This is an installment in my occasional series of posts about buildings, architects, ideas, and objects that inspire me. Today, in honor of his birthday, I am going to look at Sir Peter Cook, architect and educator. I have deep respect and admiration for Sir Peter Cook. I was familiar with his […]
Have you heard the news? Ikea is discontinuing their ENTIRE kitchen cabinet system and replacing it with an entirely NEW kitchen cabinet system! I have long been a fan of Ikea kitchens for those who are trying to remodel their kitchens on a tight budget. Their kitchen cabinet system is […]
I read a lot of blogs about kitchen design and residential remodeling. I like knowing what is going on in my field. I often learn something I didn’t know before. I’m often inspired by the designs of others. Sometimes, I wonder what they were thinking. Just this week I read […]
This post is a bit different from previous posts in that it is a little bit about this, a little bit about that. A potpourri of news, if you will. Previous Projects Updated: The Edwardian remodel in Oakland has been stalled for a few months for reasons outside my control. […]
I just love this little animation. 2 minutes of music, architecture and delight! http://vimeo.com/94449276 Doesn’t it make your architectural heart go pitter pat? by
The San Francisco Chronicle recently ran a piece on current Bay Area home prices. I’m not sure if we are in another bubble or not, but at these kinds of prices, maybe it makes sense to remodel instead of move! Depending on where you live it might make sense to […]
Frank Lloyd Wright is probably the most famous architect in the world. Even people who know nothing about architecture will say “Frank Lloyd Wright” when asked to name an architect. He’s been dead for 55 years, but his fame, reputation and influence endure. He designed 100’s of buildings during his […]
After this weekend’s 6.0 earthquake centered near American Canyon in Napa County, it is understandable if you have earthquakes and earthquake safety on your mind. Do you know if your house is earthquake safe? While there is no structure that is “earthquake proof”, it is possible to do some simple […]
One of the things I am interested in, and have some experience with, is designing for living in small spaces. The average American house is 2300 square feet, which is about 1000 square feet larger than the average American house of 50 years ago. Are American families bigger than they […]
If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, whether major or minor, you have to think things through many things. Recently, thekitchn.com published what they called The 10 Commandments of Kitchen Remodeling. It is a good list of things to think about (especially #5). But I’m going to suggest that […]
Last week I wrote that I was about to accompany the client in to the Oakland Permit Center to apply for a permit for the project. The project is fairly small: we are adding a deck, replacing one window, replacing another window with a sliding glass door, and rebuilding a bathroom […]
Tomorrow I will be accompanying my client for the Deck and Remodel project to the City’s Permit Center to apply for, and hopefully receive, the Building Permit for the project. This project has gone exceptionally quickly. I started work on 7/12. We will be applying for the permit on 7/31. That’s […]
Following up on last week’s post: after modeling the existing house, I made the changes we had discussed. I also sent a drawing of the proposed deck to the structural engineer. He came back with some suggestions that make things simpler. The new deck is shown in the illustration above. […]
This week I got started on two new projects. The project illustrated above is one of them. It is a simple remodel to a house in Oakland on a fairly steeply sloped site. The only changes planned to the exterior are adding the deck. This 3D image is produced by […]
When designing a kitchen remodel, one of the key decisions that we have to make is what cabinet system to use. This is a critical question because it affects the budget, the appearance, the ability to meet your requirements, and the options available. Some cabinet systems are better than others. […]
How have I spent my time the last couple of days? In answering this question, I am starting an ongoing series of posts about what an architect does. A recent survey of the general public found that 72% of people didn’t know that architects can apply for planning permission. 22% […]
I have been doing some research on residential construction costs in the SF Bay Area. It’s always good to be up to date on this subject. Clients and potential clients are always asking the question. Not surprisingly, the numbers I’ve seen have ranged all over the place from unbelievably low […]
A friend spotted this and sent it to me. It is a copy of the Architect’s Code of Conduct, from the 1920’s. Back then, a copy of this code was given to every newly licensed architect in the Philippines. It is a beautiful thing, both aesthetically and philosophically. if, like […]
Your remodeling or addition project will exist in several different realities. There is the reality of the exiting house. There is also the reality that exists in the space between your desires and your budget. The folks at Houzz.com wrote about setting a budget back in April. While the post […]
The Villa Rotunda by Andrea Palladio is probably one of the most iconic homes ever built. It’s influence reverberates through the profession of architecture over 400 years since it was completed. Like most architects who find themselves in North-Eastern Italy, I made a pilgrimage to see this house in 1988. […]