Jaime Derringer, founder and editor of the wonderful blog Design Milk, owns a mid-century California-style contemporary ranch home, and her family is in the process of remodeling — including a kitchen renovation. Marvin Windows and Doors partnered with Architectural Digest to document part of the remodeling process.

The back of Derringer’s house is mostly glass, but the sliding patio doors connecting her kitchen to her patio stood out as an area ripe for improvement. The home has great style, and Marvin is the perfect company to help Derringer find the perfect solution that marries unmatched beauty with second-to-none performance for her home.

We’re excited to document the remodeling process. The video below is the first episode in a series that shows how Marvin helped this design blogger bring her vision to life with a gorgeous new patio door that helps bring the outside in.

Follow the story on Twitter by following Marvin and Design Milk and by checking the “Inspiration” section of marvin.com.

A recipient of an “Award of Merit” for Adaptive Reuse in the 2010 AIA New York State Design Awards, this project from James McKinney of Sacco + McKinney Architects was selected as a winner for showcasing adaptive reuse, historic preservation and high performance.

The Mayo Smith, Seelye and Hitchcock Houses at Amherst College are viewed as local historical landmarks overlooking the town common. This project assures their preservation while looking to the future through the use of high performance building envelopes, solar energy for hot water and high efficiency mechanical and electrical systems.

These restored buildings provide attractive living environments with many of the same amenities as the new dorms on campus, including compliance with safety and accessibility standards.

Floor plans include a mix of room types preferred by upper class students, including singles, two-room doubles and suites. Also, common social and study space, music practice rooms, laundries and bathrooms. Existing floor plans were revised to improve space utilization, reclaim under-utilized space and accommodate new egress stairs.

Amherst’s “High-Performance Buildings Guidelines” called for technologically advanced systems and materials. While architecturally preserved on the outside, thermal and air barrier technology was applied at the inner face of the walls and integrated with window replacement to achieve a high performing envelope. Both open- and closed-cell foam products were used in response to differing wall construction in the various buildings. Existing windows were replaced with custom high-efficiency clad units matching existing profiles and sight lines. Marvin’s custom profiles and products, combined with their super energy performance, made them the perfect fit for meeting preservation requirements while addressing future needs.

New mechanical and electrical systems include high efficiency boilers, low flow plumbing fixtures, DDC controls to allow facilities to monitor performance of systems, energy recovery from ventilation air and high efficiency LED lighting. Roof top solar panels provide most of the hot water for showers and laundries and serve as a visible component of the school’s commitment to reducing carbon emission.

Modifications to accomplish modern accessibility were done with minimal impact on the historic nature of the buildings. New accessible walks flow with the site contours and porch decks were raised to eliminate the one-step barriers found at entry doors. Existing doors and entrances were selectively altered to meet width requirements in an architecturally sensitive manner. And historic main stairs were modified to meet current requirements, while maintaining their historic character.

Mayo-Smith, Seelye and Hitchcock Houses are proof that historic buildings can be fully effective in responding to the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Marvin products used in this project included double hung windows, custom configurations and historical replications.

Photography courtesy of James McKinney.

We recently introduced our readers to Southern Living magazine’s 2012 Idea House project, a great annual project that documents the renovation of aging homes as some of the best in the business breathe new life into them. Marvin Windows and Doors is a sponsor of the project, and we’re doing some of our own documentary work, as well.

Our video series will follow the project from beginning to end. This most recent video (episode 3, embedded just below) shows the house resting on its new foundation, after it was moved to a new position on the lot, and some other updates taking place — like window replacement.

Learn more about the project from Southern Living, and be sure to follow the story on Marvin.com.

The Manor Garden, a newly constructed, multi-family residential building designed by Anthony Vandermark Jr. and Frank Minervini of Minervini Vandermark Architecture, successfully blends modern building methods and materials into its neighborhood’s historical context. For many years, the standard for new buildings in and around Hoboken, with few exceptions, had been very poor.

The Manor Garden helped demonstrate new thinking with its honest, straightforward design and construction. Many solid elements (brick, cast stone and metal) were largely predetermined, but the plan called for maximum glazing in an effort to help nature penetrate further into the deep narrow floor plan. Finding the right balance was necessary, adhering to strict city ordinances regarding clear ratios of glass to masonry, etc.

Marvin Windows and Doors were key in maximizing the amount of glazing with consideration for noise minimization on a busy, urban street. And since heat gain and loss were also concerns, Marvin’s range of products proved to be the clear winner. Marvin products used included casement windows.

Since completion, The Manor Garden has become a neighborhood standout and set a shining example for nearby infill projects to come.

Photography courtesy of Frank Minervini.

Jeff Murphy of Murphy & Co. Design meticulously restored a Minnesota barn for comfortable functionality. Inspired by an enthusiasm for historic outbuildings and barns found in mountain regions in the U.S. and Europe, converting this rustic barn into a masculine enclave seemed like the perfect fit. The design called for a classic study and hunting shop that appealed to the homeowner’s love for history as well as the outdoors.

