Photo: Justin Buell Architecture: Rela Gleason

Giacomo Longoni e Cinzia Camela

Shelly Harrison

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Ralf Emmerich

Double sinks, floating vanity cabinets, and an open marble shower make this incredibly spacious master bath a showcase. Tom Grimes Photography Luxe Home Company

Alicia Hauff Photography

Kat Alves

Rustic natural Adirondack style Double vanity is custom made with birch bark and curly maple counter. Open tiled,walk in shower is made with pebble floor and bench, so space feels as if it is an outdoor room. Kohler sinks. Wooden blinds with green tape blend in with walls when closed. Joe St. Pierre photo

Careful detail, careful planning in this elaborate recessed Shampoo niche. Initially designed by the client sketching his idea out on a scrap piece of paper.

Another view of the master bath allows you to see the mirrored barn door that hides the master closet. Shiplap is used to add texture and gloss to the space.

This project received the award for the 2010 CT Homebuilder's Association Best Bathroom Renovation. It features a 5500 pound solid boulder bathtub, radius Corning Glass block shower with two walls covered in book matched full slabs of marble, and reclaimed wide board rustic white oak floors installed over hydronic radiant heat in the concrete floor slab. This bathroom also incorporates a great deal of salvage and reclaimed materials including the 1800's piano legs which were used to create the vanity, an antique cherry corner cabinet was built into the wainscot paneling, chestnut barn timbers were added for effect and also serve as a channel to deliver water supply to the shower via a rain shower head and to the tub via a Kohler laminar flow tub filler. The entire addition was built with 2x8 wall framing and has been filled with full cavity open cell spray foam. The frost walls and floor slab were insulated with 2" R-10 EPS to provide a complete thermal break from the exterior climate. Radiant heat was poured into the floor slab and wraps the lower 3rd of the tub which is below the floor in order to keep the thermal mass hot. Marvin Ultimate double hung windows were used throughout. Another unusual detail is the Corten ceiling panels that were applied to the vaulted ceiling. Each Corten corrugated steel panel was propped up in a field and sprayed with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for approx. 4 weeks to accelerate the rust process until the desired effect was achieved. Then panels were then cleaned and coated with 4 coats of matte finish polyurethane to seal the finished product. The results are stunning and look incredible next to a hand made metal and blown glass chandelier.

Marc Lohmann

Photo by Clicked By Lara

Tim Casagrande