The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Living room - mediterranean open concept terra-cotta tile living room idea in Los Angeles with beige walls

Miami Interior Designers - Residential Interior Design Project in Fort Lauderdale, FL. A classic Mediterranean home turns Contemporary by DKOR Interiors. Photo: Alexia Fodere Interior Design by Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Interior Designers, DKOR Interiors. www.dkorinteriors.com

©StevenPaulWhitsitt_Photography Bath Design by Hampton Kitchens of Raleigh http://www.hamptonkitchens.com/default.htm

Bruce Bettis Photography
Example of a classic kitchen design in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Photography by Blackstone Studios Decorated by Lord Design Restoration by Arciform This not so huge Master Bedroom packs so much personality and the careully cruated blend of modern, whimsy, boho and color! Rug by Christiane Millinger

Living room - cottage medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Atlanta with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Large trendy three-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Chicago

This client came to us with a very clear vision of what she wanted, but she needed help to refine and execute the design. At our first meeting she described her style as somewhere between modern rustic and ‘granny chic’ – she likes cozy spaces with nods to the past, but also wanted to blend that with the more contemporary tastes of her husband and children. Functionally, the old layout was less than ideal with an oddly placed 3-sided fireplace and angled island creating traffic jams in and around the kitchen. By creating a U-shaped layout, we clearly defined the chef’s domain and created a circulation path that limits disruptions in the heart of the kitchen. While still an open concept, the black cabinets, bar height counter and change in flooring all add definition to the space. The vintage inspired black and white tile is a nod to the past while the black stainless range and matte black faucet are unmistakably modern. High on our client’s wish list was eliminating upper cabinets and keeping the countertops clear. In order to achieve this, we needed to ensure there was ample room in the base cabinets and reconfigured pantry for items typically stored above. The full height tile backsplash evokes exposed brick and serves as the backdrop for the custom wood-clad hood and decorative brass sconces – a perfect blend of rustic, modern and chic. Black and brass elements are repeated throughout the main floor in new hardware, lighting, and open shelves as well as the owners’ curated collection of family heirlooms and furnishings. In addition to renovating the kitchen, we updated the entire first floor with refinished hardwoods, new paint, wainscoting, wallcovering and beautiful new stained wood doors. Our client had been dreaming and planning this kitchen for 17 years and we’re thrilled we were able to bring it to life.

Example of a mid-sized trendy gray two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior design in Other with a shed roof and a metal roof

Photo by Marot Hartford Styling by Kelly Berg Color design by Rachel Perls
Beach style formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with green walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv

Example of a transitional bedroom design in Sacramento

Example of a large trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room design in Dallas with white walls and no fireplace

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

These clients have a high sense of design and have always built their own homes. They just downsized into a typical town home and needed this new space to stand out but also be accommodating of aging in place. The client, Jim, has a handful of challenges ahead of him with dealing with Parkinson and all of it symptoms. We optimized the shower, enlarging it by eliminating the tub and not using a shower door. We were able to do a curbless shower, reducing the likelihood of falling. We used larger tiles in the bathroom and shower but added the anti slip porcelain. I included a built-in seat in the shower and a stand-alone bench on the other side. We used a separate hand shower and easy to grab handles. A natural palette peppered with some aqua and green breathes fresh, new life into a re-imagined UTC town home. Choosing materials and finishes that have higher contrast helps make the change from flooring to wall, as well as cabinet to counter, more obvious. Large glass wall tiles make the bathroom seem much larger. A flush installation of drywall to tile is easy on the eye while showing the attention to detail. A modern custom floating vanity allows for walker wheels if needed. Personal touches like adding a filter faucet at the sink makes his trips to take medicine a bit easier. One of my favorite things in design for any project is lighting. Not only can lighting add to the look and feel of the space, but it can also create a safer environment. Installing different types of lighting, including scones on either side of the mirror, recessed can lights both inside and outside of the shower, and LED strip lighting under the floating vanity, keep this modern bathroom current and very functional. Because of the skylight and the round window, light is allowed in to play with the different colors in the glass and the shapes around the room, which created a bright and playful bathroom. It is not often that I get to play with stain-glass, but this existing circular window, that we could NOT change, needed some love. We used a local craftsman that allowed us to design a playful stain-glass piece for the inside of the bathroom window, reminding them of their front door in their custom home years ago.

This project combines high end earthy elements with elegant, modern furnishings. We wanted to re invent the beach house concept and create an home which is not your typical coastal retreat. By combining stronger colors and textures, we gave the spaces a bolder and more permanent feel. Yet, as you travel through each room, you can't help but feel invited and at home.

A living room is meant to be lived in, thanks to sofas slipcovered in Sunbrella® fabrics. Pull up one of the many plush decorative pillows in dreamy shades of white and blue and let your cares drift away.

Concrete Kitchen Countertops
Example of a large trendy medium tone wood floor, brown floor and exposed beam kitchen design in Sacramento with a single-bowl sink, medium tone wood cabinets, concrete countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

A patio and seating area surrounds this home office. Unlike traditional sheds which are often tucked away and hidden in the side yard, Studio Sheds, like this home office, become a feature of the backyard landscaping.