As the remodel at Fine Homebuilding House Connecticut wraps up, senior editor Patrick McCombe and builder Albert Jensen-Moulten of BPC Green Builders discuss the transformations in some of the most-used rooms in a house—the kitchen and the suite bathroom. Like in many Passive Houses, the home is very quiet thanks to a combination of thermal and acoustical insulation from Rockwool. Safe’n’Sound acoustic insulation was placed between both floors as well as in walls to keep noise down to a minimum. Replacing old windows and installing triple-pane glass also helps quiet the interior.

The kitchen was relocated in the home to make use of more natural light. For cabinetry, the homeowners decided to go for a contemporary, minimalist look without drawer faces and exposed dovetail details. The white-oak unit came from Denmark and was easily assembled on-site in a few pieces. Italian marble was chosen as the backsplash and counter surface.

Up in the suite bathroom, Schluter Systems has helped transform half of the space into a waterproofed, functional wet area that holds the shower and bathtub. The curbless entry to the shower was created by building the area at a lower height than the rest of the bathing area. That allows the Schluter preformed shower tray to drop into the recessed floor, creating a seamless fit. And underneath both the wet and dry areas in the room is Ditra-Heat, a floor-warming system. The bathroom also features a long custom niche and bench.