One 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 nothing like being part of that creation(ask any mother). We work together as a team for as much as several years speaking at least once a week and exchanging ideas even [...]
This is the first of a series of articles showcasing some of our favorite architectural details. No architectural project is successful unless the details are well thought out, proportional, and designed to last. The details do make the project. We often use cupolas to bring in light and for ventilation. Best of all, they add detail to a roof and make an historical connection to the barns built in the nineteenth century and before. A fireplace [...]
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 [...]
When we first moved into our 1790’s home, I bumped my head many times on a sloping ceiling in the master bath. I could not wait to change that situation. One of our first major additions/renovations included a full height master bath. We still have a sloped ceiling in the new bath, but it starts at about 7’-0” and goes up from there. Ideally the sloped ceiling starts high enough so that furniture easily fits against the walls [...]
As in life, sometimes it is the little changes that make the greatest impact on how we live, and that is especially true with home renovation projects. A comfortable place to take off your boots and hang up your coat in the northeast is more than a convenience-it is a daily necessity. A well-organized laundry room with a sink, storage, and a place to work is just the basic outline of a room which is critical to every home. If [...]
I love pergolas. They give shade and add detail and interest to any structure, although I have to admit that there is no pergola which is perfect for all situations. We sometimes create free-standing pergolas, however most are connected to a home or out building. 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 be taken [...]
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 [...]
From Monticello to the house next door, it is common when planning a construction project, to create a master plan and then build in phases. Phasing a renovation can allow the homeowners to live in the house during construction or spread out the cost over several years. When building a new home, the construction of a guest house or garage before the main house, can create a secure space to store materials and/or establish a home base to [...]
There is a wonderful hamlet of period homes near my house which are owned by a group of lifelong friends. They are all meticulously cared for by their owners, and the idea of adding on to one of these jewels is taken very seriously. When I was asked to design an addition to this particular home, I lived in New York City and only weekended in the area. The task I was given was to design a dining room addition [...]
There are few things I enjoy more than relaxing on my own porch after work.There is no doubt in my mind that there is something psychologically unique about a porch. We are neither inside nor fully outside and exposed...
