Lori Capullo | 9/12/2011

GERMAN BRUN, 38 LIZMARIE ESPARZA, 32
DEN Architecture / Miami - Salvade-Serenelli residential renovation

[Photo: Greg Clark]

The husband-and-wife team of Germán Brun and Lizmarie Esparza, principals of DEN Architecture — the "D" is for design, "EN" for environment — are serious about sustainability. "Even the paper we use for our stationery is 100% reprint cotton. There's not a splinter of wood in it. Sustainable design percolates throughout every aspect of our practice."

[Photo: Greg Clark]

An example of that philosophy can be seen in DEN's renovation of the kitchen and two bathrooms in a Pinecrest home. To create an airy, open layout, two non-load-bearing walls were removed from the 525-sq.-ft. kitchen, which had originally been partitioned. The color scheme was inspired by a coconut — a palette of rich, dark brown woods and stark white, which was used to emphasize areas of activity and add volume amid the chocolate tones. "White counters also maximize daylight, which reflects off them through the windows, making less artificial light necessary," Brun says. Wood materials were all certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning they are from a forest with controlled logging — basically ensuring that "you're not chopping down half a forest to build one cabinet," Brun says.

The mission for the master bath was to transform it into a multipurpose bathroom that balanced formal compositions with casual materials. To save money on the renovation of the guest bath, they repurposed a large mirror and used prefabricated components bought from local retail stores.

"The market is driving builders and developers to go this route," Brun says of green practice. "People want to save money on water and on energy. More homes will be built with increased insulation, better roofing products that reflect UV rays and allow homes to stay cooler, and more efficient appliances. It's unstoppable."

• 'Green' tool: "There's a lot of 'greenwashing' out there — people using the term 'green' as a marketing tool, but their work isn't guided by the principles of sustainability."

• Garden aid: "We're just finishing a house that can harvest rainwater for gardening."

[Photo: Greg Clark]