Search results for "Upfront" in Home Design Ideas

Photography by Context Media/Naples, FL
Bedroom - mid-sized coastal master light wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea with gray walls
Bedroom - mid-sized coastal master light wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea with gray walls

This modern home was a net-zero energy design-build project built in collaboration with a local architecture firm. The owner was living in the Midwest, so other than an in-person, upfront planning meeting and a few visits for walkthroughs along the way, we built the home with him providing input from afar.
One of the homeowner’s goals was to be as close to net-zero in energy usage as possible. The home features solar panels to generate electricity and geothermal heat pumps to power in-floor radiant heating and cooling. Solar panels also heat hot water to augment the heating system and provide hot water for domestic use.
The modern design of the home also helps to save on the energy needed for heating and cooling. Extensions on the roof let the low winter sunlight pour through the windows to provide passive solar heat during the colder months and block the rays in the summer to help keep the house cool.
The home’s foundation and its garage floor sit on concrete piers drilled into the ground. This keeps them away from direct contact with the poor soils the home is built on, allowing the soils to expand without causing any damage.
We commissioned custom furniture, countertops, and other features made from salvaged elm and walnut trees cut down in the area. Custom walnut doors, wardrobes in the master suite, and grain-sequenced cabinet doors and drawer fronts coordinate beautifully with the locally sourced pieces, as do the accents made from beetle-kill pine.
The home nestles into the ground to provide a mid-level walkout basement. Stairs go down from main floor and up from basement to meet in the middle and provide access to the outdoors. Locally sourced Colorado buff stone accents interior walls and transitions to exterior walls, helping to further anchor the home to its beautiful, lakeside location.
Find the right local pro for your project

Whether you're preparing a Thanksgiving feast or grabbing breakfast on the go as you whirl out the door to work, having a highly functional kitchen requires an upfront attention to design detail that borders on fanatical. That's why Colorado Fine Woodworks' kitchen cabinet projects include an in-depth discussion about how you actually use your kitchen. Left-handed or right-handed? Doors or drawers? Concealing or revealing? We ask all the questions, listen to your answers, take our own measurements onsite, create 3D drawings, manage installation, and collaborate with you to ensure even the smallest elements are carefully considered. And, of course, we also make it beautiful, whether your tastes tend toward traditional or contemporary, incorporating influences from elegant to rustic to reclaimed.
Our work is:
- exclusively custom, built EXACTLY to the specifications of your kitchen
- designed to optimize every square inch, with no fillers or dead spaces
- crafted to highlight or hide any feature you wish - including your appliances
- thoughtfully and thoroughly plotted, from hinges to hardware

Mastic Carvedwood 44 Vinyl Siding in the color, Deep Granite has added curb appeal to this New Bedford, MA.
Mastic Carvedwood 44 Vinyl Siding can add up to 20% value to any home. Making it a great investment for any homeowner! People who love the look of wood but hate all the maintenance will love Carvedwood 44. Each panel has a wood-like texture and is installed just as cedar clapboards would be, but without having to worry about repainting every few years. It might be costly upfront but over time switching to vinyl is the more cost-effective option compared to cedar siding. They are also crack, fade, and wind resistant up to 178 mph for lasting quality that will continue to look good. Homeowners have plenty of choices for colors, textures, and styles to choose from.

Whether you're preparing a Thanksgiving feast or grabbing breakfast on the go as you whirl out the door to work, having a highly functional kitchen requires an upfront attention to design detail that borders on fanatical. That's why Colorado Fine Woodworks' kitchen cabinet projects include an in-depth discussion about how you actually use your kitchen. Left-handed or right-handed? Doors or drawers? Concealing or revealing? We ask all the questions, listen to your answers, take our own measurements onsite, create 3D drawings, manage installation, and collaborate with you to ensure even the smallest elements are carefully considered. And, of course, we also make it beautiful, whether your tastes tend toward traditional or contemporary, incorporating influences from elegant to rustic to reclaimed.
Our work is:
- exclusively custom, built EXACTLY to the specifications of your kitchen
- designed to optimize every square inch, with no fillers or dead spaces
- crafted to highlight or hide any feature you wish - including your appliances
- thoughtfully and thoroughly plotted, from hinges to hardware

Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget.
The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project.
The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower.
Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks.
Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work.
Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed.
The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel.
Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan
Contractor: Keycon Construction
Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon
Photography: Sabrina Huang
Year Completed: 2020

This historic home in Oak Park was in need of updating, with deferred maintenance inside and out requiring extensive work. This created an opportunity to rethink the house for a modern family in the 21st century, with an updated plan, a strong connection to the yard from the kitchen and new mudroom, covered patio, and flexible rooms for work-at-home, gym, or guest functions. The insulation and mechanical systems were upgraded to Phius levels, and a solar PV array added to meet annual net zero energy performance. With minimal upfront energy expenditure, the home’s operational carbon was reduced by 100%, and the house is a delightful place for the young family to grow into.

We are proud to announce that another satisfied customer has had their home transformed with new Pearl Gray James Hardie siding, replacing the previous wood siding.
Due to the garage's upfront placement, they chose to use board and batten siding on the garage to differentiate it from the house. This traditional technique involves wide boards with narrow battens covering the seams to create a rustic and textured look.
Check out their testimonial here: www.tinyurl.com/PearlGreyBB

A complete front yard and backyard transformation, this Catie’s Way home offers a bit of everything. New features range from a large pool and deck area to a complete outdoor kitchen. Multiple seating options create the ultimate flexibility for outdoor entertaining or relaxing. Upfront, visitors are greeted by a winding stone walkway and a newly rebuilt driveway.

