About a year ago a client from the Orchard Abode Project (recently I shared an intro to this project in a Design Studio - A Week in Review post) reached out to see if I could help make sense of a home that they had purchased by designing the floor plan for the remodel.
After nearly twenty years and 100’s of remodel projects later, it seems like I’ve seen it all, but almost without exception when I’m reviewing a new remodel project or taking as-built measurements, I find myself asking “What were they thinking when the project was originally designed and built ?”&a
For the Bay Haven Project we’re taking the awkward, 1990’s existing floor plan of the owner’s bedroom and bath, and then transforming them into well designed, practical spaces with improved function, while better meeting the needs of the clients.
When furnishing small spaces, every inch counts, so it’s even more important than usual to choose wisely. Here’s eight go-to design tips that will help you get the most out of your small bedroom space with both form and function.
It wouldn’t be a new year without the experts weighing in on the projected trends for the coming year, especially when it comes to forecasting shifts with colors, textiles, and furnishings. Those leading the charge have their ears to the ground and their sights on the horizon, constantly taking note
The Longview Estate Project is located in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California, in a small farming community, surrounded by vast acreage of beautiful fruit and nut tree orchards. The clients, whom I’ve worked with over the years, on their different homes, reached out for help with their g
Introducing the Mt. Meadow Lake Project! This beautiful new home will be built in Northern California, near Lassen National Forrest. The surrounding beauty of the area, is absolutely stunning. It’s a place where pines and manzanita trees grow densely; where lakes, streams and ponds are many; where m
About a year ago a client from the Orchard Abode Project (recently I shared an intro to this project in a Design Studio - A Week in Review post) reached out to see if I could help make sense of a home that they had purchased by designing the floor plan for the remodel.
For the first set of primary suite floor plan options I presented to the clients from the Orchard Abode Project (a 1980’s whole-house remodel in Northern California), I started conservatively by first seeing what I could come up with while using the existing space. For this post, I’m sharing the f
After nearly twenty years and 100’s of remodel projects later, it seems like I’ve seen it all, but almost without exception when I’m reviewing a new remodel project or taking as-built measurements, I find myself asking “What were they thinking when the project was originally designed and built ?”&a
In my many years as a custom home designer, spatial design and floor plan trends aren’t lost on me. What’s interesting about the whole process is that they are client driven. Of course there are lot’s of outside influences that direct clients in establishing what they want to include in the design o
Tami Hoag is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books. There are more than forty million copies of her books in print in more than thirty languages. Renowned for combining thrilling...
To illustrate that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, for this post I’m sharing the isolated floor plans of both the initial and current design for the great room, kitchen and dining room for comparison purposes. In reviewing the floor plans side by side, here’s a list of the differences betwee
To illustrate that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, for this post I’m sharing the isolated floor plans of both the initial and current design for the great room, kitchen and dining room for comparison purposes. In reviewing the floor plans side by side, here’s a list of the differences betwee
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Rebecca Barry Hill visits Tami Neilson in her favourite room
To illustrate that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, for this post I’m sharing the isolated floor plans of both the initial and current design for the great room, kitchen and dining room for comparison purposes. In reviewing the floor plans side by side, here’s a list of the differences betwee
With your new forever, custom home, have you thought about having it designed so no matter what the future brings, you can comfortably grow old in the home? That’s what aging in place refers to - the ability to easily stay in our homes throughout our lives, even if there’s limited mobility and r
Remodeling a 100 Year Old Farm House
A few days ago, I randomly came across the preliminary design concept boards and drawings for the Guest Suite at the Mount Valley Project (a semi-custom home in Utah, where we went though each room perfecting the floor plan and adding architectural detail and custom cabinetry, etc). Though the spa
After nearly twenty years and 100’s of remodel projects later, it seems like I’ve seen it all, but almost without exception when I’m reviewing a new remodel project or taking as-built measurements, I find myself asking “What were they thinking when the project was originally designed and built ?”&a
After exploring different ways the floor plan could be remodeled and added on to, it was decided that in order to meet the clients objectives it would be more cost effective to take the house down and start anew. That said, we are starting fresh and beginning the project all over again. Because of t
In my many years as a custom home designer, spatial design and floor plan trends aren’t lost on me. What’s interesting about the whole process is that they are client driven. Of course there are lot’s of outside influences that direct clients in establishing what they want to include in the design o
Embarking on a custom home design and build is an exhilarating journey, yet it can sometimes seem daunting. As a homeowner, you'll encounter abundant information, particularly regarding architectural drawings, which might feel overwhelming if you're new to the design-build process. In my experience
I feel so fortunate that I’m able spend time in my design studio, doing what I love, designing custom homes, while remotely working along side wonderful clients and talented colleagues. It doesn’t get better than that! Here’s a few project highlights from last week.
