Moody, modern lower level build out. Includes a lounge area, bar, bathroom, workout room and dinette. Bold design style that feels a little boutique-like. Wallpaper, terrazzo, sconces, dark paint colors.

Designed for entertaining, this lower-level kitchen combines custom sage cabinetry, a white oak island, and natural stone surfaces to create a sophisticated gathering space. Integrated storage, open shelving, and warm finishes make this secondary kitchen equally suited for hosting guests, family movie nights, and everyday living.

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

This vinyl deck features three levels for entertaining. It also includes aluminum railing with turned spindles.
Example of a large classic backyard deck design in Philadelphia with no cover

A new modern farmhouse included an open kitchen with views to all the first level rooms, including dining area, family room area, back mudroom and front hall entries. Rustic-styled beams provide support between first floor and loft upstairs. A 10-foot island was designed to fit between rustic support posts. The rustic alder dark stained island complements the L-shape perimeter cabinets of lighter knotty alder. Two full-sized undercounter ovens by Wolf split into single spacing, under an electric cooktop, and in the large island are useful for this busy family. Hardwood hickory floors and a vintage armoire add to the rustic decor.

This backyard space is designed for the enjoyment of the entire family. The large pool has a split-face travertine stone elevated spa that doubles as a diving wall. Behind the spa is a fire pit with sitting bench. The pool features a laminar jet water feature and bubbler fountains as well as an underwater bar and bar stools. The rough cedar outdoor kitchen/living area has a tongue in groove ceiling, rustic chandeliers, fireplace with custom cedar mantle and post-mounted fans. Fire features adorn either side of the pool. The deck and coping are travertine.

This multi level deck was originally all wood and failing. We kept the foot print and upgraded materials for longevity and low maintenance.
Transitional deck photo in Baltimore

Keepin' it real, cool and crisp at the #CrispModernFarmhouse. Hangin'out with Audrey and her fam bam on the daily is a real treat! Audrey takes the traditional style coined "farmhouse" to a whole-nother level... Inside the #CrispCasa, her signature style-statement vibes can be found in every room; mixing in modern elements with a kiss of minimalist-chic, we're just glad we made the final cut, in every space! Shutter style: Polywood® Bright white. Louver size & finish: 3.5 in/smooth. Tilt Option: Hidden/Split Tilt. Photo & Style creds: Audrey @AudreyCrispInteriors https://www.instagram.com/audreycrispinteriors/

A modern approach to an american classic. This 5,400 s.f. mountain escape was designed for a family leaving the busy city life for a full-time vacation. The open-concept first level is the family's gathering space and upstairs is for sleeping.

By removing two walls, we created an open kitchen with new cabinets, appliances, hardwood floor and tile backsplash.
Example of a small minimalist l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

An open concept was among the priorities for the renovation of this split-level St Lambert home. The interiors were stripped, walls removed and windows condemned. The new floor plan created generous sized living spaces that are complemented by low profile and minimal furnishings. The kitchen is a bold statement featuring deep navy matte cabinetry and soft grey quartz counters. The 14’ island was designed to resemble a piece of furniture and is the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee or entertain large gatherings. Practical storage needs are accommodated in full height towers with flat panel doors. The modern design of the solarium creates a panoramic view to the lower patio and swimming pool. The challenge to incorporate storage in the adjacent living room was solved by juxtaposing the dramatic dark kitchen millwork with white built-ins and open wood shelving. The tiny 25sf master ensuite includes a custom quartz vanity with an integrated double sink. Neutral and organic materials maintain a pure and calm atmosphere.

Read "Fujitsu Answers FAQs About Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning" here! http://mainlinehes.com/fujitsu-answers-faqs-about-ductless-mini-split-air-conditioning/

This Bent Creek renovation and addition gave the existing 1920s home a spacious interior and modern design while still maintaining its original character. The homeowners enjoy hosting large gatherings, but the narrow footprint and small spaces created a lot of congestion inside. To alleviate this problem, the homeowners wanted to expand the cramped kitchen and living spaces, but a huge oak tree sat only 5 feet from the kitchen window. The tree holds great sentimental value to the owners, so sacrificing the tree was out of the question, and locating the kitchen expansion elsewhere was not financially feasible. As a compromise, a large portion of the house adjacent to the kitchen was demolished, and most of the kitchen function was expanded in this direction. The end result is a beautiful and spacious home that we are very proud of. Photography by Kevin Meechan

aerial perspective of rear yard and new outdoor dining, kitchen, and pool area
Example of a mid-sized 1960s multicolored one-story wood exterior home design in Orange County with a mixed material roof and a white roof

Two years before this photo shoot, a Bloomington couple came to SYI wondering whether to renovate their dated bi-level or upgrade to a new house entirely: the classic love-it-or-list-it dilemma. The whole house needed to be touched, really: bathrooms and kitchen, lighting and flooring and paint everywhere, not to mention new furniture to fill in and improve the living spaces. We spent a year with this family, considering options that were less transformative but allowed for the whole house to be upgraded, as well as options that dramatically changed the main living space but meant the rest of the house would have to wait. Meanwhile, they kept an eye out for better digs in town: a house at their price point, that met their family's needs and matched their aesthetic without major construction. After a year of hunting, hemming and hawing: they pulled the trigger. Give us the whole enchilada in the kitchen and main living space, they said. There's no other house for us. The bathrooms and basement can wait. Make this space, where we spend all our time, a place we love to be. Walls and ceilings came down; clerestory windows went in. A stunning 4-panel sliding door-cum-window wall replaced two separate doors in two separate rooms, and the sun streaming in now gives this house in Indiana a California-like access to the outdoors. The central custom screen does triple duty: displaying the client's objets d'art, hiding an HVAC chase, and holding up the ceiling. The gas fireplace is completely new, with custom shelving on either side. Of course, in 2017, the kitchen anchors everything. Family Central, it features custom cabinetry, honed quartz, a new window wall, and a huge island. Materials are earthy and natural, lending a warm modern effect to the space. The medium stain of the wood and overall horizontality of the design are a nod to the home's era (1967), while white cabinetry and charcoal tile provide a neutral but crisp backdrop for the family's stunning and colorful art collection. The result: an ordinary bi-level is now an extraordinary home, unlike any other in Bloomington. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Construction Cabinetry: Tim Graber Furniture Photography: Gina Rogers

Modern kitchen at twilight - Interior Architecture: HAUS | Architecture + LEVEL Interiors - Photography: Ryan Kurtz
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped travertine floor eat-in kitchen photo in Indianapolis with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

One level bungalow. Photo Credit- Natalie Wyman
Example of a small minimalist black one-story mixed siding house exterior design in Other with a shingle roof

Mid-sized mountain style guest bedroom photo in Austin with gray walls and no fireplace

This is an example of a traditional porch design in New York.