Information on home design, including new home design, remodeling, mid-century modern architecture, sesimic upgrades and other home improvements.
After a long rainy season and an unusually cold winter, the sun is back. You may be thinking about a swimming pool. Yet, what if you don’t have a lot of room for a conventional, in-ground swimming pool? You might consider an endless pool. What is an Endless Pool? An endless pool is a swimming
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
As it turns out, you need both, for different reasons. If you are considering remodeling or adding an addition to your home, your architect can tell you what type of fire safe material is best for your specific building design and location. But can they help you with a fire safe landscape design? Marin, Sonoma
If you own an Eichler home, and it needs an exterior lift, you may be wondering what paint color to choose. So many paint choices, so little time. Most paints have instructions about applying them between certain temperature ranges, and dry weather is best. In Marin, our unusual weather patterns and foggy days are getting
With all the praise and enthusiasm for Accessory Dwelling Units today, you might be surprised by their history. Commonly referred to as in-law units or granny flats by some and infill apartments by affordable housing advocates, they were once highly restricted and outright illegal in many municipalities. In 2017 a California law (AB68) was enacted
Flat roofs have been with us since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians. Their mud-dried brick homes would get very warm after a day of sitting in the hot sun. Residents could use their flat roofs as a sleeping platform, for a cooler night’s sleep. In Northern California, you’ll find whole neighborhoods of
When planning a kitchen remodel, nothing seems to stress my clients out more than selecting a kitchen countertop. And no wonder – the countertop not only defines the style of your kitchen, it also serves as its primary workhorse, sometimes acting as food prep surface, sometimes as trivet, storage area or even dining table. Not
Keeping warm is getting very expensive. December was the coldest in the Bay Area in 30 years. January rainstorms, followed by freezing temperatures, are bringing more cold weather in February. PG&E warns that consumers should expect their bills to be 32% higher than last year. Natural gas bills alone are five times higher in California
Think short order cook to chef – both have important jobs to do but they differ. If you are up for grabbing a quick bite to eat and don’t have time to dawdle, a diner might be your first choice. But if you are invested in the getting the best meal, and want to enjoy
You may be more familiar with the common forms of pavers made of stone or concrete. Yet, the variety of finishes, patterns and benefits found in porcelain pavers are causing them to grow in popularity. Before you finish off your pool deck, let’s explore the benefits of porcelain pavers. Porcelain has been around for centuries
