Search results for "Well advised reduction" in Home Design Ideas

This Tampa Bay homeowner was looking into complete change his backyard. Most pools in Tampa are built with a connected spa. To increase his pool size, he ended up deciding for not to build spa, however, he still wanted an appealing focal point to his pool. To contrast with the beautiful green landscape around the backyard, our customer wanted to add color and movement to his outdoor area.
For the main pool deck area, our customer felt in love with the french pattern autumn blend tumbled travertine pavers. French Pattern Tumbled Autumn Blend Travertine Pavers contain a mixture of mostly red and gold, with some white, dark and light brown tones. Autumn Blend added the perfect amount of color and movement our customer wanted.
Travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pops up from others.
A great accent color solution for the coping was the Desert Gold color on the 4×9 tumbled travertine copings. The beautifully blended Desert Gold may be bright and striking but does not lack for warmth and richness as well. To not compete with the strong colors of the pool deck, we advised our customer to add a lighter and more neutral pool tile: 2×2 autumn blend tumbled travertine tiles brought the perfect combination of contrast and harmony we were looking to achieve.
CREATIVITY ON YOUR POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVER.
Pool remodel with travertine paver does not need to represent neutral colors only. Different than what most people believe, travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pop up from others. Don’t be afraid of mixing different patterns, colors and textures to add more character to your outdoor space. Remember that, travertine pavers will display better their color when sealed, like the pictures from this pool remodel. If you are not sure if you would like your paver with the enhanced color, spray the sample with water first.
PREMIUM TRAVERTINE FRENCH PATTERN PAVERS
Pool remodel with travertine paver
POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVERS
This Tampa Bay homeowner was looking into complete change his backyard. Most pools in Tampa are built with a connected spa. To increase his pool size, he ended up deciding for not to build spa, however, he still wanted an appealing focal point to his pool. To contrast with the beautiful green landscape around the backyard, our customer wanted to add color and movement to his outdoor area.
For the main pool deck area, our customer felt in love with the french pattern autumn blend tumbled travertine pavers. French Pattern Tumbled Autumn Blend Travertine Pavers contain a mixture of mostly red and gold, with some white, dark and light brown tones. Autumn Blend added the perfect amount of color and movement our customer wanted.
pool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paver
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Travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pops up from others.
A great accent color solution for the coping was the Desert Gold color on the 4×9 tumbled travertine copings. The beautifully blended Desert Gold may be bright and striking but does not lack for warmth and richness as well. To not compete with the strong colors of the pool deck, we advised our customer to add a lighter and more neutral pool tile: 2×2 autumn blend tumbled travertine tiles brought the perfect combination of contrast and harmony we were looking to achieve.
CREATIVITY ON YOUR POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVER.
Pool remodel with travertine paver does not need to represent neutral colors only. Different than what most people believe, travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pop up from others. Don’t be afraid of mixing different patterns, colors and textures to add more character to your outdoor space. Remember that, travertine pavers will display better their color when sealed, like the pictures from this pool remodel. If you are not sure if you would like your paver with the enhanced color, spray the sample with water first.
PREMIUM TRAVERTINE FRENCH PATTERN PAVERS
On this pool remodel project, our customer preferred to use the French Pattern design, which is a good way to break up the monotony of the typical geometric or square appearance of large areas. Just like this outstanding pool deck remodel, patios and walkways will appear more fluid and mosaic by eliminating grout lines and the usual linear effect as well as the need for constant maintenance of the typical square or rectangular paver.
A French Pattern or a Versailles pattern is a paver pattern made up of four different sized tiles. Most French patterns are laid in stone, and nearly all are sold in “bundles” of tile that will cover 16 square feet.
Travertine pavers on your pool deck will reflect heat on hot days, remaining cool to the touch, unlike concrete surface options. Travertine does not discolor or become chalky after installation. The texture of travertine ensures that the stone remains slip resistant for wet feet, while its cool feel prevents burns. Another great advantage of travertine pavers is that there will be no visible grout lines; grout can be a source of both installation problems and added cost for future removal / replacement or up-keep.