One of the most researched topics on kitchen design is questions about how big the island should be. Maybe it’s even a subject that you’ve researched, and perhaps it’s what’s brought you to this very article.
In my many years as a custom home designer, spatial design and floor plan trends aren’t lost on me. What’s interesting about the whole process is that they are client driven. Of course there are lot’s of outside influences that direct clients in establishing what they want to include in the design o
In my many years as a custom home designer, spatial design and floor plan trends aren’t lost on me. What’s interesting about the whole process is that they are client driven. Of course there are lot’s of outside influences that direct clients in establishing what they want to include in the design o
Before too long, nestled in these pristine Utah Mountains will be a lovely home for a beautiful family! It will be a part of a semi-custom housing development. Though I predominately do custom projects, every so often I have clients who are building in developments but want the opportunity to fine-t
For this week’s post I’m dialing it back to Floor Plan Design / Space Planning 101, and sharing some basic space planning tips, illustrating with a floor plan option for a small house, 2nd story remodel project.
While thinking about my annual forecast for custom home design trends , the word consistency kept coming to my mind. In the last couple of years, and I suspect the same will be true for 2023, the way space is being utilized in custom home design seems to be holding true. No matter the location
For this week’s post I’m sharing one of the many floor plan options we did for the design of the ensuites at the Timbre Heights Project, a new build located in Austin Texas.With this project, and like other similar projects, I was a part of a design team where I worked directly with the clients and
In vetting prospective clients I often get ask, who goes first with the floor plan design, the architect, or me, as the spatial designer? This is an important question, but it doesn’t have a cut-and-dried answer, nor is there a wrong or right way to approach it. It all depends on the prefere
To illustrate that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, for this post I’m sharing the isolated floor plans of both the initial and current design for the great room, kitchen and dining room for comparison purposes. In reviewing the floor plans side by side, here’s a list of the differences betwee
I always appreciate it when people take the time to share their experiences with the Design Journal. Hearing from those who value, appreciate, and benefit from its content is continually rewarding and makes the work involves worth it.
Remodeling a 100 Year Old Farm House
A few days ago, I randomly came across the preliminary design concept boards and drawings for the Guest Suite at the Mount Valley Project (a semi-custom home in Utah, where we went though each room perfecting the floor plan and adding architectural detail and custom cabinetry, etc). Though the spa
It wouldn’t be a new year without the experts weighing in on the projected trends for the coming year, especially when it comes to forecasting shifts with colors, textiles, and furnishings. Those leading the charge have their ears to the ground and their sights on the horizon, constantly taking note
It wouldn’t be a new year without the experts weighing in on the projected trends for the coming year, especially when it comes to forecasting shifts with colors, textiles, and furnishings. Those leading the charge have their ears to the ground and their sights on the horizon, constantly taking note
One of the most researched topics on kitchen design is questions about how big the island should be. Maybe it’s even a subject that you’ve researched, and perhaps it’s what’s brought you to this very article.
Remodeling a 100 Year Old Farm House
For the first set of primary suite floor plan options I presented to the clients from the Orchard Abode Project (a 1980’s whole-house remodel in Northern California), I started conservatively by first seeing what I could come up with while using the existing space. For this post, I’m sharing the f
