Kitchen with island. Calacatta counter with glazed ceramic tile backsplash. Neri & Nu bar stools with custom fabric. Photo: Mikiko Kikuyama
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, an island, marble countertops, ceramic backsplash and paneled appliances

Karuna Passive House designed by Holst Architecture and built by Hammer & Hand. This high performance home meets the world's most demanding green building certifications. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann.

Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall wet bar remodel in Denver with an undermount sink, multicolored backsplash, beige countertops and shaker cabinets

Example of a trendy formal medium tone wood floor living room design in DC Metro with white walls

Claw-foot bathtub - transitional gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting claw-foot bathtub idea in Milwaukee with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Large tuscan master travertine floor and beige floor freestanding bathtub photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white walls and dark wood cabinets

Ryan Garvin
Trendy 3/4 gray tile and glass tile medium tone wood floor and brown floor bathroom photo in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Some spaces are best understood before and after. Our Carytown Kitchen project demonstrates how a small space can be transformed for minimal expense. First and foremost was maximizing space. With only 9 sf of built-in counter space we understood these work surfaces needed to be kept free of small appliances and clutter - and that meant extra storage. The introduction of high wall cabinets provides much needed storage for occasional use equipment and helps keep everything dust-free in the process. Photograph by Stephen Barling.

Terry Pommet
Example of a mid-sized classic enclosed living room design in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and a concealed tv

An eclectic mix of period antique furnishings and accessories. A 19th c American Empire center table is paired with a set of 19th c Baltic elm wood dining chairs. The Russian Style chandelier is a modern reproduction. Framed engravings of intaglios flank the 19th c French arched mirror. Michael J lee

Countertop Wood: Wenge Construction Style: End Grain Countertop Thickness: 2-1/2" Size: 25 1/2" x 39 1/2" Countertop Edge Profile: 1/8” Roundover on top horizontal edges, bottom horizontal edges, and vertical corners Wood Countertop Finish: Grothouse Original Oil™ Wood Stain: Natural Wood – No Stain Designer: Kate Connolly of Homestead Kitchens

Christopher Stark
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Bedroom - coastal dark wood floor bedroom idea in Miami with white walls and no fireplace

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

Russell Abraham
Family room - mid-sized modern open concept porcelain tile family room idea in San Francisco with white walls, no fireplace and a media wall

An angled perspective highlights the bungalow’s layered rooflines, stone foundation, and inviting entry steps. Traditional Craftsman details are elevated with a fresh modern palette.

A complete full gut remodel of a 4,000 sq ft two-story penthouse residence, this project featured one of a kind views of the Boston public garden and Beacon Hill. A large central gallery flooded with gorgeous diffused light through two full stories of window glass. Clean linear millwork details compliment the structural glass, steel and walnut balustrades and handrailings that grace the upper gallery, reading nook, and stairs. A bleached walnut wet bar with backlit honey onyx backsplash and floating star fire glass shelves illuminated the lower gallery. It was part of a larger motif, which resonated through each of the unique and separate living spaces, connecting them to the larger design intention. A bleached walnut media room doubles as a fourth bedroom. It features a king size murphy bed seamlessly integrated into the full wall panel. A gracious shower in the adjoining bathroom, cleverly concealed behind an innocuous interior door, created a truly unique formal powder room that can reveal a full bath when the house is full of guests. A blend of warm wood, soft whites, and a palate of golds reflected in the stone (calacatta/onyx) textiles and wall coverings, this project demonstrates the powerful results of a consistent design intention, thoughtful engineering, and best practice construction as executed by our talented team of craftsmen and women. Interior Design - Lewis Interiors Photography - Eric Roth

Open concept kitchen - small contemporary single-wall light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, no island and white countertops