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Study room - mid-sized transitional built-in desk carpeted, gray floor and shiplap wall study room idea in New York with gray walls
Study room - mid-sized transitional built-in desk carpeted, gray floor and shiplap wall study room idea in New York with gray walls
Find the right local pro for your project

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

This Tampa Bay homeowner was looking into complete change his backyard. Most pools in Tampa are built with a connected spa. To increase his pool size, he ended up deciding for not to build spa, however, he still wanted an appealing focal point to his pool. To contrast with the beautiful green landscape around the backyard, our customer wanted to add color and movement to his outdoor area.
For the main pool deck area, our customer felt in love with the french pattern autumn blend tumbled travertine pavers. French Pattern Tumbled Autumn Blend Travertine Pavers contain a mixture of mostly red and gold, with some white, dark and light brown tones. Autumn Blend added the perfect amount of color and movement our customer wanted.
Travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pops up from others.
A great accent color solution for the coping was the Desert Gold color on the 4×9 tumbled travertine copings. The beautifully blended Desert Gold may be bright and striking but does not lack for warmth and richness as well. To not compete with the strong colors of the pool deck, we advised our customer to add a lighter and more neutral pool tile: 2×2 autumn blend tumbled travertine tiles brought the perfect combination of contrast and harmony we were looking to achieve.
CREATIVITY ON YOUR POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVER.
Pool remodel with travertine paver does not need to represent neutral colors only. Different than what most people believe, travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pop up from others. Don’t be afraid of mixing different patterns, colors and textures to add more character to your outdoor space. Remember that, travertine pavers will display better their color when sealed, like the pictures from this pool remodel. If you are not sure if you would like your paver with the enhanced color, spray the sample with water first.
PREMIUM TRAVERTINE FRENCH PATTERN PAVERS
Pool remodel with travertine paver
POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVERS
This Tampa Bay homeowner was looking into complete change his backyard. Most pools in Tampa are built with a connected spa. To increase his pool size, he ended up deciding for not to build spa, however, he still wanted an appealing focal point to his pool. To contrast with the beautiful green landscape around the backyard, our customer wanted to add color and movement to his outdoor area.
For the main pool deck area, our customer felt in love with the french pattern autumn blend tumbled travertine pavers. French Pattern Tumbled Autumn Blend Travertine Pavers contain a mixture of mostly red and gold, with some white, dark and light brown tones. Autumn Blend added the perfect amount of color and movement our customer wanted.
pool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paverpool remodel with travertine paver
Previous
Next
Travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pops up from others.
A great accent color solution for the coping was the Desert Gold color on the 4×9 tumbled travertine copings. The beautifully blended Desert Gold may be bright and striking but does not lack for warmth and richness as well. To not compete with the strong colors of the pool deck, we advised our customer to add a lighter and more neutral pool tile: 2×2 autumn blend tumbled travertine tiles brought the perfect combination of contrast and harmony we were looking to achieve.
CREATIVITY ON YOUR POOL REMODEL WITH TRAVERTINE PAVER.
Pool remodel with travertine paver does not need to represent neutral colors only. Different than what most people believe, travertine pavers offer a few unique color mixtures that make any outdoor space pop up from others. Don’t be afraid of mixing different patterns, colors and textures to add more character to your outdoor space. Remember that, travertine pavers will display better their color when sealed, like the pictures from this pool remodel. If you are not sure if you would like your paver with the enhanced color, spray the sample with water first.
PREMIUM TRAVERTINE FRENCH PATTERN PAVERS
On this pool remodel project, our customer preferred to use the French Pattern design, which is a good way to break up the monotony of the typical geometric or square appearance of large areas. Just like this outstanding pool deck remodel, patios and walkways will appear more fluid and mosaic by eliminating grout lines and the usual linear effect as well as the need for constant maintenance of the typical square or rectangular paver.
A French Pattern or a Versailles pattern is a paver pattern made up of four different sized tiles. Most French patterns are laid in stone, and nearly all are sold in “bundles” of tile that will cover 16 square feet.
Travertine pavers on your pool deck will reflect heat on hot days, remaining cool to the touch, unlike concrete surface options. Travertine does not discolor or become chalky after installation. The texture of travertine ensures that the stone remains slip resistant for wet feet, while its cool feel prevents burns. Another great advantage of travertine pavers is that there will be no visible grout lines; grout can be a source of both installation problems and added cost for future removal / replacement or up-keep.

