This water-conserving showerhead is designed to use 40 percent less water than standard showerheads while providing a soothing, waterfall-like sensation. Gray-green subway tile creates a sophisticated look for the shower wall.
Fixture: Berwick shower kit; American Standard
Tile: Tessera glass subway tile in Blue Smoke; Merola Tile
Grout: Silver Shadow; Laticrete
The first-floor bathroom has a nature-inspired palette and theme including raffia wall covering, wood mirror frame, and neutral gray-green surfaces. The dual-flush toilet is designed for water conservation, with the partial flush using 37.5 percent less water. The toilet’s one-piece design makes it easier to clean, and a special surface material inhibits bacteria, mildew, and mold.
Fixtures: American Standard Boulevard 24” pedestal sink, Berwick wide-spread faucet with lever handle, Boulevard dual-flush toilet and CR Series toilet paper holder; American Standard
Accessories: Plank mirror in Sea Mist by Hickory Manor House; Hayneedle.com
Wallcovering: Bankun Raffia by Thibaut; Decorators Best
Window treatment: Roman shade in Bungalow Stripe/Biscay; Smith & Noble
Lighting: Fairlane 16” vanity light; House of Antique Hardware
The bathrooms boast a combination ventilation fan-light with a simple design and a motor that is so quiet the unit can be surface-mounted in the bathroom rather than tucked up into the ceiling. The Energy Star–rated fan-light also features multiple airflow speed options.
Ventilation fan-light: WhisperGreen Select fan light (50-80-110 CFM); Panasonic
Several healthy-home and energy-saving technologies are at work in the master bath. The hands-free toilet adds germ-free convenience and uses a low 1.28 gallons per flush. The vent-fan speed self-adjusts to reduce moisture and optimize air quality. Guaranteeing a hot shower, a high-efficiency hybrid water heater (located in the basement) can operate in heat-pump or electric mode for a consistent supply with lower energy consumption than comparable 50-gallon electric models. Electric radiant floor heat warms up the tile—and the room—on chilly days.
Fixtures: Studio Activate Toilet and Berwick shower kit; AmericanStandard
Shower door: Levity sliding shower door; Kohler
Tile: Metro Hex 2-inch floor tile in matte white and Metro Soho subway tile in matte white; Merola Tile
Grout: Silver; Maipei
Pipework towel rack: Anthropologie
Towels: HomeGoods
Hybrid water heater: Professional Prestige 50-Gallon Hybrid Water Heater with EcoNet by RHEEM
Radiant floor: STEP Residential Electric Radiant Underfloor Heating by STEP Warmfloor
The living room’s ceiling fan has a unique curved-blade design that moves more heated (or cooled) air with less effort, allowing for a smaller-than-most DC motor that delivers top energy efficiency and a trim, minimalist look. Sensor technology and smartphone app controls enable automated operation of its seven speeds and LED light.
Fan: 51” H-Series ceiling fan in aluminum with black trim; Haiku
This LED light used in both the master closet and mudroom has motion sensors so that the room is illuminated the instant a person enters; for energy savings, the light automatically goes out when no one is in the room. The light can be programmed according to a typical daily schedule so it automatically provides the appropriate illumination, adjusting the color temperature and dimming the intensity.
Lighting: Designer Series Light with color temperature shifting capability in oil-rubbed bronze; Haiku
Triple-pane vinyl windows combine a classic 2-over-1 farmhouse look with top performance and durability. With Krypton-gas in the air spaces and a low-E coating, they carry a 0.17 U-factor, which indicates a low rate of nonsolar heat transfer. They are key to the house’s Home Energy Rating score of 55, which indicates it will average 45 percent of the energy use of a typical house of similar size.
Windows: Tribute Vinyl Windows with Simulated Divided Lights, Foam-Filled Chambers, Low-E Triple Pane with Krypton Gas, and Warm-Edge Spacer (U-0.17); Harvey Building Products
To give homeowners peace of mind, the house features an integrated digital system of home security and automation that combines professional monitoring, video cameras, thermostat controls, window sensors, smoke and CO detectors, and keypad door locks with a unique code for every family member.
Whole-house security and automation: Touchscreen door lock, part of the home’s Premium security and automation package; AT&T Digital Life
Like the garage’s white vertical siding, the house’s gray clapboards are made of easy-care fiber cement, which resists moisture, rot, and buckling or cracking in extreme weather, much better than wood. Its baked-on factory color finish comes with a 15-year warranty against peeling, cracking, or chipping—cutting way down on upkeep.
