A secluded and heavily forested property in northeastern Ohio offered the ideal site for a client’s home – a “barefoot house” – one with openness, informality, light and a strong connection to the outdoors. Challenging the design team to create an understated home that blurred the distinction between inside and out, the client required features – such as wide expanses of glass and natural materials – that took into account cold, snowy winters followed by warm, humid summers. After considering a multitude of options, the team designed a home that draws on conventional energy-efficient features – southerly exposures, natural ventilation, geothermal heating system, radiant heated floors, a tight building envelope and insulated Low-E windows. The home flows seamlessly – connecting the indoors and the surrounding landscape. To that end, the interior finishes – including wood harvested from the site, recycled glass tiles, low VOC paints and wood finishes, natural-fiber fabrics and carpets – work together to create a warm, healthy, comfortable and contemporary home.