Most design projects begin by drafting and prioritizing the client’s wish list. At the top of the list you will typically find more storage, better lighting, updated finishes, etc. However, when a homeowner has multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), the priorities change, with indoor air quality and chemical-free maintenance hitting the top of the list. As […]
construction
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Eight Degrees of Inspiration
A constricted waterfront lot. Complicated drain field regulations. Dreams of an elegant yet budget-conscious home. Hardly a job for the average architect. What the owners of this construction conundrum at the mouth of Fletcher Bay needed was a puzzle master, and they found him in Bainbridge Island’s Peter Brachvogel. Not only does this architect have […]
Posted inAround West Sound, At Home, Blog
Get Inspired at This Weekend’s Home Expo
As you migrate indoors and into your home’s cozy spaces, this is a good time to turn attention to those deferred home décor or home improvement projects — before the holidays take the best out of you. Just in time to take advantage of the downtime in the garden, Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo brings […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Planning for Your Future Needs with ‘Aging in Place’ Strategies in Your New Home or Remodel
Recently we began work on a home design for a newlywed couple who are starting their life together by building a home. And, they want it to be one that they can live in for a very long time. Smart thinking, as you never know what could happen, even temporarily, that might make it difficult […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Replacing Your Carpet? Don’t Forget the Carpet Pad
A client is having new carpet installed in the living room, and was told by the salesperson that the pad — which is 10 years old — needs to be replaced. The client questioned whether that’s really necessary. If you’re replacing your carpet, here’s my advice. You should absolutely replace the pad. Once the old […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
The Pitfalls of Using ‘Review’ Websites to Help Choose Your Building or Remodeling Contractor
You’ve seen them online, and the ads on TV. Use their website to get reviews before you hire a builder or remodeler (or a doctor, dentist etcetera). Their “list” can save you lots of headache, the ads claim. But how do these sites really work in helping you — or is there more to it? […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Understanding What It Takes To Do the Job Right
Studies show that the No. 1 complaint that consumers have about remodeling is not the cost but rather the time it takes to complete a project. Remodels by their very nature can be slightly unpredictable, in that you can never be 100 percent certain what you may find in a wall once you open it […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Clearing the Air Regarding Fans: How to Ensure Yours Works Properly
Most homeowners have a hate-hate relationship with their exhaust fans, be it the one in the bathroom or the one in the kitchen, and as a result they are seldom used. Exhaust fans are designed to remove moisture, grease and particulates from your home, thus preventing these substances from adhering to your walls, cabinetry and […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
When Buying a ‘Flip’ Can Be a ‘Flop’
If you have been looking at a new home, you may have felt like you were in an episode of House Hunters. Outdated wallpaper, horrible shag carpet, kitchens and baths out of the 1950s. You might feel ready to give up. But then, you find it. The one. An older home in an established neighborhood […]