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.

Our designer has achieved a stylish look by combining dark cabinets and light-colored marbles.

©Alexander Vertikoff
Example of a mid-century modern l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, an island, a single-bowl sink, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for an eclectic laundry room remodel in Atlanta

Chris Hurtt
Hallway - contemporary hallway idea in Portland

Alek Lisefski / tiny-project.com
Contemporary exterior home idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a brass coastal metal tabletop fish home design remodel in Jacksonville

Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room design in Dallas with brown walls

TV niche with wallpapered back wall. Photo by Matthew Niemann
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Austin

David Lauer Photography
Example of an urban open concept light wood floor living room design in Denver with a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace and brown walls

New skylights are double insulated with safety glass. The challenge was the technical work required to install a vaulted skylight. All new trims, baseboards and doors in the redone living room. All new, modern lighting was installed. Heated du chateau flooring was added. Bruce Damonte Photography

Patio - modern patio idea in Atlanta

These are our first iterations and our designs are subject to change. The Aston Martin Residences will open in 2023.
Minimalist bedroom photo in Miami

Showing: custom prints Washing Out to Sea, Marblehead Lighthouse at Sunset From the Shore, and Dreamy Beach Seashells.
Example of a beach style beach-themed living room design in Philadelphia

Elegant backyard outdoor patio shower photo in New York with no cover

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects, and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Expanding on the original walls of glass and connection to nature that is common in mid-century modern homes. The completely openable walls allow the homeowners to truly open up the living space of the house, transforming it into an open air pavilion, extending the living area outdoors to the private side yards, and taking maximum advantage of indoor-outdoor living opportunities. Taking the concept of borrowed landscape from traditional Japanese architecture, the fountain, concrete bench wall, and natural landscaping bound the indoor-outdoor space. The Truly Open Eichler is a remodeled single-family house in Palo Alto. This 1,712 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, and Angela Todorova Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Flegels Construction Photography ©2014 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2014

The Design Center at Cayce Mill jca architects, inc., Mark Pinkerton, Virtual Imaging
Bathroom - large traditional master marble floor bathroom idea in Nashville with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls and marble countertops

This is a Murano glass panel inspired by ancient symbology and engraved on a silver leaf. The incisions on the silver leaf are fused together with the typical red glass sheet. Ideogrammi is the typical instinctive handmade decoration of our glass masters, showing the incredible and suggestive power of the colors contrast. The effect of the carvings is even stronger and intense through the black brush strikes, just like the artist would have used a carving tool instead of a brush in his painting. Each panel has full customization options in terms of dimensions and colors. With this versatility, we can offer modular solutions for indoor decoration such as wall or surface coverings or for backlighting systems.

John Cole Photography
Coastal two-story wood exterior home idea in Boston with a clipped gable roof