The rich impact of an espresso wood floor stain..

The dark espresso color of this upper hall oak floor was achieved through a process called water popping.  This process applies water (to open the wood grain) prior to staining—this allows the stain to be absorbed better.  The result is a color that adds richness and impact to the space.

What makes exceptional design exceptional?

A recent article by Diego Rodriquez explored the parallels between the creative process of Jerry Seinfeld and the team that designs Porsches.  Both are dedicated to their craft, and I found similarities in both of their processes and the process of creating exceptional custom home design.

1.  Insist on great fundamentals

To start the design process off right—you need to point the rocket in the right direction.  That is why we spend a great deal of time upfront with our clients during the architectural design process to determine the essential objectives of the design function and feel.

2.  Obsess over details

Even things that the average person may not specifically notice—are noticed.  The overall experience of the joke, or the car, or the custom home is "shaped by myriad details whose sum is greater than its parts."  Details always matter.

3.  1% inspiration and 99% perspiration

The path of least resistance does not lead to exceptional design.  Put in hard work and thought and review, and then put in some more hard work and thought and review.  After the fundamentals are established and the details are evaluated, think and review multiple times to elevate the design to the extraordinary.

Home Values are on the Rise....

Trulia researches and track trends in the real estate market.  According to their recent findings, the listing price for homes on the market rose 7% within the last year.  At the same time as these prices were rising, the affordability gap between renting and owning a home remains very favorable for home ownership.  In fact, their research indicates that it is 44% less expensive to own a home than to rent.

Low mortgage rates play an important role in the price of current home ownership.  Although rates were rising in March, the 30-year fixed rate (according to Freddie Mac) dropped from 3.9% to 3.5% between February 2012-2013.  These rates are historically quite low, and make the current home buying and building market quite attractive.

We are encouraged by the increase in the market activity, and are optimistic that we will continue to see an increase in the market demand for home ownership and home building.

Spring is a good time for...

April is here and spring is on the way.  When the weather warms up and the buds start to pop—it is a good time to make sure your home is in good shape.  Here are a few ideas:

1.  Inspect the outside of your home to determine if the roof, chimneys, exterior walls, and windows need attention and maintenance.

2.  If you have a battery back up on a sump pump system, it is a good idea to make sure it is in working order.

3.  Change your HVAC filters or schedule your spring maintenance with your HVAC service provider.

4.  Clean the range hood to eliminate accumulated grease build-up.

5.  Clean your dryer vent and vacuum lint out of the edges of your lint filter.

6.  Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order with fresh batteries.

7.  Double check that you have fire extinguishers placed in key areas throughout your home.

8.  Clean your deck, patio, or screen porch.  Then as the weather improves, kick back with family and friends and appreciate the breeze and blooms of the new season.

50 Shades of Green

Color trends come and go in interior design just as in fashion.  And it makes sense - color is an easy way to change the mood and personality of a space.

We are seeing splashes of color making their way into our client's homes, including variations of blues and greens, teal, yellows, poppy reds, orange, and violet.  Happy little punches of color add interest and energy.

Pantone has designated emerald green to be the 2013 color of the year.  Emerald green is bold and beautiful, and works well in small doses.  We have seen a big range of greens used for years, from light and soft to rich and deep—green is the color of nature, and is uniquely neutral and colorful at the same time.

Whether you prefer sage, kelly, moss, olive, emerald—or all the blue/green to gray/green variations in between—green is likely here to stay well past the designated year of 2013.

Why we love to do what we do...

It is always exciting to meet new clients and learn what they would like in their new home.  Every client is different, so every project is different.  It begins with words that express what would make a new home exciting, beautiful, and user friendly for those that will live there.  Those early notes launch the project into designs, specifications, plans — and eventually the special place that becomes a happy home.

We built a home for a wonderful family and recently received a thank you note.  Actually, this was the second thank you note — the first one came fifteen years ago when we built the home.  This second note was to let us know the time had come for them to downsize, and they were moving into a town home.  As they were reflecting on the memories they had made in their home, they graciously took the time to write to us again.  Their note underscored for us the reason we love to do what we do.

February 17, 2013

Dear Larry,

It's been 15 years since we moved into the home you built for us.  Doesn't seem possible.  And we've decided it's time to make some changes (downsizing, less space, simpler maintenance, etc.) so we're moving to a town home.

But in the process of getting ready to move, we've been going through some things—including documents relating to the building of this home.  We were struck by how perfectly this house fit the dreams and ideas we expressed to you from the start.  We've always loved it and love it still—but it's time to move on.

You built the perfect home for us and you did it in the most gentlemanly, easy-to-work with way we could imagine.

We hope the next owner will love it as much as we have.  We've added a little paint here and there, but the home is otherwise as solid and sound as the day you finished.  (A realtor touring the house the other day remarked, coming down the stairs, "Wow—not a creak anywhere in the house!")

Hope things are going well for you.  Thanks again for creating this very important part of our life.

All the best,

J and S

Beyond Cooking - Why We Love the Kitchen

When we sit down with our clients to discuss their new home design, we hear about their family, their lifestyle, and the way they want their home to feel and function.  A focus that emerges in most every case is the importance of the kitchen. When my family designed and built our home approximately five years ago, the kitchen was at the top of our list as well.

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home -- and clearly our heart is in the kitchen.  Why do we all respond so emotionally to this space?

Kitchen time is happy time.  This is where we cook our meals, bake our treats, savor delightful smells, hear about each other’s days and lives.  Food brings nourishment, good food brings pleasure, and time together transforms our gatherings into memories.

As I made Sunday brunch this morning for my teenage daughter and her two friends, the simple essence of our kitchen was realized.  Bacon sizzled on the cooktop and released an enticing smell of good things to come.  Crepes were cooking, eggs were being scrambled, and my daughter and her friends rehashed the 9^th grade party we had hosted the night before.

Brunch prepared and served – the three of them instantly found their places at the center island.  Teenage hunger is a powerful force, so they happily gobbled up the cheesy eggs, bacon, and peanut butter crepes topped with chocolate chips and a dusting of powdered sugar.  They enjoyed the late Sunday morning indulgence and I felt satisfied that my food preparation made them full and happy.

Just one morning -- one slice of life that took place in the heart of our home.  As I cleaned up the pots and pans, I realized clearly once again why our kitchens produce daily smiles, frame our happy times, and hold our hearts.