One of the most common questions I get asked by potential clients, and others when I say I am an architect, is “What style do you design in?” I used to have a hard time answering this question because if I say “Modern” that conjures up images for people of […]
remodeling
30 posts
In my years doing remodeling projects in old houses in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is one thing I have learned: You never know what you may find when you start demolition. The older the house, the more likely you are to find weirdness. In today’s installment of “oh, […]
Remodeling clients often have questions and concerns about the return on their investment for including various features and amenities they might be considering. I get it. Construction isn’t cheap. If you are going to invest $30,000, $100,000, $250,000 or more in the remodel and / or addition to your home, […]
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. […]
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 […]
Establishing the construction budget for your project is the FIRST thing you should do after you have decided that building or remodeling is the way to go. In this video I walk you through the 4 steps to establishing a construction budget. There is a little bit of math, but […]
I don’t know about you, but I am a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. Except, I generally intend to follow through on my resolutions. They really are goals after all. Goals are just dreams if you don’t take action consistently. So that’s what I try to do. I don’t […]
You have been thinking about remodeling or adding on to your house. You called you’re local building department and described what you wanted to do. They said, “You’ll need plans prepared by an architect for that in order to get a permit.” You had a contractor come over to discuss […]
The foundation replacement project in San Francisco that includes adding a new accessory dwelling is moving along. The contractor, MEMGC, is moving along with the staggered removal and foundation of the existing foundation. Because the building needs to remain occupied during construction we are NOT lifting the house and removing […]
2017 has been a busy year. As the year wraps up, and before we head into the holidays, I thought I’d share just some of what has been going on “behind the screen” here in the studio. I wrote and published a book: Working With An Architect was published in […]
What are “Full Architectural Services”? Architects just draw, right? Wrong! Architects do a lot more than just draw. Whether your project is a house addition, a house remodel, or a kitchen remodel, the services that an architect can provide are extensive. We do research. We design (yes). We draw (yes). […]
For those who are thinking about remodeling or adding on, there is a bewildering amount of things you need to think about: the problem you are trying to solve, Planning codes, construction costs, and those are the things you can think of! My Project Planning Checklist is a checklist that […]
Today I visited my Oakland remodel project. The owner and I met with the contractor to discuss tile details – where grout joints will be, alignments, and so on. The owner and I also discussed the paint colors for the remodeled Master Suite and came to some decisions. This above […]
This post is about a bathroom remodeling which is part of a larger remodeling project to a mid-century house in the Oakland Hills. The bathroom has a good size, but the fixtures are arranged in a strange way and date to the late 1940’s – and not in a good […]
This is an experiment. I have a project in San Francisco and the client was having trouble visualizing what the skylights were going to look like. Instead of making static drawings of the space, I thought I would use the 3-D capabilities of Chief Architect and make a quick video […]
For home owners building codes can be a real mystery, particularly when the project is to remodel an existing house. New projects are required to comply with the current building code (the code in effect at the time you apply for a building permit). The general rule is that whatever […]
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. […]
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% […]
The whole house remodel project in Oakland is well underway. The house is 104 years old. All the exterior doors and windows have been replaced and some relocated. The old chimney has been removed. Just get a look at interior: All the interior plaster has been removed, some existing walls […]