A rusted steel roof over a reclaimed and battered stone exterior gives way to an inviting interior comprised of reclaimed barn boards and timbers with large pieces of Loon Lake flagstone for flooring. A desk alcove in the study is surrounded by large double hung windows and warmed by a large stone fireplace.

The hunting shop includes a track-mounted ceiling hoist for raising deer out of the back of a pickup, an ammo loading workbench, washer and dryer for hunting clothes and a modern-day outhouse.

Marvin wood windows (including double hungs and awning windows) were an easy choice because of the availability of fir to help maintain the authenticity of the exterior. This, along with the sash detailing and the ability to customize without complications, made Marvin the perfect fit for the project.

Images courtesy of Susan Gilmore.

Marvin teamed up with Southern Living for the 14th annual Idea House project. This year’s challenge includes a complete renovation and restoration of a 19th-century farmhouse in the quiet, charming town of Senoia, Georgia, about an hour south of Atlanta. Join us as we follow the architects, builders and interior designers working in conjunction with Marvin for the brilliant transformation of this historic gem.

More videos are on their way, but here are the first two brief episodes in the series. Stay tuned to the myMarvin section on Marvin.com for more.

Episode 1:

Episode 2:

Today, we are pleased to share another winner of the myMarvin Architect’s Challenge. Nils Finne of FINNE Architects in Seattle designed a beautiful cabin located on a wooded waterfront property on Lake Superior. The Eagle Harbor Cabin stands majestically on the northern edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Featuring the rocky, ocean-like shoreline of Lake Superior, the wooded three-acre site provides a dramatic backdrop for this 2,000-square-foot cabin.

Cantilevering toward the water with a 40-ft.-long glass wall facing the spectacular beauty of the lake, the cabin is composed of two simple volumes: a large open living/dining/kitchen space with an open timber ceiling structure and a two-story “bedroom tower,” with the kids’ bedroom on the ground floor and the parents’ bedroom stacked above.

The cabin demonstrates a simple, elemental quality utilizing native Michigan hardwoods such as maple and birch. The interior spaces are wood paneled, with exposed framing in the ceiling. The cabinets use PLYBOO, an FSC-certified bamboo product, with mahogany end panels. Other custom touches include a curvilinear maple entry screen, a custom mahogany coffee table and a curvilinear dining table made of mahogany and steel.

The exterior of the cabin is clad in corrugated metal siding, offset by the tall fireplace mass of Montana ledgestone at the east end.

This home also incorporates a number of sustainable building features, including 2×8 construction (40% greater insulation value), generous glass areas for natural lighting and ventilation, large overhangs for sun and snow protection and metal siding for maximum durability. Sustainable interior finish materials include bamboo/plywood cabinets, locally grown maple flooring and birch paneling, linoleum floors and low-VOC paints.

Both Marvin windows and Marvin doors were used in this project.

To see more about the Architect’s Challenge, please go here.

A stunning restoration and renovation of a historic plantation home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia by Stephen Muse and William Kiwan of Muse Architects, this project was awarded because of its meticulous attention to detail, authenticity and preservation.

Originally constructed in 1784 and expanded in 1829, the brick-ended clapboard structure with twin Georgian entry porches follows a one bay deep linear plan typical of Tidewater homes.

Along with complete renovation and restoration of the original house, the scope of work included removal of recent out-of-character additions and construction of additional living space capturing the view of nearby Hungar’s Creek.

To accomplish this, the twin porches from the drive side of the house were replicated on the waterfront side and a new kitchen with breakfast bay was connected to the existing structure by a one-story hyphen.

Additional work included the restoration of all outbuildings, construction of a new garage and the restoration of all driveways, walkways and gardens.

Marvin products used in the project included Ultimate Double Hung Windows, French Casement Windows, Ultimate Casement Windows, Stationary Windows and Transom Windows.

To see more winners and learn more about the Architect’s Challenge, please visit Marvin.

This meticulously considered renovation by Douglas Larson of Larson and Paul Architects transformed a decrepit 19th-century farmhouse in Stanfordville, N.Y., into a weekend retreat for a New York City family. It also was a winner in the 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge.

A plan to preserve the original structure as well as harvest as many reusable materials as possible, resulted in the creation of a comfortable, modern, green design while maintaining the simplicity and charm of the home’s history.

Of particular note, restoration of the original post and beam framing allowed for installation of an open wall of glass featuring Marvin Wood Ultimate Sliding French Doors to showcase a stunning mountain view on one of Duchess County’s most scenic country roads.

Marvin products used in the project included in sash wood polygons, Ultimate Casement windows, the Ultimate Sliding French Door, Ultimate Double Hung windows and Tilt Turn windows.

Learn more about the project on Marvin.com.