Northfield, IL kitchen remodel has an open floor plan which allows for better daylight dispursement. Defining the kitchen, dining, and sitting room space by varying ceiling design and open cabinetry makes the rooms more spacious, yet each space remains well defined. The added skylights in the hall gave natural light in the interior hallway as well as down the lower level stairway. The updated closets and baths use every inch wisely and the visual sight lines throughout are crisp and clean.
Norman Sizemore Photography

Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

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

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

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

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

Philip Crocker
Collaborative design work between our clients and ourselves incorporating their own tastes, furniture and artwork as they downsized from a large home to an almost new condo. As with many of our projects we brought in our core group of trade specialists to consult and advise so that we could guide our clients through an easy process of option selections to meet their standards, timeline and budget. A very smooth project from beginning to end that included removal of the existing hardwood and carpet throughout, new painting throughout, some new lighting and detailed art glass work as well as custom metal and millwork. A successful project with excellent results and happy clients!
Do you want to renovate your condo?
Showcase Interiors Ltd. specializes in condo renovations. As well as thorough planning assistance including feasibility reviews and inspections, we can also provide permit acquisition services. We also possess Advanced Clearance through Worksafe BC and all General Liability Insurance for Strata Approval required for your proposed project.
Showcase Interiors Ltd. is a trusted, fully licensed and insured renovations firm offering exceptional service and high quality workmanship. We work with home and business owners to develop, manage and execute small to large renovations and unique installations. We work with accredited interior designers, engineers and authorities to deliver special projects from concept to completion on time & on budget. Our loyal clients love our integrity, reliability, level of service and depth of experience. Contact us today about your project and join our long list of satisfied clients!
We are a proud family business!

Philip Crocker
Collaborative design work between our clients and ourselves incorporating their own tastes, furniture and artwork as they downsized from a large home to an almost new condo. As with many of our projects we brought in our core group of trade specialists to consult and advise so that we could guide our clients through an easy process of option selections to meet their standards, timeline and budget. A very smooth project from beginning to end that included removal of the existing hardwood and carpet throughout, new painting throughout, some new lighting and detailed art glass work as well as custom metal and millwork. A successful project with excellent results and happy clients!
Do you want to renovate your condo?
Showcase Interiors Ltd. specializes in condo renovations. As well as thorough planning assistance including feasibility reviews and inspections, we can also provide permit acquisition services. We also possess Advanced Clearance through Worksafe BC and all General Liability Insurance for Strata Approval required for your proposed project.
Showcase Interiors Ltd. is a trusted, fully licensed and insured renovations firm offering exceptional service and high quality workmanship. We work with home and business owners to develop, manage and execute small to large renovations and unique installations. We work with accredited interior designers, engineers and authorities to deliver special projects from concept to completion on time & on budget. Our loyal clients love our integrity, reliability, level of service and depth of experience. Contact us today about your project and join our long list of satisfied clients!
We are a proud family business!

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The pictures below are of Chinese Slate floor in the Kitchen of a property in the small village of Clifton just south of Penrith. We often get asked what the difference is between Rough and Semi Riven Slate, and this floor was a mixture of both.
If you look closely at the pictures and check out the darker parts of the floor you will see these smoother Semi Riven Slate, whereas the light copper-coloured parts of the floor were of the rougher textured variety. It’s not that unusual for stone to be mixed in this fashion as it can be supplied from different quarries in order to achieve a particular look.
The blend of different slates makes little difference when it comes to cleaning as the process is essentially the same. I would advise though if you intend to clean the floor using a mop then you should opt for Semi Riven Slate as Rough Slate can shred your mops and make it harder to maintain. We tend to use industrial floor buffing machines which work well on both surfaces so are less effected.
There was a bit of wax on this floor so to remove this Tile Doctor Wax Away was applied. The product was left to stand for fifteen minutes before being scrubbed into the stone, rinsed and then the soil extracted with a wet vacuum.
We then finished the cleaning with an Acid Rinse which involves scrubbing the Slate with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This not only works well at cleaning up the stone and grout but also neutralises the alkaline pH left over from using Wax Away. I am very wary of the pH level of the floor as it could have an impact on the new sealer, giving the floor an acid rinse before sealing also ensures a better bond with the sealer.
Naturally, you can’t leave a strong product like Grout Clean-up on the Stone for long as it could etch the surface so once done the floor was thoroughly rinsed with water and extracted again with a wet vacuum. A mop and bucket and lots of sponges won’t do the job on a large area like this.
Once we finished the clean, we left it to dry off overnight and came back the next day to apply the sealer. We were originally going to apply a satin finish sealer, but the client had a big dog with sharp claws which could of scratched and marked the sealer so decided against it. I advised the client to use an Impregnating sealer called Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which lifts the natural colours in the stone, but is not a topical shiny sealer as the seal soaks into the Slate and leaves a a nice matt finish instead. Only two coats of sealer were needed, and the floor looked like new again.
My client was very happy with the difference in the appearance of the stone and how much cleaner the grout was, so much so they the following feedback for us, which is always appreciated.
“Totally impressed with the team they couldn’t have been more professional and even left me with some cleaner. My horrible 12 year old slate tiles look fabulous”
As usual we left a free bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for aftercare, it’s very important not to undo all that hard work by using a product which will damage the seal, using a pH neutral cleaner will keep the seal looking sharp and fresh for years to come.
Heidi Taylor
North Cumbria Tile Doctor

