Design ideas for a large traditional wood straight staircase in New York with wood risers and wood railing.

Photos by Jack Gardner
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary wood floating staircase in Other with open risers and metal railing.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Brazilian Cherry railing system before and after!
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional wood straight staircase in DC Metro with wood risers and wood railing.

Photo by: Vern Uyetake
This is an example of a mid-sized modern carpeted u-shaped staircase in Portland with open risers and cable railing.

Photo of a large modern wood floating staircase in Toronto with open risers and wood railing.

Large contemporary wood straight staircase in Boston with glass risers and glass railing.

Jane Beiles
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional wood straight staircase in DC Metro with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Runner & blue tape on treads shown in photos are for protection while house was being completed.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional wood staircase in Other with wood risers and wood railing.

"Tiered custom height accommodates the sloped ceiling. Utilizing under-the-stairs space, this integrated system allows the whole family to stay organized."

Photo by Rod Foster
This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean wood curved staircase in Orange County with tile risers and mixed railing.

A Small Seat At the Top of the Stairs
Mid-sized wood u-shaped staircase in DC Metro with wood risers, wood railing and decorative wall panelling.

Design ideas for a large contemporary wood u-shaped staircase in Seattle with wood risers and glass railing.

From 2020 to 2022 we had the opportunity to work with this wonderful client building in Altadore. We were so fortunate to help them build their family dream home. They wanted to add some fun pops of color and make it their own. So we implemented green and blue tiles into the bathrooms. The kitchen is extremely fashion forward with open shelves on either side of the hoodfan, and the wooden handles throughout. There are nodes to mid century modern in this home that give it a classic look. Our favorite details are the stair handrail, and the natural flagstone fireplace. The fun, cozy upper hall reading area is a reader’s paradise. This home is both stylish and perfect for a young busy family.

Floating steel + stone stairs wind around the limestone library, like scaling a boulder. The landing is at the corner, evoking a sense of flying into the forest canopy. The creekside addition takes many cues from the surroundings. See the Ink+Well project, a modern home addition on a steep, creek-front hillside. https://www.hush.house/portfolio/ink-well

New custom staircase was designed to replace an outdated spiral staircase that was unsafe as well as unattractive.
Eclectic wood staircase in Los Angeles with wood risers and wood railing.

Updated staircase with white balusters and white oak handrails, herringbone-patterned stair runner in taupe and cream, and ornate but airy moulding details. This entryway has white oak hardwood flooring, white walls with beautiful millwork and moulding details.

This is an example of a large beach style wood staircase in Miami with painted wood risers, metal railing and planked wall panelling.

A view from the Kitchen to the Foyer offers great interest between the varying levels. Architectural LED lighting peaks through the windows adding to the street level experience as much as the interior experience. Cable rail stair detailing allows for a clear visual experience between spaces. Photos by Spacecrafting Photography