Solar tubes, also known as tubular skylights, sun tunnels, or light tubes, are a great way to bring more natural light into your home, particularly to dark rooms or areas that might otherwise miss out on the benefits of sunlight. What Are Solar Tubes? A solar tube is a metal tube that runs from your
Our first post in this series highlighted expectations for the pre-design stage through zoning, the creation of a preliminary budget, a tentative schedule, through to the schematic design. Design Development This is the next stage of the design-build project. It is a time to refine ideas, but as they say, the devil is in the
Installing a solar energy system for your commercial building can be a great choice, with both financial and environmental benefits. In 2019, I spoke with Taylor Poff, a project manager with solar installer JBL Solar Energy, a Sonoma County company with extensive experience in commercial installations, who passed on some important tips for business owners
1st in a series of posts on this topic This time of year is an opportunity to take stock of the life-changing events we’ve seen or experienced in the last 12 months. It is also a time when we dream a little, maybe set some goals while thinking about the next 12 months. A design-build
Tenant improvements (TIs) – also known as leasehold improvements or build-outs – are changes you make to a leased commercial space to make it ready for you to do business. The cost of these improvements will typically be partially or fully defrayed by your landlord through a tenant improvement allowance (TIA) you negotiate during
If you’ve never worked with an architect before, you may be wondering what to expect. Even before your initial meeting with an architect, it might be a wise idea to ask yourself some questions first. What are your design aspirations? Look at images to find what you like and, equally important, what you don’t like.
Retail design is the art of creating a space that makes customers want to engage with and purchase your products and services. A thoughtfully designed space can help increase your sales, while a poorly designed one can lose you both current and future sales. Focusing on a few key elements during the planning stages
When you start to visualize new opportunities for your home, surfaces and finishes many not be the first thing that comes to mind. You might be thinking instead of: A new kitchen design, A garage turned ADU, The creation of new family room. The possibilities are only limited by your budget, lot size (and local
Recently, I wrote about the essentials of cannabis dispensary design. Today, I want to dig a little deeper into how you can use design-based branding strategies to differentiate your business from the competition in this growing industry. Design for the Clients You Want In any retail business, it’s important to understand your client base and
Now that the days are getting shorter, your thoughts may be turning to the waning daylight outside. Are you experiencing a change of mood? If so, you wouldn’t be alone. We are wired for natural sunlight. Our circadian cycle helps us to regulate sleep and is impacted by light and dark. The way we bring
