About the Author
James Crisp has been an architect for well over 20 years. His architectural firm, Crisp Architects, designs projects throughout New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. In April of 2007, Taunton Press published 'On the Porch' by James M. Crisp and Sandra Mahoney.
4 Pool Houses(Revisited)
Nothing says summer like kids splashing around in a pool–except perhaps an adult party centered around a pool on a balmy summer evening. In either case, a pool house makes everything easier.Whether the pool house is small and simple or includes a full kitchen and guest…
Featured Stories
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7 Transom Windows
According to Merriam Webster, a transom is: ‘a window above a door or other window’. The experience of a transom is so much more. On the exterior of a home, it is the window to the sky. Sometimes we include transoms on doors leading to…
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The Reluctant Authors(Revisited)
It’s hard for me to believe it has been almost 7 years since the publication of ‘On the Porch’. Sandee Mahoney and I wrote this coffee table book at the request of Taunton Press, and I have to say we are as proud of…
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4 Dutch Doors
As far as we know, the Dutch door originated in the Netherlands during the 17th century and was very popular with the settlers of Dutch and English origin who colonized what is now the United States. The door worked well to keep farm animals out…
Previous Stories
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Projects’ End(Revisited)
Posted on February 12, 2013 | No CommentsOne of my least favorite parts of a project is it’s end. During the process of designing and constructing the home, we have built special relationships with home owners, contractors and craftspeople which inevitably must change. Often those business relationships become friendships, but there is... -
5 Porches(Revisited)
Posted on January 8, 2013 | 1 CommentAmerica has had a love affair with porches that goes back centuries. Although few of the earliest Dutch and English colonial homes had porches, it wasn’t long until they were added to the beautiful stone and wood structures. Like most of the country, there were... -
5 Master Suites
Posted on January 2, 2013 | 6 CommentsThe most elaborate and beautiful bedroom and bathroom in the home is usually part of the master suite. Often it has the best views and sometimes other rooms connected within the suite. That makes sense considering the people who sleep there own the home. We... -
In the Kitchen (Revisited)
Posted on December 1, 2012 | 3 CommentsOne of my favorite times in the kitchen is Saturday afternoon, all by myself, making a big mess preparing Creole and Cajun dishes. Whether I’m trying to cook my roux(flour and oil) to the perfect nutty brown for Gumbo, or making a simple pot of... -
5 Formal Dining Rooms
Posted on December 1, 2012 | 2 CommentsIn an age where family time has been shortened by screen time, and we eat most our meals on the go, a formal dining room can bring us together. A dedicated dining room can change the atmosphere of a meal and provide a special grace...