Here’s hoping that 2023 will be a good year for you and yours. The rain here in the Bay Area hasn’t dampened our mood. Here in the studio we’re ready to attack the year’s work with vigor and enthusiasm. We are continuing to work on projects we’ve started in previous […]
House Addition
34 posts
There is an old addage: When is the best time to plant a tree? Yesterday. When is the next best time to plant a tree? Today. It is similar with architecture projects: new homes, new ADUs, remodeling, additions – in every case, given how long it takes to design a […]
This project in San Francisco has been underway for quite a while. But we received our Certificate of Occupancy not long ago. In San Francisco, if you voluntarily upgrade a masonry foundation, you are allowed to add a new unit to the building within the existing envelope. Check out the […]
Continuing my video series about the architectural project process, here is video 4 in the series: What Is Design Development? Many clients want to rush through Design Development. There is the sense that we have to apply for the permit! But rushing this phase is a mistake. It is important […]
This video answers the musical question, “Does my project need a permit?” If you are considering building or remodeling, get your copy of my Project Planning Cheat Sheet to help you prepare by setting a realistic budget and schedule. Just sign up in the form on the right side of this page. […]
When you embark on an architecture project, no matter if you are renovating a bathroom, or building a new house, you are setting off on an adventure! Think of it as your own person Lord of The Rings – without the orcs. But, instead of trying to get rid of […]
This is not a question I get asked often, but it is a question that most non-architects should ask. There is a process to an architectural project. I am making a series of videos that explain the process. This is the first video which outlines the process. I also describe […]
A question I get all the time, as many architects do, is a variation of “What will it cost to draw my plans?” I get this question so often, I’ve made a video in which I answer this burning question: Now you know! If you are thinking of remodeling your […]
At the moment we are looking at a serious pandemic of a virus called Covid-19, aka the Cornona Virus. It spreads very easily and has about a 2.5% mortality rate. As a consequence, sporting events and performances are being cancelled or postponed. Schools and universities are switching over to online […]
I have a project in my studio at the moment where the design of a new master bathroom is a key aspect of the project. We are adding on a new family room and master bedroom, and converting one of the existing bedrooms into the master bathroom. The existing bedroom […]
One of the projects in my studio at the moment is the expansion of a mid-century ranch style house in the South Bay. The house, about 1100 square feet, was built in the 1950’s. It currently has 3 bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The house is well located, […]
It is autumn! My favorite season. That means, fall foliage, sweater weather, and, of course, updating the website with project pages for projects I worked on in the past year. I’ve added five new projects to my project pages. 4 new residential projects and 1 new commercial project. I encourage […]
What are the steps you need to take when starting an architecture project? Building in the Bay Area is an expensive and time consuming process. You don’t want to just jump into something without laying the proper groundwork first. Whether you are thinking about a house remodel, addition, new house, […]
One of the projects in my studio has hit a road block. The minor variance we applied for has been denied. We had the backing of the planning staff. All we wanted to do was extend an existing non-conforming condition upwards. The existing garage is built right up to the […]
Recently AlamedaMagazine.com published a great story about how Accessory Dwelling Units are allowing families to accommodate extended, intergenerational, living. This is a fancy way of saying, you can live with your adult children, or your parents, but with each of you having a private living space. Which is pretty cool, […]
This project in Danville was recently completed.The project was to build a pied a terre for the owners of the home, who would hand over the main house to their children. This would allow them to be able to help care for their grandchild and to be able to lock […]
The project in Danville is under construction and the contractor is making good time. I was out to the site last week to look at the construction, answer questions, and take some pictures. As a reminder, this is a 900 square foot addition to a 1950’s house. The addition is […]
The project in Danville, adding a retirement apartment for the owners onto a house they will be deeding over to their children, has finally broken ground. This project has been in my studio since the late Autumn of 2015. We applied for permits back in the early Autumn of 2016. We […]
Every project has it’s own pace. Some are quick. Some are slow. Some hit road blocks. Some are paused and come back. One of my projects, which had been put on “hold” back in December, has come back to life. The project is in Sunnyvale. It was a project that […]
Good news! The project in Danville is moving forward, breaking ground this month. The owners have been comparing bids and think they have settled on a builder. The project in Danville is a 1000 square foot, two story addition to a 1960’s ranch. We are eager to get the construction […]