Siding and Trim: HardiePlank lap siding in smooth Iron Gray and HardieTrim window trim in smooth Arctic White; James Hardie
Roof: Majestic Traditional 12” synthetic slate in Smoke Gray with chisel point detail in Midnight Gray and Smoke Gray; EcoStar LLC
Gutters: 5” half-round copper gutters on plain rib-cast fascia brackets in solid brass and 3” smooth downspouts in copper; Classic Gutter Systems LLC
Windows: Tribute vinyl double-hung windows with black exterior finish and 0.17 U-factor; Harvey Building Products
Window box: Walpole Outdoors
The decking, railings, porch floor, posts, and trim are made of a low-maintenance wood alternative. This unique cellular PVC material is engineered to resist moisture, staining, and splitting, while being easy to cut and install.
Deck and railing: Azek Deck Harvest Collection capped polymer decking in Island Oak, and Azek Premier Railing with cablerail by Feeney Inc.; Azek
Pergola: 10-by-12-foot Pergola kit with flat top and square columns in white, with Shade FX canopy in Gingko by Walpole Outdoors
Outdoor furniture: Kambree Chat Set with Tuscon fire pit by Belham Living; Hayneedle.com
The south-facing slope of the garage roof hosts 16 high-efficiency black photovoltaic panels, which should provide a third of the house’s energy. The 4.8-kw system includes optimization technology that enables monitoring of each module for maximum capacity.
Solar: LG SolarEdge 16-panel, all-black 300 watt 4.8kW system; Sun Bug Solar
Cupola: 30” Carlisle cupola in PVC and copper by Royal Crowne Outdoor Accents
Solar: Photovoltaic inverter for LG SolarEdge 16-panel, all-black 300 watt 4.8kW system; Sun Bug Solar
High-efficiency mini-split HVAC units, like those from Fujitsu and Mitsubishi, heat (and cool) without the need for ductwork, saving interior space. Tied to a heat pump outdoors, they produce several times more heating and cooling energy than they use in electricity.
The outdoor condenser for the home’s ductless HVAC system supports the mini-split units mounted inside the house; each mini-split functions as an independent zone. The condenser features efficiency-boosting inverter technology, automatically adjusting compressor speed and refrigerant flow for each mini-split unit and thereby providing precise temperature control in each room. A pipe connects each mini-split to the condenser, but traditional space-gobbling ductwork inside the house is not required.
HVAC: Mitsubishi indoor wall-mount mini-split units and outdoor condenser units; MitsubishiComfort.com for suppliers
A high-efficiency hybrid water heater (located in the basement) can operate in heat pump or electric mode for a consistent supply with lower energy consumption than comparable 50-gallon electric models.
Hot water heater: Professional Prestige 5-gallon hybrid water heater with EcoNet; Rheem
The durable anodized-aluminum garage light fixture features ultra-efficient LEDs with a 13,000-lumen output that is 16 times greater than a typical 60-watt incandescent, and rated to last for years. An occupancy sensor is added to the light so that on/off function is automatic, providing convenience as well as energy efficiency.
Lighting: Garage Lights with occupancy sensors; Haiku
The garage features a variety of long-lasting, easy-care materials that resist moisture, rot, and temperature swings, including faux-slate roof shingles made of 80 percent recycled plastic and rubber, fiber-cement siding, and copper gutters. The composite-over-steel garage door carries a high R-value, thanks to a layer of foam insulation at its core.
Roof: Majestic Traditional 12” synthetic slate in smoke gray; EcoStar
Alpine snow guards: Copper Development Association Inc.
Siding: HardiePanel vertical siding and HardieTrim in smooth Arctic White; James Hardie
Cupola: Carlisle cupola in PVC; Royal Crowne Outdoor Accents
Gutters and downspouts: 5” half-round copper gutters on plain rib-cast fascia brackets in solid brass and 3” smooth downspouts in copper; Classic Gutter Systems LLC
Garage door: Clopay Coachman Collection (R-Value 18.4) in custom Cyberspace SW with Colonial Lift Handles; Clopay
Lighting: 14” District LED wall sconces in black; Barn Light Electric
Planters: Valencia tall planter by Belham Living; Hayneedle.com
The carriage-house-style bi-lift garage door has an R-value of 18.4 thanks to 2 inches of foam insulation layered on the steel door. The factory-applied nearly-black paint finish is a custom color with a solar-protection additive so the finish won’t fade. Utilitarian-style light sconces, plank siding, copper gutters, and a synthetic slate roof complete the barn-like look of the garage, a perfect complement to farmhouse style.
Garage doors: 16’x17’ Clopay Coachman Collection steel door with composite overlays (R-Value 18.4) in custom Cyberspace SW with Colonial lift handles; Clopay
Gutters and downspouts: 5” half-round copper gutters on plain rib-cast fascia brackets in solid brass and 3” smooth downspouts in copper; Classic Gutter Systems LLC
Lighting: District 14” LED wall sconces in black; Barn Light Electric Co
Planters: Valencia tall planters by Belham Living; Hayneedle.com