Whether you're preparing a Thanksgiving feast or grabbing breakfast on the go as you whirl out the door to work, having a highly functional kitchen requires an upfront attention to design detail that borders on fanatical. That's why Colorado Fine Woodworks' kitchen cabinet projects include an in-depth discussion about how you actually use your kitchen. Left-handed or right-handed? Doors or drawers? Concealing or revealing? We ask all the questions, listen to your answers, take our own measurements onsite, create 3D drawings, manage installation, and collaborate with you to ensure even the smallest elements are carefully considered. And, of course, we also make it beautiful, whether your tastes tend toward traditional or contemporary, incorporating influences from elegant to rustic to reclaimed.
Our work is:
- exclusively custom, built EXACTLY to the specifications of your kitchen
- designed to optimize every square inch, with no fillers or dead spaces
- crafted to highlight or hide any feature you wish - including your appliances
- thoughtfully and thoroughly plotted, from hinges to hardware

Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget.
The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project.
The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower.
Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks.
Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work.
Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed.
The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel.
Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan
Contractor: Keycon Construction
Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon
Photography: Sabrina Huang
Year Completed: 2020

This historic home in Oak Park was in need of updating, with deferred maintenance inside and out requiring extensive work. This created an opportunity to rethink the house for a modern family in the 21st century, with an updated plan, a strong connection to the yard from the kitchen and new mudroom, covered patio, and flexible rooms for work-at-home, gym, or guest functions. The insulation and mechanical systems were upgraded to Phius levels, and a solar PV array added to meet annual net zero energy performance. With minimal upfront energy expenditure, the home’s operational carbon was reduced by 100%, and the house is a delightful place for the young family to grow into.

Traditional-to-Contemporary Kitchen remodel that expanded kitchen area while removing wall to bring living and dining together.
Urbanology Designs completed all up-front design and selection work. Photography by Sesha Smith Convey Studios

Whether you're preparing a Thanksgiving feast or grabbing breakfast on the go as you whirl out the door to work, having a highly functional kitchen requires an upfront attention to design detail that borders on fanatical. That's why Colorado Fine Woodworks' kitchen cabinet projects include an in-depth discussion about how you actually use your kitchen. Left-handed or right-handed? Doors or drawers? Concealing or revealing? We ask all the questions, listen to your answers, take our own measurements onsite, create 3D drawings, manage installation, and collaborate with you to ensure even the smallest elements are carefully considered. And, of course, we also make it beautiful, whether your tastes tend toward traditional or contemporary, incorporating influences from elegant to rustic to reclaimed.
Our work is:
- exclusively custom, built EXACTLY to the specifications of your kitchen
- designed to optimize every square inch, with no fillers or dead spaces
- crafted to highlight or hide any feature you wish - including your appliances
- thoughtfully and thoroughly plotted, from hinges to hardware

Need dependable Plumbing Installation in Colorado Springs, CO? BullsEye Plumbing provides top-tier workmanship and honest, upfront rates.

A complete front yard and backyard transformation, this Catie’s Way home offers a bit of everything. New features range from a large pool and deck area to a complete outdoor kitchen. Multiple seating options create the ultimate flexibility for outdoor entertaining or relaxing. Upfront, visitors are greeted by a winding stone walkway and a newly rebuilt driveway.

Green Home Systems provides reliable solar power solutions to residential and commercial customers all over the country. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with Bruce D. in Jacksonville, IL to provide a 19kW solar system for his home. We were able to complete this job quickly and efficiently, delivering a high quality product at an affordable price.
At Green Home Systems, our mission is to provide our customers with the best customer service in the industry as well as unparalleled solar solutions at the most economical price. We understand that not everyone can afford large upfront costs associated with installing solar systems and we are proud to offer competitive financing options that make it easier for our customers to go solar without breaking the bank. This was certainly true for Bruce D., who took advantage of our financing options and was able to have his new solar system installed within a couple of weeks time.
Our team worked hard to ensure everything went smoothly when installing Bruce’s new system. We began by inspecting his roof to determine if it was suitable for installation and if there were any potential problems that needed addressing before beginning work. Once we determined everything was in order we then moved on to designing and installing the system itself. Our team of experienced professionals worked diligently to ensure each component was installed properly and securely so that it would be able to withstand years of exposure to the elements without issue.
We also made sure that Bruce was aware of all the financial benefits associated with having a photovoltaic system installed on his home. He was now able to take advantage of numerous tax credits available in Illinois as well as decreased utility bills due to reduced consumption from his local electricity provider. Additionally, he will be able to increase the value of his home by having a solar power system installed which will make it more attractive should he decide he wants to sell it down the line.
In conclusion, we are proud of our work with Bruce D. in Jacksonville, IL and were happy to provide him with an efficient and cost-effective way to add renewable energy sources into his home’s power grid. Our team worked diligently throughout every stage of this project from design through installation until completion and we are thrilled with the results. We look forward to continuing our work throughout Illinois providing reliable solar solutions at competitive prices so that more people can benefit from this clean source of energy!

Having hurricane-rated impact windows installed can actually save you money over time, which can significantly defray the upfront costs. Because your home will be better protected against severe weather, you may enjoy significant discounts on your homeowners' insurance premiums.
12

