Porches | On the Drawing Board

7 Perfect Pergolas
Gallery

7 Perfect Pergolas

Pergola on Stone Terrace I love pergolas. They give shade and add detail and interest to any structure although, I have to admit, there is no pergola which is perfect for all situations. We sometimes create free-standing pergolas, however most are connected to a home or outbuilding. Materials for posts and beams can either match the larger structure or be completely different creating a contrast. If plants are allowed and encouraged to grow over the structure, care should [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-11T19:15:23-05:00December 30th, 2017|Categories: Miscellaneous, Patios, Pool Houses, Porches|Tags: patio dining, patios, pergolas|3 Comments

5 Homes and Animals in the Snow
Gallery

5 Homes and Animals in the Snow

Sun Room in the Snow Something magical happens to a home with the first snowfall of the season. Around my house, the kids and the animals are even more excited than I am as we run and throw snowballs. Rosie, our mini Aussie, tracks in the snow, which melts on the floor, while I start a fire and my wife makes hot cocoa. The timing doesn’t always work, but when we can coordinate a photo shoot of one [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-11T19:17:38-05:00December 13th, 2017|Categories: Animals, Cats, Chickens, Construction, Design, Dogs, Fireplaces, Garages, Miscellaneous, New Homes, Patios, Porches, Sheep, Sun Room|Tags: homes in snow, sunroom, winter homes|4 Comments

15 More Shades of Grey
Gallery

15 More Shades of Grey

Grey Countertops As per the title, this is a continuation of a post I made last year. (See below) I could not resist the title, my apologies for the cliche’. Grey is one of our favorite colors, or to be technically correct, our favorite tones between black and white. Honestly, most colors, (or lack thereof), on interior finishes and furniture are determined by our tasteful clients and or their talented interior designers. We provide the backdrop for their [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-11T19:27:55-05:00November 15th, 2017|Categories: Dining room, Kitchen, Miscellaneous, Patios, Porches|Tags: grey, grey cabinets, grey kitchen, grey paint, shades of grey|2 Comments

5 Home Features for Fall
Gallery

5 Home Features for Fall

Firepit Inside Looking Out As we roll into Fall, I find myself building more bonfires, roasting s'mores with the kids, and sitting on my porch with the heater on. Many of our projects include indoor-outdoor spaces which are ideally enjoyed in the fall when an outdoor fire can be appreciated or simply a moment to be outside before it gets too cold. Outdoor fireplaces are a great source of warmth and entertainment and if you combine [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-11T19:36:27-05:00October 23rd, 2017|Categories: Fireplaces, Miscellaneous, Porches, Sun Room|Tags: firepits, Fireplaces, patios, porches|4 Comments

4 Greek Revival Buildings
Gallery

4 Greek Revival Buildings

Former home of Kermit Love, creator of Big Bird (New Home) We love Greek Revival style buildings. Sometimes we add on to Greek Revival homes, and we also design them from the ground up. We often take liberties with details and proportions like carpenter architects did with the originals. Above is a home we designed for (the late) Kermit Love, the creator of Big Bird, and his partner. Kermit was in his 80s when we began this project. [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-25T10:19:01-05:00August 14th, 2017|Categories: Additions, Family Room, Living Room, Miscellaneous, Pool Houses, Porches, Renovations|6 Comments

6 Renovations That Can Change the Way You Live in Your Home (Updated)
Gallery

6 Renovations That Can Change the Way You Live in Your Home (Updated)

I have renovated and added to my own home for many reasons, including the fact I hated the existing kitchen. I added a porch and a bedroom because I love porches and my oldest daughter needed a room of her own. Many people renovate a home because no one thought to incorporate light or views in the original design. Sometimes the existing home is outdated, dark, too small, poorly laid out, or all of the above. In any case, some [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-26T12:15:48-05:00December 8th, 2015|Categories: Accessory Buildings, Additions, Basement, Bedrooms, Breakfast Nook, Fireplaces, Garages, Kitchen, Living Room, Miscellaneous, Porches, Renovations, Sun Room|3 Comments

Country Lane Home-Featured Project
Gallery

Country Lane Home-Featured Project

Patio View It is not uncommon for our clients to ask us to add additional rooms or outbuildings to their property, but it is unusual to work on a home more than a decade in the past then have the current owners ask us to expand the home even further. That is exactly what happened with the 'Country Lane Home'. An earlier kitchen and family room renovation was expanded when we added living space and guest quarters and [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-26T12:22:10-05:00August 19th, 2015|Categories: Additions, Breakfast Nook, Family Room, Living Room, Miscellaneous, Porches, Renovations|0 Comments

Dinner and Entertaining on 13 Porches
Gallery

Dinner and Entertaining on 13 Porches

Table Set for Twenty I've been dreaming of spring lately, and nothing heralds the arrival of spring like dinner on the porch. At our home, as soon as it is warm enough, the porch becomes the center of outdoor entertaining. We often install radiant heaters for our clients, which allow an early start and an extended season. Our clients use their porches for relaxing, dining, and entertaining. The good news is that there are so many ways to design a porch [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-26T12:37:11-05:00February 26th, 2015|Categories: Additions, Construction, Miscellaneous, Porches|0 Comments

Pool Pavilion (Featured Project)
Gallery

Pool Pavilion (Featured Project)

Pool Pavilion To break up my focus on shoveling snow and chipping ice out of the animal's water buckets, I thought I would remind everyone that spring and summer will come again and a nice cool drink will be appreciated. Set in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, this open air pavilion with fireplace and kitchen completes the poolside entertaining package. The nights can be a little cool in the Berkshires even in the summer. The fireplace takes [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-26T12:40:22-05:00February 8th, 2015|Categories: Fireplaces, Pool Houses, Pools, Porches|Tags: pool house, pool pavilion|4 Comments

Gallery

5 Additions That Especially Add Value to a Home(Revisited)

In a completely unscientific review of past and current projects, I find that five types of additions are requested more than all the others combined. The reason may be that homeowners value these five additions the most or it could be that most homes lack or only have poor examples of these spaces. While I never try to predict real estate trends or future markets, it stands to reason that a home, which includes fine examples one or more of [...]

By James Crisp|2023-02-26T13:22:34-05:00May 8th, 2014|Categories: Additions, Kitchen, Porches, Renovations|Tags: family rooms, Kitchen, master bedroom, porch, sun room|2 Comments

On the Drawing Board

The home and residential architecture is our passion.

Contact Info

Follow us