michelle kaufmann designs

I am delighted to announce the debut of our latest preconfigured home design: the mkHearth™. The mkHearth is a sustainable, modular approach to the modern farmhouse inspired by the natural beauty found in rural structures across the American landscape. This new design is suitable for urban or rural settings in all climates and is ideal for community developments.  The simple but graceful design pays homage to our land’s heritage as well as the vital importance of living in harmony with our environment.

With flowing spaces that organically open to one another, mkHearth revolves around a center hearth space, a dual-purpose fireplace/cabinetry unit that circulates up the three stories. Other beautiful and unique features of the home include window seats, screened-in sleeping porches, and sliding wood doors on barn door tracks (to maximize light and cross-ventilation). The loft on the third floor is flexible space for an office, library, bedroom or playroom.

The mkHearth, like all our designs, draws on our 5 EcoPrinciples: smart design, eco materials, energy efficiency, water conservation, and healthy environment. For example, the mkHearth includes:

• Smart Design: Designed for urban or rural settings in all climates, the home includes strategically placed windows, glass doors, and sliding wooden sunshades to maximize daylight and breezes and minimize heat gain. The central hearth and ample outdoor living areas give the home an expansive feeling despite its responsibly-sized footprint.

• Eco Materials: Renewable and recyclable materials are used through out the home, including FSC-certified woods for cabinetry and flooring.

• Energy Efficiency: All heating, cooling, and lighting systems are highly efficient and reduce resource consumption. Solar roof options are also available.

• Water Conservation: The home includes water-conserving fixtures as well as a rainwater catchment system that minimizes the need to use fresh, potable water for landscape irrigation.

• Healthy Environment: Holistically designed for healthy living, the mkHearth uses non-off-gassing materials and paints, air filtration systems, and high-performance insulation.

Visit www.mkHearth.com to learn more about the design, see more images, watch videos featuring it, study more detailed floor plans, and even “test drive” it using Google SketchUp and Google Earth.  We hope you’ll love the new mkHearth as much as we do!