Information on home design, including new home design, remodeling, mid-century modern architecture, sesimic upgrades and other home improvements.

Five Ideas for Cooling Your Mid-Century Modern Home

Summer is almost here, and while many of us are looking forward to lazy days by the pool with a good book (and lots of sunscreen), we’re also thinking about how we’re going to keep cool without breaking the bank or destroying the earth. Cooling a mid-century modern home can be particularly tricky. When they

Roofing 101

With all the rain this week, a lot of us are getting damp reminders that our roofs need attention. If you’re looking to repair or replace your roof – or build a new home – you probably have questions. Here are a few roofing basics to help you get started. Selecting a Roofing Material The

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Insulate Your Mid-Century Modern Home

In the mid-20th century, there seemed to be little reason to insulate a new California home. Mild winters and summers, combined with seemingly plentiful, inexpensive energy meant homeowners could crank up the heat without breaking the bank or worrying about their carbon footprint. In the 21st century, however, we know that the beauty of floor-to-ceiling

Essential Earthquake Retrofits for Your Older Home

Earthquakes are a fact of life in the Bay Area. The same geologic features that create our dramatic mountains-meet-ocean vistas mean we have to live with a little bit – or sometimes a lot – of shaking. California’s building codes are continually updated based on emerging research and lessons learned from each quake to make

Eichler vs. Alliance: What’s the Difference?

Most people who pay attention to contemporary American architecture have heard of Eichler homes. Developer Joseph Eichler’s dream of bringing beautiful, affordable modern design to the masses was spurred by his admiration of Frank Lloyd-Wright’s soaring architectural designs, and the homes he built throughout California beginning in the late 1940s through the ‘60s have become