In the world of architecture and design, we see beyond what is. We see what could be, and we revel in the act of making it so. Here are some insightful and inspiring stories of projects I’ve tackled, lessons I’ve learned, and a little bit of humor to keep things interesting. Because, if you can’t laugh about life and home renovations, then what the heck are we all here for?
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Have you been considering a building project lately, but been scared off by high construction prices?
You’re not alone or imagining things. Prices ARE high.
Let’s take a look at why prices haven’t gone down and what you can do to make sure you’re not blindsided by cost when you plan a building project.
Read MoreTaking advantage of views and maximizing space in this 4 bedroom spec home!
Read MoreThey're finally up! Photos of a project I designed a couple of years ago. An 11-unit mountainside development. It's a BEAUT!
Read MorePro photos of this stunner are finally here! An extensive remodel of this family's mountain home. We revamped the kitchen, dining, living room, bathrooms, flooring, and lighting.
Read MoreIt's finally here! Check out this ground-up house I designed for/with my high school friend several years ago. A Spanish-style 4-bedroom that's super light and soothing.
Read MoreAfter two years of design & construction, the Sugarloaf remodel "after" photos have arrived! We turned this home away from home into a functional mountain retreat for THREE generations of family members.
Read MoreEver heard of sick building syndrome? It started with tightly sealed buildings. It's a good idea to seal buildings but how do we do it without sending people to the hospital?
Read MoreIAQ. Indoor Air Quality.
It used to be that homes were built to “breathe", but it's very expensive to heat or cool a house that “breathes”.
Now we focus on sealing tight the walls, roof, and foundation. Much better for energy efficiency but it introduces a new problem; now we’re inside with all the fumes and humidity trapped within our home. Sealed homes can have bad IAQ. (If you're designing a new house with me, this won't happen because we'll ventilate properly and use the right materials. But if you're living in an existing house already, it could be an issue.)
Bad indoor air causes allergies, headaches, and respiratory issues like asthma. But there are ways to maintain healthy indoor air in your home. Check out my recent blog post for a few suggestions. [Read time: 5 minutes]
Read MoreYou may be thinking… “It costs a fortune to build a sustainable house! I can’t afford that!” Fear not, there are relatively affordable solutions to this problem. And thankfully, some really smart people put it all together and gave it an awesome name… the PRETTY GOOD HOUSE.
Read More7 ways to lower your energy bill.
In green building, there’s this thing called “Passive” Design. It sounds unexciting but it’s one of the most powerful tools at a homeowner’s disposal. You rarely hear about it because very few people make money with Passive Design, except the homeowner!
The easiest time to apply Passive Design is in the schematic design of a new house. In the verrry beginning. But there are also things small moves you can do in an apartment or small house renovation.
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