D. Johnson
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Denver

LEED Certification Level: Platinum. Builder: R & S Engineering & Construction. The Cavanaugh Residence is a contemporary split level with a split personality. Totally designed from the ground up to minimize impact and maximize energy and water efficiency, its beautiful facade belies its hard-working, high-producing systems, earning it a LEED Platinum score of 116.5, and a HERS rating of minus 22. The 2774 square foot home produces over 100 per cent of its power with a 10.8 kw pv system, and captures 100 per cent of its freshwater needs from the curved metal roofs through an engineered collection and purification system, stored in an integrated concrete cistern. Constructed of locally made SIP panels on an infill waterfront lot, the home is oriented to maximize the production of the pv panels. Six inch SIP panels work together with a highly reflective, highly emmisive cool standing seam roof, icynene insulation in ceiling and floors, and carefully placed high efficiency windows and doors to create a tightly sealed environment. The 17-seer Trane heat pump variable speed compressors and TAM 7 air handlers, along with a whole house dehumidifier and fresh air intake provide a comfortable, clean indoor environment while using little energy. In the shoulder seasons, natural ventilation cools the home with fresh breezes drawn from lower windows in each room flowing through the curved ceilings to clerestory windows at the top of the house. Natural daylighting, with windows placed in corners and high clerestories, bounce the abundant natural light so that the owners use the interior LED lighting primarily at night. Windows were sited to frame views of the neighboring park and water, and capture the light, but represent a very low percentage of glazing to wall to conserve energy. Primarily native, xeriscaped turfless landscaping sips reclaimed water from its drip and bubbler irrigiation system, and requires little trimming or chemicals. Established trees, protected during construction, shade the home, FSC certified decks, and yard, providing a cool place to enjoy the outdoors at any time of the day, even in Florida's summer heat. Rainwater is diverted from the bay through the engineered collection and filtration system to an integrated concrete cistern hidden beneath the decks. Abundant Florida rainwater supplies 100 per cent of the home's needs, including drinking, bathing, and cleaning. Naturally soft, the highly filtered and UV purified water requires no chemical treatment or water softener. Coupled with minimal hardscape and permeable drive and walkways, almost all ground water remains on the lot, and out of storm sewers and bay runoffs. Designed as a forever home for this active retired couple, an open floor plan provides diagonal interior views along with great circulation space. Wide hallways and doors, curbless showers, an elevator, and extra blocking in the walls for grab rails insures the couple of being able to use their home even if physical disabilities arise. The home's footprint is minimized by building over the conditioned crawlspace and over-sized garage, and the finished floor height, at least two feet above flood code requirements, significantly reduces insurance costs while maximizing storage space for camping and water sports equipment. Materials, fixtures and appliances were carefully selected for energy and water efficiency, local production where possible, recycled content/recyclability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. The owners were very involved in vetting and materials selections, and assisted in just-in-time purchasing to minimize waste. Scrap materials were sorted daily for re-use elsewhere in the project (blocking, concrete forms, drywall scraps as acoustical insulation in interior walls, etc.), resulting in a tiny waste pile at the end of a dumpster-free project. Concrete waste was hauled to a local recycler to become road base, and extra useable materials were returned to the vendor or donated to Habitat Restore. Cost-effective choices, and careful planning, saved significant dollars in construction cost as well as landfill space. One of the biggest challenges was finding qualified subcontractors who would work within the guidelines. With the help of our LEED consultant and meetings and explanations, most subcontractors not only bought into the ideas readily, but offered up new ideas. Highly skilled and professional, the team of subs, LEED consultant, and contractor proved that LEED construction is excellent construction. The team, the owners, and I also found that LEED construction makes great economic sense. Most materials (other than increased insulation and photovoltaic panels) cost no more, and sometimes less, than those employed in construction of a lesser standard. The owners have been living in the home for a year now, and are thrilled with the results. No power bill. No water bill. Extremely low insurance bill. Minimal ground maintenance. No fabric softener. Reduced use of soap, detergents, and shampoos and cleaning supplies. Less time cleaning with spot-free rainwater. Careful planning and materials selection brought the project in under budget, and the home operates at an extremely low cost, both to the homeowners, and the environment. Who wouldn't be thrilled?

Yorkville Hill Landscaping, Inc.
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless front yard brick entryway remodel in Chicago

Mosaics are quite popular among homeowners and business owners alike because of their beauty, sophistication, and variety. You can also install artistic mosaic floors in your living room to enhance its appearance. You can place them anywhere in your house or commercial space that needs a visual uplift. They are versatile and bring about a sense of purity and hygiene in any space, be it a residential or business area. At StonetileDepot, we offer a plethora of styles and shades in mosaic tiles. Ranging from the sophisticated and conventional Royal Beige and the Calacatta T-Honed marble mosaics to the chic and trendy Balastina Honed basalt mosaic, we have everything to meet your specific preferences, needs, and budget.

