Mid-century modern home renovated to net-zero

1. OLD IS THE NEW GREEN
Home Remodeling takes a front seat in the new economy
When new home building slid to a virtual halt these past couple of years, the renovation
of existing housing stock gained considerable ground. There are still millions of homes
still in foreclosure, and homeowners are realizing that staying put isn’t such a bad idea.
And the ‘green’ renovation of homes gives the added benefit of saving money on energy
costs and getting tax rebates and sales incentives.
My latest project, which I mentioned in my last blog, was the green remodel of a circa
1964 “Palm Springs Modern” home in Las Vegas. The challenge with this arguably cool
yet funky house was to try to retain some of its original charm, and improve the energy
output to below net zero. The house was insulated from the outside in with foam
technology, much like a thermos bottle. Triple glazed windows, high efficiency HVAC
system, and solar panels were just some of the technologies used. My job as interior
designer on the project was to balance the 60’s vibe of the house with finishes and
furniture that is more in tune to the way we live today. Now I’m not saying that 50 years
ago, people lived a radically different lifestyle. I believe they wanted the same things we
do now. What has changed is that we live in a different world today with more single
parent homes, homes with both parents working, latchkey kids, accelerated lifestyles,
and much more stuff.
The kitchen is still the heart of the home, the central gathering area where food is
shared, conversations are carried out, and probably one of the only rooms in the home
that hasn’t changed in literally hundreds of years. Food is still stored and prepared there
just as it always has, but our accelerated lifestyles today demand that our appliances
cook quickly, and clean up should be just as fast. Refrigerators must store fresh food
longer, and all of them must look attractive and streamlined as well.
KraftMaid cabinetry and KitchenAid appliances were key players in the kitchen remodel
of this 1964 built home, and gave the home a fresh, new appearance while still
maintaining a ‘vintage’ modern look. With the added benefit of the appliances having a
very high EnergyStar rating, the cabinets having no added urea-formaldehyde, and a
Zodiaq quartz countertop made with 25 % recycled materials, the old house got a
healthy, sustainable makeover that will take it well into the next 50 years.