The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

Located on a wooded site, a single-story 1950s house with an awkward floor plan was strategically remodeled to provide living spaces that connect to the outdoors and respond to the needs of a young family. This home had undergone successive alterations over the years, resulting in a fragmented, confusing layout. With only minor changes to the footprint, the architects redesigned this midcentury home to blur the boundary between indoor living and the landscape beyond. The new design effects a dramatic change by reorganizing the space into linear zones, raising the roof in key places, and making two small additions. A concrete wall links a new music studio and detached garage to the main house, forming an entry court that welcomes visitors and screens the private bedroom spaces nearby. The entry is marked by a series of round skylights, while the living room has been opened up with taller ceilings, a new fireplace and walls of glass. A series of long colored boxes provides storage and utility spaces, while planar elements draw the eye through the house to the landscape beyond. Teak cabinets, blackened steel and Douglas fir contrast with more modest materials such as painted MDF panels, fiber-cement siding and painted gypsum wallboard. These spaces are designed to accommodate both intimate family gatherings and large parties. Select Furnishings provided by INForm Images by Nic LeHoux Photography

Transitional bathroom photo in Detroit

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

Photo of a tropical landscaping in Houston.

Located on a wooded site, a single-story 1950s house with an awkward floor plan was strategically remodeled to provide living spaces that connect to the outdoors and respond to the needs of a young family. This home had undergone successive alterations over the years, resulting in a fragmented, confusing layout. With only minor changes to the footprint, the architects redesigned this midcentury home to blur the boundary between indoor living and the landscape beyond. The new design effects a dramatic change by reorganizing the space into linear zones, raising the roof in key places, and making two small additions. A concrete wall links a new music studio and detached garage to the main house, forming an entry court that welcomes visitors and screens the private bedroom spaces nearby. The entry is marked by a series of round skylights, while the living room has been opened up with taller ceilings, a new fireplace and walls of glass. A series of long colored boxes provides storage and utility spaces, while planar elements draw the eye through the house to the landscape beyond. Teak cabinets, blackened steel and Douglas fir contrast with more modest materials such as painted MDF panels, fiber-cement siding and painted gypsum wallboard. These spaces are designed to accommodate both intimate family gatherings and large parties. Select Furnishings provided by INForm Images by Nic LeHoux Photography

Mafi Swiss Stone Pine has a subtle fragrance, of which scientific studies have proved to have a positive effect on sleep behaviour*. This floor is therefore highly recommended for installation in bedrooms and relaxation rooms. A further advantage of Swiss Stone Pine is its function as natural protection against moths. Mafi floors stand out due to their longevity and robustness, and are 100% all-natural, free from harmful substances such as formaldehyde. This hand crafted, engineered board consists of three-layers with the top and bottom made of the same species, ensuring perfect balance. The middle layer is conifer and runs across the grain for added strength. The layers are glued together with an all-natural glue of water, lime and plant acid. This board comes pre-finished with a superior brushed textured surface and all-natural oil finish making it suitable for low to medium frequented domestic areas, as well as over under floor heating and in bathrooms. Each board comes with a micro bevel on the long side with tongue and groove on all sides for easy installation and to prevent splintering. Knots and sapwood are a typical feature of Swiss Stone Pine. Isolated cracks and stress cracks in the knots are sealed with appropriate wood putty.

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic freestanding desk light wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Chicago with blue walls and no fireplace

Located on a wooded site, a single-story 1950s house with an awkward floor plan was strategically remodeled to provide living spaces that connect to the outdoors and respond to the needs of a young family. This home had undergone successive alterations over the years, resulting in a fragmented, confusing layout. With only minor changes to the footprint, the architects redesigned this midcentury home to blur the boundary between indoor living and the landscape beyond. The new design effects a dramatic change by reorganizing the space into linear zones, raising the roof in key places, and making two small additions. A concrete wall links a new music studio and detached garage to the main house, forming an entry court that welcomes visitors and screens the private bedroom spaces nearby. The entry is marked by a series of round skylights, while the living room has been opened up with taller ceilings, a new fireplace and walls of glass. A series of long colored boxes provides storage and utility spaces, while planar elements draw the eye through the house to the landscape beyond. Teak cabinets, blackened steel and Douglas fir contrast with more modest materials such as painted MDF panels, fiber-cement siding and painted gypsum wallboard. These spaces are designed to accommodate both intimate family gatherings and large parties. Select Furnishings provided by INForm Images by Nic LeHoux Photography

Located on a wooded site, a single-story 1950s house with an awkward floor plan was strategically remodeled to provide living spaces that connect to the outdoors and respond to the needs of a young family. This home had undergone successive alterations over the years, resulting in a fragmented, confusing layout. With only minor changes to the footprint, the architects redesigned this midcentury home to blur the boundary between indoor living and the landscape beyond. The new design effects a dramatic change by reorganizing the space into linear zones, raising the roof in key places, and making two small additions. A concrete wall links a new music studio and detached garage to the main house, forming an entry court that welcomes visitors and screens the private bedroom spaces nearby. The entry is marked by a series of round skylights, while the living room has been opened up with taller ceilings, a new fireplace and walls of glass. A series of long colored boxes provides storage and utility spaces, while planar elements draw the eye through the house to the landscape beyond. Teak cabinets, blackened steel and Douglas fir contrast with more modest materials such as painted MDF panels, fiber-cement siding and painted gypsum wallboard. These spaces are designed to accommodate both intimate family gatherings and large parties. Select Furnishings provided by INForm Images by Nic LeHoux Photography

Example of a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room design in New York with beige walls and no fireplace

Located on a wooded site, a single-story 1950s house with an awkward floor plan was strategically remodeled to provide living spaces that connect to the outdoors and respond to the needs of a young family. This home had undergone successive alterations over the years, resulting in a fragmented, confusing layout. With only minor changes to the footprint, the architects redesigned this midcentury home to blur the boundary between indoor living and the landscape beyond. The new design effects a dramatic change by reorganizing the space into linear zones, raising the roof in key places, and making two small additions. A concrete wall links a new music studio and detached garage to the main house, forming an entry court that welcomes visitors and screens the private bedroom spaces nearby. The entry is marked by a series of round skylights, while the living room has been opened up with taller ceilings, a new fireplace and walls of glass. A series of long colored boxes provides storage and utility spaces, while planar elements draw the eye through the house to the landscape beyond. Teak cabinets, blackened steel and Douglas fir contrast with more modest materials such as painted MDF panels, fiber-cement siding and painted gypsum wallboard. These spaces are designed to accommodate both intimate family gatherings and large parties. Select Furnishings provided by INForm Images by Nic LeHoux Photography

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

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