Mark Kawakami
Trendy staircase photo in Orange County

Small square kitchen that's used as main entrance to house. Complete remodel of a 1941 ranch.
Example of a small minimalist u-shaped vinyl floor enclosed kitchen design in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Designs by Vincenza, Inc.
Bedroom - large coastal master carpeted bedroom idea in Tampa with blue walls and no fireplace

A vaulted ceiling with a skylight was created above the bath tub to provide natural light during the day and a view of the stars at night.
Small transitional 3/4 beige tile and stone tile alcove bathtub photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, furniture-like cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

A close-up of the mechanical joint of the powder coated decorative railing with gold-patina flower designs. Photo by Todd Norman
Example of a large classic rooftop balcony deck design in New York with no cover

These homeowners came to us wanting to upgrade the curb appeal of their home and improve the layout of the interior. They hoped for an entry that would welcome guests to their home both inside and out, while also creating more defined and purposeful space within the home. The main goals of the project were to add a covered wrap around porch, add more windows for natural light, create a formal entry that housed the client’s baby grand piano, and add a home office for the clients to work from home. With a dated exterior and facade that lacked dimension, there was little charm to be had. The front door was hidden from visitors and a lack of windows made the exterior unoriginal. We approached the exterior design pulling inspiration from the farmhouse style, southern porches, and craftsman style homes. Eventually we landed on a design that added numerous windows to the front façade, reminiscent of a farmhouse, and turned a Dutch hipped roof into an extended gable roof, creating a large front porch and adding curb appeal interest. By relocating the entry door to the front of the house and adding a gable accent over this new door, it created a focal point for guests and passersby. In addition to those design elements, we incorporated some exterior shutters rated for our northwest climate that echoed the southern style homes our client loved. A greige paint color (Benjamin Moore Cape May Cobblestone) accented with a white trim (Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee) and a black front door, shutters, and window box (Sherwin Williams Black Magic) all work together to create a charming and welcoming façade. On the interior we removed a half wall and coat closet that separated the original cramped entryway from the front room. The front room was a multipurpose space that didn’t have a designated use for the family, it became a catch-all space that was easily cluttered. Through the design process we came up with a plan to split the spaces into 2 rooms, a large open semi-formal entryway and a home office. The semi-formal entryway was intentionally designed to house the homeowner’s baby grand piano – a real showstopper. The flow created by this entryway is welcoming and ushers you into a beautifully curated home. A new office now sits right off the entryway with beautiful French doors, built-in cabinetry, and an abundance of natural light – everything that one dreams of for their home office. The home office looks out to the front porch and front yard as well as the pastural side yard where the children frequently play. The office is an ideal location for a moment of inspiration, reflection, and focus. A warm white paint (Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee) combined with the newly installed light oak luxury vinyl plank flooring runs throughout the home, creating continuity and a neutral canvas. Traditional and schoolhouse style statement light fixtures coordinate with the black door hardware for an added level of contrast. There is one more improvement that made a big difference to this family. In the family room, we added a built-in window seat. This created a cozy nook that is used by all for reading and extra seating. This relatively small improvement had a big impact on how the family uses and enjoys the space.

Large arts and crafts u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Bainbridge Island Garden - Little and Lewis | Lore Patterson
This is an example of a mediterranean landscaping in Seattle.

Example of a mid-sized transitional 3/4 white tile and subway tile dark wood floor and brown floor alcove shower design in San Diego with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, solid surface countertops and white countertops

A 4-poster bed, a private balcony, two-toned paint and abundant natural light make this master bedroom in Highland a wonderful place to wake each morning. Follow the link to our website to see where we build this inspired floor plan.

Metallic Vision Deuxième by Jon Allen My signature-defined hand textured intricacies and carvings into the metal capture and reflect surrounding light sources creating enhanced interaction with dramatic illusions of depth and 3D movement as viewed from different angles. Hang it in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, office, or outdoors. This abstract metal art will wow and impress your guests. Display under natural lighting or make this original artwork the show stopping centerpiece of any room with track lighting or gallery spot lights for dramatic effect. Lighting and other environmental factors interact with metal artwork in a unique, organic way. Along with this signed piece of original metal art, every package includes easy mounting instructions, a measuring tool guide for simple installation, tips on lighting and other helpful information, and a Certificate of Authenticity. Unique pre-installed brackets for hanging are mounted to the back of each piece and "float" the artwork off the wall approximately 2". You can display this piece horizontally or vertically. Due to a wide variety of wall types, nails / screws for hanging are not provided. Every piece is quality inspected, gallery wrapped, and prepared carefully for safe global transit. This five panel piece measures 64" x 24" x 2" (162.56 cm x 60.96 cm x 5.08 cm) including 1" spacing between panels.

Asymmetrical valances before panels are added.
Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in Phoenix

This detail of the hand-painted mural shows the deft application of paint in the background, a "flogged" finish, with branches and leaves painted on top. The effect gracefully offers a sense of being surrounded by trees while dining in a room with no windows -- elegant, organic and unique! John Cole Photography Sheppard Bear, Fine Art Finishes, Painted mural