A young couple that vacations annually in the Mediterranean retained MHG Greens&Gardens to transform their Dorado Beach East home into a Mediterranean villa. With red roof tiles, soft flat stucco walls, plenty of clean lines, a portico, and ample grounds, MHG Greens&Gardens immediately saw the potential to personalize the couple’s contemporary Caribbean home according to their longtime dream.

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.

Renovated Master bath "After" photo of a gut renovation of a 1960's apartment on Central Park West, New York. Tiles are Thassos subway, the mosaic is Thassos and Blue Celeste marble with Blue Celeste marble slabs. Grout is pale blue. Photo: Elizabeth Dooley

Alise O'Brien
Bedroom and large elegant boy medium tone wood floor and brown floor kids' bedroom photo in St Louis with white walls

http://mollywinnphotography.com
Mid-sized farmhouse medium tone wood floor home office photo in Austin with white walls

Simple Luxury Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor playroom remodel in Salt Lake City with beige walls

New custom house in the Tree Section of Manhattan Beach, California. Custom built and interior design by Titan&Co. Modern Farmhouse
Large farmhouse master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor freestanding bathtub photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, an undermount sink, white walls and marble countertops

dining room, lantern pendant, guy chaddock, guy chaddock light, trestle table, sconces, ply lighting, white paneling, large windows, staircase
Large elegant dark wood floor dining room photo in Denver with white walls

After remodel, space transformed from a dark, dated, and dreary, kitchen with plywood cabinets and 70s era feel to a light, bright, and comfortable space for a historic home. Photographer: K. Wootton

Example of a mid-sized beach style 3/4 multicolored floor and cement tile floor bathroom design in Toronto with open cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink and quartz countertops

John Muggenborg
Example of a danish galley light wood floor open concept kitchen design in New York with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, glass sheet backsplash and an island

Photo: Brian Barkley © 2015 Houzz
Family room - traditional multicolored floor family room idea with beige walls

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a coastal l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in St Louis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard stone and l-shaped pool fountain design in Phoenix

Shiflet Group Architects Photographer Nick Johnson
Example of a cottage dining room design in Austin

Photo by Stephani Buchman
Nursery - bedroom and mid-sized contemporary boy carpeted nursery idea in Toronto with blue walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master carpeted and white floor bedroom remodel with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Windsor Products Used: Pinnacle clad windows and sliding patio doors, www.windsorwindows.com With Windsor’s manufacturing plant located in the same metropolitan area as Ironwood Homes, it was convenient for the builders to tour the plant to learn about us and our manufacturing process. Bill Knapp, co-founder of Ironwood Homes stated. “This firsthand experience confirmed our decision and made us certain that we are using a great product in our homes." Builder: Ironwood Homes, Urbandale, IA, www.ironwoodiowa.com Architect: Plum Building Systems, LLC, West Des Moines, IA Distributor: Gilcrest Jewett Lumber Company, Waukee, IA, www.gilcrestjewett.com Home Builders Association of Iowa – HomeShowExpo Website: www.dmhomeshow.com

Westlake Village bohemian teen bedroom. Doug Hill Photography.
Bedroom and large cottage chic girl medium tone wood floor kids' bedroom photo in Los Angeles with green walls