This narrow rear return extension transformed this house, creating a kitchen diner that maximises the internal and external space. The clever storage and shelving means the kitchen works well for the home owners and folding doors to the upstairs bedroom provide lots of light into the room and seating and storage within the room too. Tomas Millar

Photography by John Gibbons Project by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This contemporary custom home forms itself based on specific view vectors to Long's Peak and the mountains of the front range combined with the influence of a morning and evening court to facilitate exterior living. Roof forms undulate to allow clerestory light into the space, while providing intimate scale for the exterior areas. A long stone wall provides a reference datum that links public and private and inside and outside into a cohesive whole.

Design by Vibe Design Group Photography by Robert Hamer
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brown exterior in Melbourne with wood siding and a flat roof.

Mathew and his team at Cummings Architects have a knack for being able to see the perfect vision for a property. They specialize in identifying a building’s missing elements and crafting designs that simultaneously encompass the large scale, master plan and the myriad details that make a home special. For this Winchester home, the vision included a variety of complementary projects that all came together into a single architectural composition. Starting with the exterior, the single-lane driveway was extended and a new carriage garage that was designed to blend with the overall context of the existing home. In addition to covered parking, this building also provides valuable new storage areas accessible via large, double doors that lead into a connected work area. For the interior of the house, new moldings on bay windows, window seats, and two paneled fireplaces with mantles dress up previously nondescript rooms. The family room was extended to the rear of the house and opened up with the addition of generously sized, wall-to-wall windows that served to brighten the space and blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The family room, with its intimate sitting area, cozy fireplace, and charming breakfast table (the best spot to enjoy a sunlit start to the day) has become one of the family’s favorite rooms, offering comfort and light throughout the day. In the kitchen, the layout was simplified and changes were made to allow more light into the rear of the home via a connected deck with elongated steps that lead to the yard and a blue-stone patio that’s perfect for entertaining smaller, more intimate groups. From driveway to family room and back out into the yard, each detail in this beautiful design complements all the other concepts and details so that the entire plan comes together into a unified vision for a spectacular home. Photos By: Eric Roth

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style two-storey black exterior in Montpellier with wood siding and a gable roof.

Michael Hsu
Photo of a large transitional two-storey white exterior in Austin with wood siding.

Inspiration for a large country two-storey brown exterior in New York with wood siding and a gable roof.

This is an example of an expansive country two-storey brown exterior in Other with wood siding and a gable roof.

CONTEMPORARY HOME DESIGN NO. 3713-V1 Having received much attention at a Home Show in which it had been built on site and in response to the many requests for the addition of a garage to plan 3713, we are pleased to present model 3713-V1. The addition of a garage that is 14’ wide and almost 28’ deep is sure to meet the needs of the many who specifically requested this convenient feature. Outside, the addition of a garage clad in fibre cement panels with cedar siding matches the rest of the structure for a pleasing visual impact and definite curb appeal. Inside, other than the service entrance from the garage, this plan shares the same laudable features as its predecessor such as 9’ ceilings throughout the main level, a modern fireplace in the living room, a kitchen with an 8’ x 3’ island and computer corner, nicely sized bedrooms with ample closet space that includes a walk-in in the master bedroom and a full bathroom with separate 42” x 60” shower enclosure. We invite you to discover our contemporary collection and share your comments with us ! http://www.drummondhouseplans.com/modern-and-contemporary.html Blueprints, CAD and PDF files available starting at only $919 (best price guarantee) DRUMMOND HOUSE PLANS - 2015 COPYRIGHTS

Photo Credits: Brian Vanden Brink
Large beach style two-storey beige house exterior in Boston with wood siding and a shingle roof.

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.

This is an example of a large beach style two-storey yellow exterior in Philadelphia with wood siding and a gable roof.

Greg Premru
Mid-sized beach style two-storey exterior in Boston with wood siding and a gable roof.

Jamie Young Photography
Photo of a mid-sized country two-storey brown exterior in New York with wood siding and a gable roof.

Photo by Jody Dole
This is an example of a large transitional two-storey exterior in New York with wood siding and a gable roof.

Rear view exterior view of traditional Georgian style colonial in Northern Connecticut. Stansbury Photography
Design ideas for a large traditional two-storey white exterior in Boston with wood siding.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional two-storey black exterior in Other with wood siding and a gable roof.

1950’s mid century modern hillside home. full restoration | addition | modernization. board formed concrete | clear wood finishes | mid-mod style.
Design ideas for a large midcentury two-storey beige house exterior in Santa Barbara with wood siding and a flat roof.

Mid-sized country two-storey beige house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a gambrel roof and a shingle roof.