3 Chicks Close Up On one of our site meetings which included the homeowners, me, the project architect and the contractor, Howie Senior, from Structure Works Construction, pointed out a new swallow’s nest. The swallows would start to build a nest on the house which is under construction and then the workmen would have to undo their hard work when a new piece of clapboard or framing was installed. Howie solved their dilemma by putting up a couple [...]
Simple Alcove When designing a home or addition, part of the fun for the owner is imagining the project finished without any compromises. When bids come in from the contractors, many homeowners are eager to look at ways to reduce the price without losing space or the character of the project. As the architects, our job is to help bring the price down as far as possible without losing the qualities that the owners loved in the first [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
