Trendy gray three-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Other with a metal roof

Transitional exposed beam and tray ceiling bedroom photo in Chicago with gray walls

Lisa Romerein
Cottage open concept and formal living room photo in San Francisco with beige walls and a wood stove

Small coastal gray two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home idea in Tampa with a metal roof

Joe Kwon Photography
Example of a large transitional built-in desk carpeted and gray floor home office design in Chicago with white walls

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.

wicker furniture, wood coffee table, glass candle holders, folding side table, orange side table, orange pillow, striped cushions, clerestory windows, Photography by Michael J. Lee

The storage area below the new porch is equipped with a custom-made rack which houses the removable storm panels used to winterize the three-season porch. Black mosquito netting at the underside of the porch floor protects against insect infiltration.

Family room - transitional family room idea in Chicago

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Bedroom - large transitional guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Boston with brown walls and no fireplace

Photos by: Tad Davis
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Raleigh with white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, gray countertops, shaker cabinets and subway tile backsplash

Japanese Tatami Dining Room featuring Tatami Mats and Garden View. Design and Build by Trilogy Partners. Photos Roger Wade Photography. Featured Architectural Digest May 2010

This lovely, rustic shed features re-purposed vintage windows and doors and urban forested pine lumber from Pacific Coast Lumber. With shiplap style paneling and a drop-down door which serves as a window when shut and a countertop when opened, this cozy and inviting space is the perfect place for outdoor dining and relaxing.

This custom home was masterfully designed by Platt Architecture. Reclaimed Wonder is located within the exclusive Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, North Carolina. Every detail of the residence reflects a discerning attention to craftsmanship, resulting in a home that is both artful and inviting. In the bedroom, a simple yet refined stone fireplace anchors the space, its intimate scale creating a cozy, contemplative retreat. Paired with reclaimed wood beams, carefully selected indigenous stone, and warm amber lighting, the room exudes a sense of understated elegance, seamlessly connecting comfort with the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains. J,Weiland

Example of a transitional living room design in Chicago

Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Chicago with white walls

Elegant blue two-story wood gable roof photo in Minneapolis

Grey stained cabinetry compliments the white perimeter cabinetry and carerra countertops. Cement backsplash in "Nantes" by Original Mission Tile in soft grey and white add flair to the muted palette. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn. Refrigerator by LIebherr. Cooktop by Wolf. Bosch dishwasher. Farmhouse sink by Blanco. Cabinetry pulls by Jeffrey Alexander Belcastle collection. Photo credit: Neil Landino

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Paper White Paint Trim: Benjamin Moore White Heron Joe Kwon Photography
Example of a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv