Boxes and Panels: Shipped in parts and assembled on the show floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center in just four days, the Builder LivingHome was an experiment in modular efficiency.

Credit: James F. Wilson

When Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution, he wasn’t thinking about housing, of course. But in this, the year of his 200th birthday, you can’t help but imagine that the forces of natural selection are taking their toll on home building.

Few would argue that the industry has reached a point of reckoning. With credit in a virtual lockdown and fossil fuel reserves edging closer to extinction, home builders are adapting to new realities. The pressure is on to provide comfort and luxury in a smaller envelope, to engineer integrated, multifunctional plans and systems, and to build faster, smarter, and more economically. For many, this means rethinking how they’ve always done things.

Big Stretch: Spanning 54 feet from end to end, the Builder LivingHome is rather modest but feels plenty spacious thanks to an open floor plan with long sight lines. The designers at Color Design Art used rich accent colors on the end walls to create appealing vistas.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Far be it from BUILDER to preach and not practice, so we upended some of our own timeworn habits in preparation for this year’s International Builders’ Show. Rather than doing stick-built showcase homes on conventional lots—as has been our tradition for nearly a decade—we partnered with modular builder and developer LivingHomes, the groundbreaking architects at KieranTimberlake Associates, and the eco-minded designers at Color Design Art to create an entirely different animal.

The 2,160-square-foot concept house that made its debut on the trade show floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center in January was factory-built to LEED specifications over the course of roughly three months. Shipped as a suite of modules and panels, it arrived on site nearly 95 percent complete and was stitched together in just four days. Simple, flexible, and sustainable, it is a study in how housing may very well evolve in the not so distant future.

Of a Piece: Built to California seismic code as well as HUD requirements for transport, the house traveled to the convention center by truck as a series of boxes, plus siding, roof, wall, and infrastructure panels.

Anatomy Of A Hybrid

There’s much to be said for factory prefabrication. Framing and sheathing are not exposed to the elements before they are closed in; sequences are not waylaid by bad weather; and waste is all but eliminated by designing and pre-cutting materials to exacting specifications. Experts wager that cycle times can be shortened by as much as 30 percent, as site prep can be executed at the same time the house is being built. And modular structures are often sturdier than their stick-built counterparts because they must be engineered to withstand transport.

But prefab does have its drawbacks. “Modular construction is performed in a controlled, synchronized environment, so it can be very efficient,” says LivingHomes founder and CEO Steve Glenn. “The problem is that shipping [a box full of] air is ­expensive, and you have to ship out these modules and use big cranes to put them in place. Panels have an advantage over modules in that they can be shipped flat or on their sides. The downside is that panels then become substitutes for framing systems or walls. If you use SIPs, you at least have insulation in place ahead of time, but you still have to run infrastructure, ducting, and mechanicals.”

Come In: A recessed entry keeps the program simple, yet still creates a sense of place. The arrival sequence is enhanced with a simple shift in cladding colors inside the box.

Credit: James F. Wilson

So which is better? Modular or panelized? The BUILDER LivingHome combines the best of both. Manufactured by Profile Structures, the bulk of the house is made up of four steel-and-wood–framed modules (“mods”) stacked in a two-over-two configuration, plus an additional panelized wall, floor, and ceiling system that creates a third bedroom and drive-through carport. And here’s where the plan gets really interesting: The biggest energy-consuming areas—the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and mechanical room—are organized in a linear sequence along the back wall, and that’s no accident. It’s a move that allowed the building team to consolidate mechanical ducting, electrical, propane, and plumbing systems into flat smart panels that tilt up to form a spine along that rear wall. The result is a tight, integrated power backbone with no wasted mechanical footage and therefore very little energy lost in transmission.

“The hybrid system we’ve introduced begins with prefab core modules for the areas that require a lot of skilled labor, such as kitchens and baths, and then introduces new smart panels that integrate the infrastructure,” Glenn explains. “It’s a flexible system that allows for high-­volume fabrication, assembly, and easier transportation.”

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• Electric Company

  

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  The Cutler-Hammer electrical distribution equipment from Eaton Corp. is the lifeblood of the home. Installed by The Krux Co., the list of products include the load center, a surge device to protect appliances and other electronic equipment, and circuit interrupters to protect circuits from hazardous arc-fault trips. Krux also installed low-voltage distribution equipment such as audio and intercom products and structured wiring enclosures. www.eaton.com.

• Under Pressure

  

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  Air distribution and indoor air quality management responsibilities are handled by Hi-Velocity System from Energy Saving Products. Flexible enough to provide heating, cooling, filtration, and dehumidification, the system uses small-diameter ducts that work on the principle of pressure rather than air velocity. The system uses an efficient HE EPC motor. www.hi-velocity.com.

• Power Station

  

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  A 20-kilowatt, whole-house backup generator and Power Manager LTS transfer switch will provide the home with power if the grid goes down. The unit has a digital control panel, an external main circuit breaker, and a system status LED display. It runs on natural gas or liquid propane and operates quietly. www.generac.com.

• Structural Support

  

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  Behind the walls, an assortment of structural products from iLevel by Weyerhaeuser perform heavy lifting. Walls feature Framer Series lumber that will be straight and true long after it is installed in the home; TJI joists and Structurwood Edge Gold floor panels that create strong, predictable, squeak-free floors; and Parallam PSL beams and columns that are strong and straight. www.ilevel.com.

• Energy Saver

  

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  Lightolier's Xceed compact fluorescent down lights will help the future owners save energy and money. The units are less than 3 1/2 inches deep, so they-re easy to install, and, unlike other compact fluorescents, they can be used with a dimmer for even more energy savings. www.lightolier.com.

• Tanks a Lot

  

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  Rinnai's R94LSe tankless system will provide an endless supply of hot water. The Energy Star-certified unit uses a commercial-grade heat exchanger to deliver up to 9.4 gallons per minute. It will supply hot water to five plumbing and appliance outlets simultaneously. www.rinnai.us.

• Spin Cycles

  

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  You-d expect a sustainable house to have high-efficiency appliances such as the Whirlpool Duet Steam washer and dryer. The Energy Star-rated washer handles tough stains without pre-treating and gets rid of wrinkles and odors. The washer saves up to 73 percent of the water and 77 percent of the energy used by conventional washers manufactured before 2004. www.insideadvantage.com.

• Inner Tubes

  

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  Instead of copper, Dynamic Plumbing plumbed the house with AquaPEX tubing and ProPEX fittings by Uponor. The flexible crosslinked polyethylene tubing allows tight radius and fewer connections. In addition to resisting scale buildup and corrosion, it dampens rushing water noise and retains more heat. www.uponor-usa.com.

• Pump It Up

  

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  A 16 SEER high-efficiency heat pump from Goodman Manufac-turing Co. provides energy-efficient heating and cooling for the home. The unit is equipped with a high-performance scroll compressor and uses environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant. A louvered design and a sound blanket help make the unit quiet. It is coupled with a DMH 900 whole-house air cleaner that removes 99.97 percent of particles down to 0.3 micron. www.goodmanmfg.com.

 

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Bite Size: The kitchen is small, compact, and good-looking. The open peninsula doubles as a workspace and eating bar and even incorporates a wine fridge.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Geography Of Anywhere

The typical show home strategy goes something like this: Stake out a prime patch of turf, preferably a corner lot in a pretty neighborhood; load it up with goodies; and entice visitors to “picture yourself here.”

The BUILDER LivingHome didn’t quite follow the script. Suffice it to say the convention hall was not its final destination. (The prototype was sold following its show tour and will soon be installed in a permanent location in Newport Beach, Calif.) LivingHomes’ business model is to provide modular components in a state of near completion to eco-minded builders, developers, and home buyers who develop their own lots. The idea is for customers to envision the hip residences just about anywhere.

“We purposely designed a home that could be situated in any number of environments including a small city lot; a thin, deep lot; a long, wide lot; or a more rural setting,” explains design architect Stephen Kieran, whose firm, KieranTimberlake, has developed a suite of kit plans for the LivingHomes portfolio (of which the BUILDER LivingHome is one). “Lots of cities are developing small-lot ordinances. We kept that in mind.”

Need to Vent: Big windows and sliding doors on all sides of the house promote cross-ventilation and natural daylighting, thus reducing the need for air conditioning and artificial illumination. The area rug, by Shaw, is made of recyclable materials.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Although site constraints inevitably vary from one location to the next, the house is designed to be more or less plug-and-play, with a host of attributes that minimize the use of fossil fuels. Most rooms cross-ventilate in multiple directions, with a particular emphasis on lateral air flow, and large-scale operable glazing systems are ­designed to capture prevailing winds. The exteriors are set up to accommodate cantilevered overhangs and solar panels.

The interiors are no less versatile, with virtually no wasted space. Designed with the efficiency of a ship’s cabin, each zone inside the house lends itself to multiple functions. The first-floor bonus room, which adjoins a bathroom and can be closed off with a sliding pocket door, might be used as a media room, home office, studio, meditation spot, or guest suite.

The open kitchen, dining, and living area, which extends outside onto a spacious patio, is a fluid realm that can easily accommodate small gatherings or large parties. Multiple outdoor connections make the space feel bigger and integrated with its surroundings . “It’s a human perceptual thing,” Kieran says. “You really don’t want to walk into this house, shut the door, and turn on the air conditioning.”

Specifying plants and shrubs for the show presentation was a bit of a ­challenge, notes Robin Pendergrast, owner of Las Vegas–based Lifelike Botanicals. “I selected plant material that would balance well with the contemporary architecture, blend with the living roof, and survive on a convention show floor without the benefit of natural light,” she says. “The landscape has a casual and inviting feel that can transition into other urban area settings.”

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• Chef's Choice

  

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  The collection of Whirlpool KitchenAid appliances includes an efficient induction cooktop that heats by magnetic energy; a 27-inch Architect Series wall oven with a 1.4-??cubic-foot microwave ??section and a 3.8-cubic-foot convection section; a 27-inch warming drawer; and a side-by-side counter-depth ??refrigerator. www.insideadvantage.com.

• Grab Bag

  

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  HOPPE's Verona lever design appears in several variations on passage and privacy doors in the house. Made from solid brass, the handle measures almost 5 inches long and has a smooth contoured design. It comes in several finishes, but satin nickel is used here. www.us.hoppe.com.

• Smooth Approach

  

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  Therma-Tru Doors' Smooth-Star fiberglass entry doors are used at the rear entrance to the home and into the mechanical room. The doors are able to withstand dents and dings and have a smooth, paint-ready surface. Stile-and-rail lines create the look of a wood door, and a polyurethane foam core increases energy efficiency. www.thermatru.com.

• Composite Sketch

  

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  Made from 43 percent pre-consumer recycled content, Andersen Windows' 100 Series line combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance features of vinyl. The windows are constructed from a Fibrex structural composite of sawdust and polymer (largely reclaimed from the manufacturing plant). www.andersenwindows.com.

• Euro Flash

  

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  Euro Flash

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  KraftMaid Cabinetry's ultra hip Venicia cabinets add a sense of drama to the kitchen. Part of the Mirra Collection, the contemporary European-style product has flat-panel, full overlay doors and easy-close drawers. The kitchen features the Carina door style in Onyx Gloss. www.kraftmaid.com.

• Outside Slider

  

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  You-d expect a sustainable house to have high-efficiency appliances such as Sliding patio doors from Andersen Windows bring abundant light into the house and provide easy access to the outdoor area. The doors feature solid wood construction, wood interiors, and low-maintenance aluminum exteriors. www.andersenwindows.com.

• Local Color

  

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  Sherwin-Williams' Duration Home and environmentally friendly Harmony interior latex paint add color to the house. Harmony has zero volatile organic compounds, and anti-microbial properties protect the surface and inhibit mildew growth, while low-odor Duration features cross-linking technology that creates a washable coating even with saturated colors. www.sherwin-williams.com.

• See Through

  

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  Contemporary glass doors from The Sliding Door Co. help to separate the family room from the living room. The panels are made with ??recycled-content anodized aluminum and feature translucent glass panels that slide by upper roller guide and bottom wheels on low-profile floor tracks that are recessed in the floor. Frosted glass is used, but laminated or linen-style is available. www.slidingdoorco.com.

• Dynamic Duo

  

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  Kohler's Karbon articulating faucet and 8 Degree sink take center stage in the work area of the kitchen. Made from a combination of carbon and metal, the faucet is designed with moveable joints that allow the spray head to fill large pots and pans, while the stainless steel sink's beveled edges support the accompanying wine glass drying rack. www.us.kohler.com.

• Quartz Right

  

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  Stone Etc. installed DuPont Zodiaq quartz surfacing that will withstand the rigors of cooking and day-to-day abuse. Made from at least 50 percent pre-consumer recycled glass, it's nonporous, requires no sealing, and does not promote the growth of bacteria. The team used Warm Taupe from the Terra Collection. www.countertops.dupont.com.

• Eze Does It

  

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  SolarEze solar roof membrane by Suntech Power can expand to suit individual needs and can easily be installed over existing roofs with no structural reinforcement. The low-profile membrane will not ruin the look of the roof line and is wind-load-rated up to 125 miles per hour. www.suntech-power.com.

• Walk This Way

  

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  Trex's Brasilia composite decking in a Cayenne color has the look of an exotic tropical hardwood, but it will not rot, warp, or need as much maintenance as the real thing. It's made largely from recycled plastic bags and wood waste and has a smooth, soft feel. The installation uses a hidden fastening system. www.trex.com.

ALL NATURAL: Textiles in earthen colors, such as this bedding by Area, complement warm wood tones in the floors, window casements, and solid interior doors.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Simple Is A Virtue

On matters of style, LivingHomes abides by the modernist mantra of form follows function. But this less-is-more philosophy is about more than the politics of aesthetics, Glenn says, particularly at a time when climate crisis, budgetary prudence, and energy efficiency are top of mind for both builders and home buyers. The fancy bump-outs, tricky roof forms, and volume spaces that epitomized the trophy homes of the housing boom have more recently come to represent longer construction cycles, costlier labor, and energy inefficiency (more dead space to heat and cool).

“We avoid superfluous materials that are there just for show and that use up extra resources unnecessarily,” Glenn says, pointing to the mod home’s clean lines and simplified building forms. “Nothing is there just for window dressing. In that regard, the contemporary approach is very relevant.”

Glenn himself lives in just such a house (his company’s very first prototype) and is betting the streamlined style will prove a winning one with some of today’s more coveted buyer segments. These include Gen Y buyers—who are expected to start hitting their prime home buying years around 2012—and “cultural creatives,” whom he describes as style-, budget-, and carbon-conscious types who are already driving Priuses and shopping for furniture at places such as Ikea and Design Within Reach. “These are people who really value design, health, and sustainability in the products they buy,” he says.

Not Sterile: This softer version of modernism feels warmer and more organic—and, of course, green.

Credit: James F. Wilson

The fact that the BUILDER LivingHome (and several other modular plan variations on the theme) are production versions of KieranTimberlake’s prototype Loblolly House—which one critic went so far as to deem “one of the most innovative and ­important houses of this century”—holds considerable cachet with design aficionados, he adds. It’s the next step up from buying an Eames chair or Philippe Starck light fixture.

“Loblolly was a custom home with off-site prefab components,” Kieran explains. Although there are distinct differences between the original Loblolly and the production versions (for example, the original waterfront home stands on piles and has an independent aluminum scaffold frame, whereas the Builder LivingHome sits on the ground and has a steel moment frame), the plan layout and design rationale share similar DNA.

“The idea was to productize the concept in a format that could be marketed in a middle-class price range to a populist market,” Kieran says. LivingHomes’ long-term pricing goal for the production plans fall in the $150 to $220 per square foot range, although hitting that mark will be contingent on achieving cost efficiencies through volume.

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• Look of Lustra

  

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  Look of Lustra

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  The team carried the contemporary cabinet look to the bathroom (as well as other areas of the home) with KraftMaid Cabinetry's Venicia line. Part of the Lustra Collection, the Capri has flat-panel, full overlay doors, soft-close drawers, and adjustable hinges. It's seen here in Tygris Gloss. www.kraftmaid.com.

• Step Up

  

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  The contemporary staircase by Milk Design literally takes center stage in the middle of the house. Made largely from recycled-content stainless steel, the 42-inch Damen Railing has a combination flat handrail and round horizontal balusters, while the black, Miami-style stringer supports 2-inch red oak treads. www.milkdesign.net.

• Brick by Brick

  

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  Echo recycled glass tiles from Crossville are used in the other baths and in the powder room on the first level. The mesh-mounted tiles are made from recycled glass in various contents depending on color and feature textured surfaces. The powder room backsplash is shown in 1-inch-by-3-inch Frosted Red. It comes in 14 other colors. www.crossvilleinc.com.

• Echo Chamber

  

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  Crossville's Echo recycled glass tiles add visual interest to the main bath on the second level. Made from 10 percent to 100 percent recycled glass, each tile has a textured surface that glimmers and reflects light. It was specified in a random blend of frosted Neutral, Blue, and Lite Blue in 1-inch-by-1-inch tiles. www.crossvilleinc.com.

• Groovy Times

  

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  A Groove shower receptor and Purist shower door and low-flow showerhead occupy one side of the master bathroom. The 48-inch-by-36-inch acrylic receptor has a side drain and an aluminum drain cover, while the frameless door has pivoting hinges and CleanCoat glass for easy cleanup. www.us.kohler.com.

• Green Envy

  

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  Mossy Green DuPont Zodiaq surfacing was used in the master bathroom. Fabricated and installed by Stone Etc., the surface is made from 50 percent pre-consumer recycled glass and is water resistant, durable, and nonporous. It does not require sealing like granite and is low maintenance. www.countertops.dupont.com.

• Core Competency

  

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  The home's interior doors are not ordinary products. Made by Humabuilt, they feature rapidly renewable wheat board cores that are stable and a high-quality Douglas fir veneer. The door shown here measures 7 feet, 6 inches and has acid-etched glass that allows light but maintains privacy. www.humabuilt.com.

• Fresh Air

  

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  Fresh Air

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  Broan-NuTone's automatic SmartSense Ventilation System keeps the home's air free of pollutants. The system monitors manual usage of the Ultra Silent fans throughout the house and automatically operates the units when necessary. SmartSense controls digitally communicate with each other over existing power lines. www.nutone.com.

Room to Move: Color Design Art specified armless sofas, modular case goods, and an area rug by Carousel that could be easily rearranged to accommodate large gatherings. The coffee table cubes, by ­Livingreen, are made from recycled Napa Valley wine barrel staves.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Material Matters

Every room in this house is designed to be occupied daily. To illustrate the home’s supreme morphing capabilities, the interior designers at Color Design Art (CDA) outfitted common areas with modular furniture pieces, floating seating, and nesting tables that could be configured multiple ways.

“One initial thought we had was to go harder contemporary with the interiors, given the nature of the architecture,” says CDA principal Don Anderson, “but that seemed kind of cliché. We wanted it to feel approachable and friendly, not stark and cold. So we went with a lot of warm woods but also clean lines.”

And, in keeping with its commitment to healthier homeowners and a healthier ­planet, the house is appointed, head to toe, in furnishings made from salvaged, recycled, or rapidly renewable content, organic fabrics, and nontoxic paints and stains. Among the wares (most of which were provided by small start-up manufacturers with limited lines): modular coffee tables and case goods made of reclaimed wood from century-old buildings; side tables fashioned out of old railroad ties; a dining room table base comprised of scrap furniture remnants glued together with low-VOC resin; a desk chair made of vintage advertising rulers; a handwoven bamboo floor lamp; and a table and chairs made of recyclable polypropylene. Even the art on the walls is printed on cotton canvas with low-VOC inks, incorporating wood stretcher bars made from reforested trees.

Permanent finishes and fixtures were similarly selected for their sustainable virtues, as well as for time, cost, and transport advantages. A stretched fabric ceiling, for example, proved easier to ship than drywall (no cracking) and was installed on site in a matter of hours. “It has noise attenuating qualities, and you can also use it for walls, which makes it a great material for hiding mod lines,” notes Reed Walker, a project ­manager for LivingHomes. “It can even be screen-printed.”

Nice Play: A CDA custom-designed bunk bed/desk combo in the second-floor kid’s room was fabricated with formaldehyde-free, FSC-certified plywood. The desk chair, by Viva Terra, is made out of vintage advertising rulers.

Credit: James F. Wilson

Equally significant is the home’s exterior cladding—an eco-friendly, UV-protected biocomposite of resin, sawdust, and laminate, which comes in 4-foot-by-8-foot siding panels that can be ripped, length-wise, to accommodate varying window sizes. Shipped flat (in sections) and then easily reassembled on the show floor, this panelized skin serves as the top layer of a RainScreen system that allows the house to breathe. Its staggered application not only makes for an interesting geometric pattern, but it also cleverly hides the horizontal mod seams between floors.

“We are getting to the point now where if you don’t see the mod lines, you can’t necessarily tell that a house is modular,” Walker says. And it’s getting easier and easier to be green without sacrificing quality or aesthetics.

Is this the wave of housing’s future? “I’m not sure,” he says. “But it should be.”

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• Look of Lustra

  

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  Look of Lustra

  344

  The team carried the contemporary cabinet look to the bathroom (as well as other areas of the home) with KraftMaid Cabinetry's Venicia line. Part of the Lustra Collection, the Capri has flat-panel, full overlay doors, soft-close drawers, and adjustable hinges. It's seen here in Tygris Gloss. www.kraftmaid.com.

• Step Up

  

  http://www.hbrn.com/Images/c3c50137-f7c4-4994-8c1c-368d0752c0aa_tcm10-427057.jpg

  Step Up

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  The contemporary staircase by Milk Design literally takes center stage in the middle of the house. Made largely from recycled-content stainless steel, the 42-inch Damen Railing has a combination flat handrail and round horizontal balusters, while the black, Miami-style stringer supports 2-inch red oak treads. www.milkdesign.net.

• Brick by Brick

  

  http://www.hbrn.com/Images/45779903-64d1-42c0-9ecf-22797a6fe2cd_tcm10-427060.jpg

  Brick by Brick

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  Echo recycled glass tiles from Crossville are used in the other baths and in the powder room on the first level. The mesh-mounted tiles are made from recycled glass in various contents depending on color and feature textured surfaces. The powder room backsplash is shown in 1-inch-by-3-inch Frosted Red. It comes in 14 other colors. www.crossvilleinc.com.

• Echo Chamber

  

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  Echo Chamber

  300

  Crossville's Echo recycled glass tiles add visual interest to the main bath on the second level. Made from 10 percent to 100 percent recycled glass, each tile has a textured surface that glimmers and reflects light. It was specified in a random blend of frosted Neutral, Blue, and Lite Blue in 1-inch-by-1-inch tiles. www.crossvilleinc.com.

• Groovy Times

  

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  Groovy Times

  300

  A Groove shower receptor and Purist shower door and low-flow showerhead occupy one side of the master bathroom. The 48-inch-by-36-inch acrylic receptor has a side drain and an aluminum drain cover, while the frameless door has pivoting hinges and CleanCoat glass for easy cleanup. www.us.kohler.com.

• Green Envy

  

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  Green Envy

  300

  Mossy Green DuPont Zodiaq surfacing was used in the master bathroom. Fabricated and installed by Stone Etc., the surface is made from 50 percent pre-consumer recycled glass and is water resistant, durable, and nonporous. It does not require sealing like granite and is low maintenance. www.countertops.dupont.com.

• Core Competency

  

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  Core Competency

  300

  The home's interior doors are not ordinary products. Made by Humabuilt, they feature rapidly renewable wheat board cores that are stable and a high-quality Douglas fir veneer. The door shown here measures 7 feet, 6 inches and has acid-etched glass that allows light but maintains privacy. www.humabuilt.com.

• Fresh Air

  

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  Fresh Air

  451

  Broan-NuTone's automatic SmartSense Ventilation System keeps the home's air free of pollutants. The system monitors manual usage of the Ultra Silent fans throughout the house and automatically operates the units when necessary. SmartSense controls digitally communicate with each other over existing power lines. www.nutone.com.

The Stuff that Green is Made Of

Founding Sponsors

Andersen Windows & Doors(windows and doors) www.andersenwindows.com

Whirlpool Corp.(major appliances) www.insideadvantage.com

Premier Sponsors

Kohler(plumbing fixtures and accessories) www.us.kohler.com

KraftMaid(cabinets and millwork) www.kraftmaid.com

Underwriting Sponsors

DuPont(quartz surfacing) www.countertops.dupont.com

Klip BioTechnologies(exterior siding) www.kliptech.com

Propane Education & Research Council(propane energy) www.buildwithpropane.com

Tyco Fire Suppression & Building Products(home fire sprinkler system) www.tyco-rapidresponse.com

Participating Sponsors

Beam Central Vacuums by Electrolux (central vacuum) www.beam.com

Broan Nu-Tone(ventilation products) www.nutone.com

Crossville(tile products) www.crossvilleinc.com

Eaton Corp.(electrical distribution systems) www.eaton.com

Ford Motor Co.(pickup truck) www.ford.com

Generac Power Systems(back-up generator) www.generac.com

Goodman Manufacturing Co.(HVAC equipment) www.goodmanmfg.com

Energy Saving Products(air distribution and indoor air quality management) www.hi-velocity.com

iLevel by Weyerhaeuser(structural framing) www.ilevel.com

Lyptus by Weyerhaeuser(wood flooring) www.lyptus.com

Owens Corning(insulation) www.owenscorning.com

Rinnai Corp.(tankless water heaters) www.rinnai.us

The Sherwin-Williams Co. (coatings) www.sherwin-williams.com

Therma-Tru Doors(entry-door system) www.thermatru.com

Typar Weather Protection System(housewrap) www.typar.com

Uponor(water distribution system) www.uponor-usa.com

Donors

Area (accent pillows and bedding accessories) www.areahome.com

Carousel (area rug) www.carouselcarpet.com

CEMCO Steel (galvanized rainscreen furring) www.cemcosteel.com

Circle City Roofing(green roof installation) www.circlecityroofing.com

Clipso Technical Fabrics (stretched fabric ceiling) www.clipso.com

Dynamic Plumbing(plumbing installation) www.dynamic-plumbing.com

Florasource(green roof) www.florasourceltd.com

Forecast Lighting(recessed lighting) www.forecastltg.com

Hoppe North America(door hardware) www.us.hoppe.com

Humabuilt (interior doors) www.humabuilt.com

The Krux Co. (home automation) www.kruxhomes.com

Lightolier (decorative lighting) www.lightolier.com

Livingreen (accessories and furniture) www.livingreen.com

Masland Carpets (area rug) www.maslandcarpets.com

Merida (area rug) www.meridameridian.com  

Milk Design (stairs and railings) www.milkdesign.net

Open Energy Corp. (inverter for solar electric system) www.openenergycorp.com

Pindler (fabric) www.pindlercorp.com

Plexi Gallery (framed photos and accessories) www.theplexigallery.com

Shaw (area rug) www.shawfloors.com

Simpson Strong-Tie (joist hangers and hold-downs) www.strongtie.com

Sliding Door Co. (interior pocket doors) www.slidingdoorco.com

Stone Etc. (tile installation and quartz countertop fabrication) www.stoneetcinc.com

Strini Art Glass (custom light fixture) www.striniartglass.com

Suntech Energy Solutions(photovoltaics) www.suntech-power.com

Thorpe Design (fire sprinkler installation) www.thorpedesign.com

Trex Co. (exterior decking) www.trex.com

Viva Terra (tables, chairs, and bath accessories) www.vivaterra.com  

Mod Squad

Builder and construction drawings: LivingHomes, Santa Monica, Calif.

Design architect: KieranTimberlake Associates, Philadelphia

Manufacturer: Profile Structures, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Interior designer: Color Design Art, Culver City, Calif.

Landscaping: Lifelike Botanicals, Las Vegas

The team: Steve Glenn, CEO, LivingHomes (above); James Timberlake and Stephen Kieran, partners, KieranTimberlake Associates (left); Don Anderson, principal, Color Design Art (center); Ed Feser, president, Profile Structures (right).