Photography ©Jeff Allen

The goal of this project was to build a house that would be energy efficient using materials that were both economical and environmentally conscious. Due to the extremely cold winter weather conditions in the Catskills, insulating the house was a primary concern. The main structure of the house is a timber frame from an nineteenth century barn that has been restored and raised on this new site. The entirety of this frame has then been wrapped in SIPs (structural insulated panels), both walls and the roof. The house is slab on grade, insulated from below. The concrete slab was poured with a radiant heating system inside and the top of the slab was polished and left exposed as the flooring surface. Fiberglass windows with an extremely high R-value were chosen for their green properties. Care was also taken during construction to make all of the joints between the SIPs panels and around window and door openings as airtight as possible. The fact that the house is so airtight along with the high overall insulatory value achieved from the insulated slab, SIPs panels, and windows make the house very energy efficient. The house utilizes an air exchanger, a device that brings fresh air in from outside without loosing heat and circulates the air within the house to move warmer air down from the second floor. Other green materials in the home include reclaimed barn wood used for the floor and ceiling of the second floor, reclaimed wood stairs and bathroom vanity, and an on-demand hot water/boiler system. The exterior of the house is clad in black corrugated aluminum with an aluminum standing seam roof. Because of the extremely cold winter temperatures windows are used discerningly, the three largest windows are on the first floor providing the main living areas with a majestic view of the Catskill mountains.

Small bathroom spaces without windows can present a design challenge. Our solution included selecting a beautiful aspen tree wall mural that makes it feel as if you are looking out a window. To keep things light and airy we created a custom natural cedar floating vanity, gold fixtures, and a light green tiled feature wall in the shower.

alcove shower, cement floor tiles, wall hung vanity, herringbone shower tiles

Original artwork stands out against the amazing wallpaper.

Clean and airy master bathroom in woodland hills

You’ll always be on holidays here! Designed for a couple nearing retirement and completed in 2019 by Quine Building, this modern beach house truly embraces holiday living. Capturing views of the escarpment and the ocean, this home seizes the essence of summer living. In a highly exposed street, maintaining privacy while inviting the unmistakable vistas into each space was achieved through carefully placed windows and outdoor living areas. By positioning living areas upstairs, the views are introduced into each space and remain uninterrupted and undisturbed. The separation of living spaces to bedrooms flows seamlessly with the slope of the site creating a retreat for family members. An epitome of seaside living, the attention to detail exhibited by the build is second only to the serenity of it’s location.

dark moody tones

Design Credit : Prospect Refuge

Il bagno padronale ha le zone umide rivestite in lastre di marmo di Carrara, realizzate su misura. | Foto di Filippo Vinardi |

Bathroom.

Photo: Bay Area VR - Eli Poblitz