Brendon Bigelow

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.

PixelProFoto

Photo: Charles Davis Smith, AIA

Steve Cachero

This Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard features an ipe deck, knotty cedar fencing, artificial turf, a cedar pergola with corrugated metal roof, stepping stones, and loose Mexican beach stones. The contemporary outdoor furniture is from Restoration Hardware. Plantings are a lush mix of grasses, cherry trees, bamboo, roses, trumpet vines, variegated irises, hydrangeas, and sky pencil hollies.

Michael Hsu

Peter Taylor (www.shotglassphotography.com.au)

Chuck Carver- Photographer Brickhouse- Architect Beth Hanson- Interior Designer

Rear of house showing dining room and new wood deck and stairs. The railing is stainless steel cable with galvanized pipe handrails. PHOTO: Ignacio Salas-Humara

Leland Gebhardt

Yankee Barn Homes - The living room/great room of the contemporary post and beam barn home has massive walls of windows.

Horse groom's cottage with exposed wood beamed ceiling. Corrigated metal roof The Multiple Ranch and Mountain Homes are shown in this project catalog: from Camarillo horse ranches to Lake Tahoe ski lodges. Featuring rock walls and fireplaces with decorative wrought iron doors, stained wood trusses and hand scraped beams. Rustic designs give a warm lodge feel to these large ski resort homes and cattle ranches. Pine plank or slate and stone flooring with custom old world wrought iron lighting, leather furniture and handmade, scraped wood dining tables give a warmth to the hard use of these homes, some of which are on working farms and orchards. Antique and new custom upholstery, covered in velvet with deep rich tones and hand knotted rugs in the bedrooms give a softness and warmth so comfortable and livable. In the kitchen, range hoods provide beautiful points of interest, from hammered copper, steel, and wood. Unique stone mosaic, custom painted tile and stone backsplash in the kitchen and baths. designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

Troy Theis

This custom contemporary home was designed and built with a unique combination of products that give this home a fun and artistic flair. For more information about this project please visit: www.gryphonbuilders.com. Or contact Allen Griffin, President of Gryphon Builders, at 281-236-8043 cell or email him at allen@gryphonbuilders.com

View of entry for main unit below the cantilevered upper floor. photo: Fred Kihara