Project: Mahitha's House
Location: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Area: 4300 Sqft
Plot: 12 Perch
Budget Allocation: 25 Million
Client: Mahitha Lanka
Project Designer- TRKDE Interior Designer
Mahitha's house is built on a semi-urban plot of land in the Kandy area. The standard-sized plot, as well as its composition the foundation on which social and leisure environments are kept, and the body that keeps them close. Two reductions were made on the ground floor volume to limit car accommodation and balcony, respectively. We have also tried to emphasize the formal independence between the slab floors as well as the horizontal identity of the composition to create a balcony in the bedrooms located on the back face, one reduction in the southwest corner of the upper floor. Furthermore, this difference is emphasized by the covering material for the facade, which is carefully used to achieve harmony between the house colour and texture. The translucence and cleanness we bring out through this architectural design show that we have brought a more enlightened look to this home.
Learn more about our latest projects from,
www.royalkandyan.com
https://instagram.com/srilankaarchitect
https://royalkandyan.com/construction-company-in-sri-lanka
https://youtu.be/3Ni-4DTCpHQ
P: (77) 719 8825 / (81) 207 3825
E: info@royalkandyan.com
©️The Royal Kandyan Design & Engineering (PVT) LTD

Project: Mahitha's House
Location: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Area: 4300 Sqft
Plot: 12 Perch
Budget Allocation: 25 Million
Client: Mahitha Lanka
Project Designer- TRKDE Interior Designer
Mahitha's house is built on a semi-urban plot of land in the Kandy area. The standard-sized plot, as well as its composition the foundation on which social and leisure environments are kept, and the body that keeps them close. Two reductions were made on the ground floor volume to limit car accommodation and balcony, respectively. We have also tried to emphasize the formal independence between the slab floors as well as the horizontal identity of the composition to create a balcony in the bedrooms located on the back face, one reduction in the southwest corner of the upper floor. Furthermore, this difference is emphasized by the covering material for the facade, which is carefully used to achieve harmony between the house colour and texture. The translucence and cleanness we bring out through this architectural design show that we have brought a more enlightened look to this home.
Learn more about our latest projects from,
www.royalkandyan.com
https://instagram.com/srilankaarchitect
https://royalkandyan.com/construction-company-in-sri-lanka
https://youtu.be/3Ni-4DTCpHQ
P: (77) 719 8825 / (81) 207 3825
E: info@royalkandyan.com
©️The Royal Kandyan Design & Engineering (PVT) LTD

Project: Mahitha's House
Location: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Area: 4300 Sqft
Plot: 12 Perch
Budget Allocation: 25 Million
Client: Mahitha Lanka
Project Designer- TRKDE Interior Designer
Mahitha's house is built on a semi-urban plot of land in the Kandy area. The standard-sized plot, as well as its composition the foundation on which social and leisure environments are kept, and the body that keeps them close. Two reductions were made on the ground floor volume to limit car accommodation and balcony, respectively. We have also tried to emphasize the formal independence between the slab floors as well as the horizontal identity of the composition to create a balcony in the bedrooms located on the back face, one reduction in the southwest corner of the upper floor. Furthermore, this difference is emphasized by the covering material for the facade, which is carefully used to achieve harmony between the house colour and texture. The translucence and cleanness we bring out through this architectural design show that we have brought a more enlightened look to this home.
Learn more about our latest projects from,
www.royalkandyan.com
https://instagram.com/srilankaarchitect
https://royalkandyan.com/construction-company-in-sri-lanka
https://youtu.be/3Ni-4DTCpHQ
P: (77) 719 8825 / (81) 207 3825
E: info@royalkandyan.com
©️The Royal Kandyan Design & Engineering (PVT) LTD

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This outdoor garden space allows for a connection with nature as well as be used as a gathering space for socialization and interaction. This area consists of pavement tile flooring, landscaping, wooden dining table with cushion seats, and Moroccan centrepieces to top it off.

The space under the stairs was made useful as a coffee bar and for overflow storage. Ample lighting and a sink make it useful for entertaining as well.
Photos: Dave Remple
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