Posts Tagged ‘residential architecture’
Passive Solar Design – Free Energy
Today, we awoke to a freak snowstorm here in Raleigh, North Carolina. I say “freak” because any snow is a rare occurrence in this part of the country. Snow in January is a novel concept in the southeast. Everything, and I mean everything was closed. We were crippled by Mother Nature. When the flakes stopped…
Read MoreDesigning Stairs and Steps
Designing stairs is more intricate task than many people realize. And it’s not just about how the stairs look. Proper proportioning is critical to comfort and safety. Set the tread and riser sizes carefully. For I recommend 10″ treads with a one inch nosing. The nosing is the projection forward of the tread beyond the…
Read MoreGarage Doors – Make Them a Feature and Not a Problem
Garage doors are often one of the ugliest features on the exterior of a house. There are now quite a few “carriage house“ type doors to choose from that look much better than the traditional flat or raised panel doors. But those special doors come at a significant cost increase. There are other solutions you…
Read MoreBathroom Tiles – Do Your Tiles Come in Special Shapes?
Make sure the bathroom tiles you select come with the special shapes you’ll need to create a complete, quality installation. Most people don’t think about how their bathroom tile will be installed. They make their selections based on the color and style of the tile and what decorative tiles or accents are available and compatible…
Read MoreHomebuilding – Real Material Samples Are a Must
In homebuilding, picking out the right materials can be a little tricky. I talked yesterday about the value of painting out larger samples of your wall and trim paint selections to verify that the colors were right. The same principles applies to the other materials you plan to use. Don’t pick bricks from a photo…
Read MoreWhen Designing Your Home, Don’t Pick Your Colors from Tiny Chips
When designing your home, it is nearly impossible to make a reasonable judgment about colors of materials for your new house by simply looking at tiny color chips or samples. They will fool your eye every time. If you don’t believe me, try this little test. Go to the paint store, or your local Home…
Read MoreHouse Design – Choose Your House Numbers to Complement the Design
In a high-end community where I have designed nearly one hundred houses, there are fairly strict house design guidelines. Covenants and restrictions are a necessary element in maintaining a level of quality, and thus, maintaining property values. No one is happy if a lime green house ends up next door. Design restrictions offer some limits,…
Read MoreFull Spectrum Fluorescent Lights – Do You Know What They Are ?
You already know that fluorescent lights save energy. You know that they burn cool and don’t add heat to the room. This reduces the air conditioning load in your house and also reduces the risk of fire when used in tight spaces like closets. But you hate the cold, blue light they give off. You…
Read MoreHome Security Systems – Learning from the Past
Home security systems can be pretty sophisticated these days. We have sensors that detect the sound of breaking glass, pressure pads that are placed under carpets. and even tiny security cameras that can be tied to the internet so you can monitor your house from halfway around the world. We used the camera set-up on…
Read MoreKitchen Cabinets and Wood Floors – A Grainy Question
If you have wood floors in your kitchen and a natural wood finish on your kitchen cabinets, should the floors and cabinets be the same species of wood and the same color or should they contrast? And if they should contrast, which should be the darker color? I often discuss this issue with my clients.…
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