Late Summer Blooms make a cheerful wrap around the house. From the front porch, the owners can overlook all the front gardens. Credit: Tad Anderson. All rights exclusively reserved.

Daniel Karr
Example of a large mountain style beige two-story stone exterior home design in Houston

Glittering deep burgundy Poinsettias accented with red berries beautifully contrast a bright white hops blossom wreath. Snow in Summer is a battery operated holiday arrangement that can be used to illuminate a front door, or as a stunning table centerpiece.

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.

Patio - traditional patio idea in Houston

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Houston

Kimberly Johnson
Bedroom - coastal bedroom idea in Providence

American Beach Grass stabilizes the sand on the way to the bay
This is an example of a coastal full sun landscaping in Boston for summer.

An spectacular area rug added a needed pop of color to the summer house modern living room, “We wanted the stone fireplace and wood ceiling to define the room, so we kept the larger seating pieces neutral and brought in color through the patterned rug and blue lounge chairs. The result feels playful without losing the relaxed character of a mid-century summer home.” — Eliza Bush, Interior Designer

Maxine Schnitzer
Inspiration for a contemporary master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in DC Metro with blue walls

Kimberly Johnson
Bedroom - coastal bedroom idea in Providence

Jeff Herr Photography
This is an example of a cottage tile screened-in porch design in Atlanta with a roof extension.

Dusty Miller Landscaping Ltd.
Inspiration for a contemporary pool remodel in Toronto

Pool pavillion
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver patio remodel in New York with a gazebo

This minimalistic landscape design of grasses and concrete allow the dominate form of the residence shine. Photography Credit: Wade Griffith
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic full sun and brown front yard wood gable roof remodel for summer in Dallas

Inspiration for a large eclectic formal and open concept brown floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls and no tv

Shelly Harrison
Example of a beach style patio design in Boston with a pergola and a bbq area

Huge transitional multicolored two-story mixed siding and board and batten gable roof photo in Houston with a shingle roof and a gray roof