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/

Example of a large classic wooden l-shaped wood railing staircase design in Dallas with painted risers

Nicole Mlakar
Inspiration for a contemporary medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Austin with white walls

Interior designer Emily Henderson collaborated with architect Annie Usher to design her brother’s house on the banks of the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon. The now-complete new build is described by Henderson as a “contemporary Pacific Northwest river cabin.” Henderson used windows from the Marvin Ultimate collection to frame the natural landscape surrounding the home and to let in plenty of natural light. Many of the windows are clad in White Oak, infusing the space with warmth and texture.

Christopher Davison, AIA
Utility room - large modern galley utility room idea in Austin with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Removing a closet to enlarge the space and moving the Washer and Dryer (now Stackables) helped to provide more useable space. Ivory glazed melamine. Donna Siben/ Designer for Closet Organizing Systems

Alek Lisefski / tiny-project.com
Contemporary exterior home idea in San Francisco

The Johnson-Thompson House, built c. 1750, has the distinct title as being the oldest structure in Winchester. Many alterations were made over the years to keep up with the times, but most recently it had the great fortune to get just the right family who appreciated and capitalized on its legacy. From the newly installed pine floors with cut, hand driven nails to the authentic rustic plaster walls, to the original timber frame, this 300 year old Georgian farmhouse is a masterpiece of old and new. Together with the homeowners and Cummings Architects, Windhill Builders embarked on a journey to salvage all of the best from this home and recreate what had been lost over time. To celebrate its history and the stories within, rooms and details were preserved where possible, woodwork and paint colors painstakingly matched and blended; the hall and parlor refurbished; the three run open string staircase lovingly restored; and details like an authentic front door with period hinges masterfully created. To accommodate its modern day family an addition was constructed to house a brand new, farmhouse style kitchen with an oversized island topped with reclaimed oak and a unique backsplash fashioned out of brick that was sourced from the home itself. Bathrooms were added and upgraded, including a spa-like retreat in the master bath, but include features like a claw foot tub, a niche with exposed brick and a magnificent barn door, as nods to the past. This renovation is one for the history books! Eric Roth

Laundry room with dog was station. Industrial mop basin and pre-rinse faucet on a raised cabinet create the perfect dog wash station and multi-purpose sink.

Erosion Charcoal emanates rock-solid strength and stability. Embrace your dark side with Erosion Charcoal’s hardy 36-by-20 inch blocks standing tall next to two towers of 12-by-2 inch rectangular tiles, all in a matte and textured finish with light grey faux grout. Utile by MAAX is an innovative shower wall solution that provides sophisticated style without the hassle of tiling. Utile - Designer Series Pattern: Erosion Color: Charcoal Dimensions: 60"x36"

Ted Hobson
Basement - cottage basement idea in Toronto

Sean Dooley Photography
Example of a small transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor dedicated laundry room design in Philadelphia with an utility sink, wood countertops, gray walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Organization was important to the homeowner and she chose to utilize clear canisters and open functional baskets to be able to view items easily and know when things needed to be replenished. Stacey Didyoung, Applico - An Appliance and Lighting Co.

Perfect Laundry Room for making laundry task seem pleasant! BM White Dove and SW Comfort Gray Barn Doors. Pewter Hardware. Construction by Borges Brooks Builders. Fletcher Isaacs Photography

A dream space that anyone with a large number of books will want. Have an afternoon that you aren't sure what to do? Head to the library to find your favorite book. Utilizing their entire wall with built in grey cabinets, the homeowners chose to create a beautiful library within the cottage.

Large urban laundry room photo in Ottawa with an utility sink

Give all your cleaning products and appliances a place of their own. A utility closet is an easy way to add extra storage shelves to keep all of your products in one place. The open shelves keep everything on display so you'll know when it's time to restock. Sliding doors add an extra bit of flare to the space!

This rustic style home on Hartwell Lake was designed and built for the owners to enjoy with family and friends during their active weekend lifestyle. The home was built on a narrow, deep lot that was semi-level on the roadside and steep on the lakeside. The back half of the lot heavily wooded with mature oak and poplar trees reducing the harsh sun’s heat gain on the home. The exterior utilizes fiber cement cedar shake and lap siding complimented by deep brown colors for the windows, soffit, trim and the large square columns. A nice balance of natural earth toned stacked stone rounds out the exterior materials completing the rustic casual lake living. The home 5400 SF is designed and built on thee levels each having a primary focus. The main level creates primary daily living for the owners. This level features an open plan with an entry, stair, dining, kitchen and living areas leading to a large lakeside screened porch. A master suite is privately tucked off its own hallway and allowing it to enjoy the lakeside as well with its own private deck. On the opposite side are two bedrooms, a study and a shared bathroom for each to utilize. An open carport for two vehicles was created with the motor court and connects to the mudroom/utility room giving the owners direct entry into their home. The upper level is for the grand children with an oversized bedroom, bathroom and loft area for play. The lower level is the considered the party level. Its primary feature is an elevated stage for the owner’s band opened to a large seating area, dining and kitchen for viewing and listening with direct access to another screened porch. Flanking each side is a theater and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Energy Efficient features include: • The majority of the lower level sunk into the site below grade • 6” thick walls utilizing advanced framing techniques • Foil covered roof sheathing • Extensive use of blown in cellulous • All windows & doors are double paned low E argon filed glass • Tank-less water heaters • Three separate high efficiency HVAC units with programmable thermostats and a fresh air ERV. Lastly the owner requested we make every effort to sound proof the home. Many materials and techniques gave a duel purpose and added to the energy efficiency. These items include: • 2x6 walls with staggered studs • Extensive use if rock wool acoustic batting • Tempered glass in all exterior doors and windows • ¼ thick Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) was installed on the top and bottom of the floor trusses and on all lower level walls. The combination of the design and detailing utilizing these specific materials enabled us to achieve a 5 Star Plus Energy Star Certification with a HERS Index Score of 50. This home received a the 2015 Pinnacle Award from the SC Home Builders Association for the “Best Achievement in Energy Efficiency” sponsored by the SC Department Commerce.

The finished project! The white built-in locker system with a floor to ceiling cabinet for added storage. Black herringbone slate floor, and wood countertop for easy folding.