Example of an urban staircase design in New York

Art Grice
Contemporary three-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Seattle

An open and efficient space for connection. This Great Room is looking simple yet sophisticated with its use of solid colors and consistent mix of gray, black and wood. It's a feat of modish and simplicity! Built by ULFBUILT. Contact us today to learn more.

Example of a mid-sized trendy wooden floating open and metal railing staircase design in Austin

Contemporary Steel staircase with floating metal and walnut treads and slatted railings.
Example of a large trendy wooden floating open staircase design in San Diego

Mid-sized minimalist wooden curved wood railing staircase photo in New York with wooden risers

Mark Woods
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1950s wooden straight staircase remodel in Seattle with wooden risers

The contemporary style of this ipe deck and porch compliment this spring hollow home nicely!
Mid-sized elegant staircase photo in Austin

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.

Photo: Lisa Petrole
Huge trendy porcelain tile and gray floor entryway photo in San Francisco with a medium wood front door and white walls

Michael Robinson
Inspiration for a modern staircase remodel in Kansas City

Ryan Patrick Kelly Photographs
Minimalist wooden floating open and mixed material railing staircase photo in Edmonton

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Example of a mid-sized transitional gender-neutral carpeted kids' room design in Boston with orange walls

Peter Murdock
Inspiration for a contemporary two-story wood exterior home remodel in New York

Farmhouse home design photo in Los Angeles

Contemporary Steel staircase with floating metal and walnut treads and slatted railings.
Staircase - large contemporary wooden floating open staircase idea in San Diego

Beautiful slatted white oak walls in the stairway add warmth while preserving sightlines to the lake view.
Staircase - mid-sized scandinavian wooden u-shaped wood railing staircase idea in New York with wooden risers

Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in DC Metro

Mid-sized cottage wooden u-shaped wood railing staircase photo in Other with painted risers