house ideas

The CO2 emissions saved from the home's Solar Power PV system over three months equates to the planting of eight new trees.

The orientation of the home captures the sunrise and moonrise over the water.

The prefab's external cladding is corrugated Colorbond in woodland gray; the pergola features natural timber hardwood battens.

Positioned towards the north, raked ceilings and windows draw natural light into the living area, while eaves and awnings block the harsh summer sun.

Extensive glazing keeps the open-plan living space bright and airy and provides expansive views, allowing the couple to immerse themselves in their rural surroundings. The hearth is a Horama Fireplace by Chiminees Philippe.

The Fish Creek modular home is designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable inside and out.

The Kustavi has a monopitch roof, high windows and ceilings, two sheltered terraces, and a master bedroom with either a tall panoramic window, or a sliding door.

This stunning forest retreat in England uses prefabricated panels to minimize site impact, shorten construction time, and protect against weather.

Wooden sliding doors recall barn and farmhouse aesthetics.

A living lounge with a wood-burning fireplace.

The steel balustrade of the staircase complements the industrial-style Crittall windows used throughout the house.

A crisp palette of light neutral colors conveys a clean, contemporary, and serene vibe within the open-plan common areas.

The design team restored the existing wood beams, giving nod to the home’s former rustic life, while introducing big windows, white walls, and clean lines.

The old driveway is now a cheery, landscaped entry.

The kitchen echoes the bathroom in its finishes, including the Silestone countertop, IKEA cabinets, and Dal Tile backsplash. The space-saving fridge and range are from Blomberg.

Slim, full-height Milgard windows bring in light, yet allow for privacy between the main house and the Granny Pad.

The bedroom area is tucked behind a vintage dresser with a new hot pink back, which makes an eye-catching space divider. A custom plywood panel wall provides discreet storage and hides the laundry machines.

This innovative residential addition by Best Practice Architecture was built to give an aging family member a safe, well-designed, and private dwelling. In addition to meeting the immediate needs of the family, the space also needed to accommodate future use as a rental unit, studio, or office. Converting an existing garage was the perfect solution. Carefully placed windows and skylights provide lots of daylight, while exposed rafters create a loft-like atmosphere. A short walk through the entryway reveals the bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room. A lofted space above the bathroom can be used as storage, an office, or sleeping quarters. It also opens to a private back deck. All of these details come together to create an inviting, open-concept accommodation, making the relatively small footprint of this granny pad feel much larger than it really is.

The architects worked with the natural, six-foot slope of the site and built the Granny Pad into the hill to gain the needed interior height. The volume on the right is the original garage footprint, which now houses a kitchen and sitting room. The added volume on the left hosts the bedroom, as well as a bathroom beneath the loft space.