the counter, are on dimmers, making the room easily adjustable. A fresh new coat of Benjamin Moore Pashmina Af-100 paint on the walls, and Benjamin Moore White Dove Pm-19 paint on the trim, adds a light and neutral color that gives a fresh and crisp but warm feel. The result: A bright, open, functional kitchen, perfect for entertaining and raising a family. The owners love it!

The original kitchen in this 1990s two-story traditional home had cabinet peninsulas that made moving in and out and around the kitchen awkward. It was also “tired” with a dated design. The owners looked to Rick Jacobson for a transformation. They wanted an open kitchen with comfortable spaces for food prep and cooking, entertaining, and raising a family. The before and after photos on our website tell the story. The original design included two peninsulas; one with two bar seats for casual dining, and another that was essentially granite-topped cabinet for storage. While enclosing the kitchen, the design limited traffic flow. The stove, refrigerator and dishwasher needed to be replaced. Oak cabinets were showing their age. Oak trim around the windows were bland. The window blinds weren’t all that appealing. Lighting was tired. Flooring needed help as well. The good news: A new, bright, open, inviting and functional design could totally transform the room without having to relocate plumbing and electrical. The project began by getting rid of everything old and starting over. The popcorn ceiling was scraped down and replaced with a knock-down finish. The window trim was replaced with white painted poplar Princeton trim. New white translucent blinds let light in and offers privacy. The floors were sanded and dark stained with an oil base finish. And the floorboards were replaced with a three-part pine base. The new white kitchen cabinets feature Classic White Dura Supreme cabinetry with Kendal panels and rubbed oil hardware. The new countertops are made with Alaska White Granite from Capital Granite. The beautiful back splash was constructed with Rubbed Oil and Glass features from the Tile Shop. The Kraus open bay under mount stainless steel sink works well with Kohler brushed Nickel fixtures. All the appliances were replaced with stainless steel finishes. A gas cooktop replaced the original electric, with a new stainless steel range hood that was vented to the outdoors - a major improvement because the old range hood just had circulating filters. All the lights, including those lighting the counter, are on dimmers, making the room easily adjustable. A fresh new coat of Benjamin Moore Pashmina Af-100 paint on the walls, and Benjamin Moore White Dove Pm-19 paint on the trim, adds a light and neutral color that gives a fresh and crisp but warm feel. The result: A bright, open, functional kitchen, perfect for entertaining and raising a family. The owners love it!

Customer's of mine bought their three year old son a race car toddler bed to support his current interests for Christmas. Before that his room was themed for nursery, designed with tree and monkey which is great for infants, but would no longer fit their new ideas. The homeowners also requested a time effective solution so we collaborated with one another and came up with the following Plan: I used the remaining paint from the original application to cover over the old work. This was the largest time savor in that the crib would be the only piece of furniture required to be moved. Prior to we agreed that subtlety was something we wanted to hold onto as much as possible. So I painted a running checker border, using only the accent color to the car and the original wall color rather than introducing an additional color which would have resulted in a louder feel. I designed the drag light as a teaching friendly tool. Building it with triangles at its base, rectangles within and circle silhouettes so that the toddler can easily identify with it's shapes. Using his current age I assigned him his first racing number and closed out this one day transformation with the finish line flag.

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The owners of this single-family home were tired of their single-family home appearance. The front red brick fascia a run of the mill front porch was story of the past. Our design staff had countless meeting with homeowners and finally everyone agreed on a wraparound porch. Big enough to give them swing set, wicker furniture space, but not too big to take over the front yard. This new front porch implemented through major excavation and clearing dirt from two sides of the house. Roofed in with dark bronze metal, columns wrapped in a tapered shape over stone pillars make this porch stand out in this street. The ceiling cedar panels stained with a complimentary tone with new paint on all Brick fascia. Recess lights, Lantern lights and four ceiling panels are all making this home stand tall. The wide lead walk cover with Sunset Buff chiseled flagstone complimenting the pillar stone and Trex decking on the porch floors, The side yard was cleared to have a large flagstone built with wrapped around seating stone walls, the existing deck posts were wrapped in with PVC, giving a clean appearance of old deck. A river stoned bed was built on the backyard running into a fish pond bringing a bit of nature into this heavenly backyard. The front landscaping around the walk and the riverbed looks glorious and breathtaking. The transformation of this home was so huge that they neighborhood committee selected this home as Icon home for festive holidays. Homeowners are thrilled with this transformation.

