BEFORE: Overgrown with LOTS of weeds but also a few beautiful (if slightly unhealthy) trees.
This is an example of a small rustic shade backyard formal garden in New York for winter.

Looking down from the deck, a palpable serenity is evident. The flagstone path connects to a bluestone bench or can be used as an alternate entry into the pergola space.

Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers are planted above yellow melampodium. Learn how to grow easy vegetables that look great on your patio from the book "Easy Container Combos: Vegetables & Flowers." See a free, 24 page sample of the book at www.pamela-crawford.com. in the 'Books' section. Pamela Crawford designed and photographed the planter. Pamela designs landscapes throughout Palm Beach County, FL, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, the town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Wellington.

Inspiration for a contemporary home gym remodel in Santa Barbara

Photo by Brad Kopek. These log benches were cut and milled onsite from mature oak trees that were unhealthy and needed to be removed. We created seat benches out of them! The stone paving was re-purposed from the previous stone patio. Snow melt keeps this patio and spa terrace usable all year long.

Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz
Small southwest enclosed living room photo in Seattle with a tv stand

Any season is a good season to let sunlight and natural fresh air flow through your home. Open your VELUX skylights on the second floor and a window or door on the first floor, and the natural "chimney effect" will usher odors and other unhealthy particles from your home, leaving it smelling clean and fresh. Photo Courtesy of VELUX

Client was preparing for a change in eating habits and wanted to clear unhealthy options out and make room for new items. We emptied out the entire pantry, did a sort and purge, moved less frequently used items to the top and bottom, and arranged healthy snacks right at eye level. We kept her baking staples (flour, sugar, honey, etc.) but put them all together and on the top shelf.

This zero lot line side area was dirt with 2 overgrown, unhealthy fruit trees before I designed the area to be both eye-pleasing and functional. The desert climate demands special consideration, so artificial turf was used as a 'doggy deposit' area, while the pavers lead from the front part of the house to the rear yard with pool, spa & BBQ, with lake and golf course views beyond. A combination of small and larger rocks require no water & create a riverbed effect & contrast against the green succulents. A bench offers quiet respite and view to the lake beyond.

Styron Photography

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 rustic brown one-story wood gable roof remodel in Seattle

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Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Toronto

Example of an eclectic bathroom design in New York

Inspiration for a contemporary concrete patio remodel in Denver

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room remodel in Denver