For the past two decades, coffee shop design seems to have been dominated by The Big Green Sign. Yes, Starbucks has been phenomenally successful – for a while there was even one near China’s Tiananmen Square – due, in part, to the coffee giant’s ability to combine a consistent aesthetic with nods to the
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
Over the past decades, business owners have increasingly shifted to open office design in the hope that it would save money and increase collaboration, creativity and productivity among workers. While open plans do generally save money – more workers per square foot means the cost of space declines – recent research suggests that they
Does your tasting room reflect your brand? One of the great pleasures of living in the San Fransisco Bay Area is visiting the wineries of Napa and Sonoma Valley and beyond. But sometimes I find myself sipping fabulous wines in spaces that are … less than fabulous. Why? Winemakers put an incredible amount of
As an architect, I’ve long been drawn to modern design, both in my work and my personal life. Modern design is more than an aesthetic, it’s a way of approaching design from the standpoint of how we live now. Clean, Simple, Elegant Technically speaking, modern design is a form that evolved as a counterpoint to
Accessory dwelling units (also known as “granny units” or ADUs) are small living spaces that are on the same property, but are separate from, the main living space. They can be attached to the main home or completely separate. They range from tiny studio apartments to fully appointed cottages and can serve lots of different
Hiring an architect for your project is like choosing a doctor – you want an ideal mix of expertise, experience, ethics and bedside manner. So what are the most important things to look for when hiring an architect? Look for a Licensed Architect The architect you select should be licensed in your state. A license
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting case studies from my project files to demonstrate how clients can renovate and make home and office improvements. The cases are meant to illustrate some of the best ideas for maximizing the comfort, utility and cost-effectiveness of clients’ living and working spaces. Current Situation Client: Working professional
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting case studies from my project files to demonstrate how clients can renovate and make home and office improvements. The cases are meant to illustrate some of the best ideas for maximizing the comfort, utility and cost-effectiveness of clients’ living and working spaces. Current Situation Client: Woman about
If your home was destroyed or damaged in 2017’s Northern California firestorm, you have my condolences. Losing a home is traumatic, and the subsequent decisions about rebuilding can seem overwhelming. Here’s how consulting a Santa Rosa architect can help you make sense of your choices and turn this awful event into an opportunity to build
