Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This spacious modern living room features light hardwood floors, crisp white walls, and a striking textured gray tile fireplace surround with a linear fire feature. Velvet gray sofas with white accent pillows create a comfortable seating area, complemented by recessed ceiling lighting and a large glass sliding door.

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

Transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This master bathroom was less than impressive before the remodel. Now it is a light, bright, luxurious spa like retreat. The soft colors in a monochromatic scheme are calm and relaxing. We only design, build, and remodel homes that brilliantly reflect the unadorned beauty of everyday living. For more information about this project please visit: www.gryphonbuilders.com. Or contact Allen Griffin, President of Gryphon Builders, at 281-236-8043 cell or email him at allen@gryphonbuilders.com

House of Jade Interiors. Modern farmhouse kids' room.
Bedroom country gender-neutral kids' bedroom photo in Salt Lake City with multicolored walls

This contemporary living room features light gray leather sofas paired with vibrant orange pillows and a textured throw blanket. A round wooden coffee table with a brass base sits on a floral area rug, complemented by dark hardwood floors and an adjoining open-concept dining space.

Built ins, Natural Light, Glass Door
Large mountain style multicolored tile and slate tile slate floor alcove shower photo in Salt Lake City with a vessel sink, medium tone wood cabinets, beige walls, quartz countertops and raised-panel cabinets

© Lisa Russman Photography
Transitional entryway photo in New York

Trendy carpeted and gray floor bedroom photo in Austin with gray walls

Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Miami with beige walls and a concealed tv

Pool house - rustic custom-shaped natural pool house idea in Dallas

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/

Inspiration for a coastal open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Orange County with white walls

A 90 degree, radial, ceiling-mounted track for the shower curtain keeps the space open and light. A vanity cabinet and matching medicine cabinet as well as the wall cabinet and shelf above the toilet provide much-needed storage. Andrea Rugg

Stylish Detroit
Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room remodel in Detroit with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Philadelphia with no fireplace and beige walls

Southern Living Tucker Bayou house plan. Architecture by Looney Ricks Kiss. Plan modified by David Holden Merrifield and Chelsea Benay, LLC. Interior Design by Chelsea Benay, LLC. Custom home built by Sineath Construction. Photography by Lissa Gotwals.

This kitchen remodel and newly constructed bar area is enhanced by the classic and clean look of Aurea Stone Epitome stone. Designed by: KBF Design Gallery