Amazing transformation of a large family Kitchen, including banquette seating around the table. Sub Zero and Wolf appliances and hardware by Armac Martin are some of the top-of-the-line finishes. Space planning and cabinetry: Jennifer Howard, JWH Cabinet Installation: JWH Construction Management Photography: Tim Lenz.

This Avon Lake master bathroom remodel is located in the heart of Cleveland's West side. The original outdated bathroom was completely gutted and transformed in to an updated traditional space with a tile corner shower, dark hardwood floors, distressed cabinets, and many more beautiful amenities.

The original kitchen in this 1990s two-story traditional home had cabinet peninsulas that made moving in and out and around the kitchen awkward. It was also “tired” with a dated design. The owners looked to Rick Jacobson for a transformation. They wanted an open kitchen with comfortable spaces for food prep and cooking, entertaining, and raising a family. The before and after photos on our website tell the story. The original design included two peninsulas; one with two bar seats for casual dining, and another that was essentially granite-topped cabinet for storage. While enclosing the kitchen, the design limited traffic flow. The stove, refrigerator and dishwasher needed to be replaced. Oak cabinets were showing their age. Oak trim around the windows were bland. The window blinds weren’t all that appealing. Lighting was tired. Flooring needed help as well. The good news: A new, bright, open, inviting and functional design could totally transform the room without having to relocate plumbing and electrical. The project began by getting rid of everything old and starting over. The popcorn ceiling was scraped down and replaced with a knock-down finish. The window trim was replaced with white painted poplar Princeton trim. New white translucent blinds let light in and offers privacy. The floors were sanded and dark stained with an oil base finish. And the floorboards were replaced with a three-part pine base. The new white kitchen cabinets feature Classic White Dura Supreme cabinetry with Kendal panels and rubbed oil hardware. The new countertops are made with Alaska White Granite from Capital Granite. The beautiful back splash was constructed with Rubbed Oil and Glass features from the Tile Shop. The Kraus open bay under mount stainless steel sink works well with Kohler brushed Nickel fixtures. All the appliances were replaced with stainless steel finishes. A gas cooktop replaced the original electric, with a new stainless steel range hood that was vented to the outdoors - a major improvement because the old range hood just had circulating filters. All the lights, including those lighting the counter, are on dimmers, making the room easily adjustable. A fresh new coat of Benjamin Moore Pashmina Af-100 paint on the walls, and Benjamin Moore White Dove Pm-19 paint on the trim, adds a light and neutral color that gives a fresh and crisp but warm feel. The result: A bright, open, functional kitchen, perfect for entertaining and raising a family. The owners love it!

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
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This small backyard landscape sandwiched between home and garage, was transformed from a drab weed patch into a stunning outdoor breakfast nook! Porcelain patio pavers were carefully installed for improved drainage to move water away from the home. A new cedar fence was installed between neighboring lots. A custom cedar trellis was installed over the garage facade, to draw attention away from the garage siding, framing windows and foliage. Pretty white planters, large hydrangea blooms, crisp lime green hostas and purple pansies add color and brightness to this shaded retreat. LED lighting and irrigation systems were also integrated into the landscape.

This beautiful new construction craftsman-style home had the typical builder's grade front porch with wood deck board flooring and painted wood steps. Also, there was a large unpainted wood board across the bottom front, and an opening remained that was large enough to be used as a crawl space underneath the porch which quickly became home to unwanted critters. In order to beautify this space, we removed the wood deck boards and installed the proper floor joists. Atop the joists, we also added a permeable paver system. This is very important as this system not only serves as necessary support for the natural stone pavers but would also firmly hold the sand being used as grout between the pavers. In addition, we installed matching brick across the bottom front of the porch to fill in the crawl space and painted the wood board to match hand rails and columns. Next, we replaced the original wood steps by building new concrete steps faced with matching brick and topped with natural stone pavers. Finally, we added new hand rails and cemented the posts on top of the steps for added stability. WOW...not only was the outcome a gorgeous transformation but the front porch overall is now much more sturdy and safe!