Information on home design, including new home design, remodeling, mid-century modern architecture, sesimic upgrades and other home improvements.
A version of this post first ran in 2017. I love my radiant heating. There’s nothing cozier on a chilly winter morning than a toasty warm floor greeting your cold feet. More and more, clients are asking me about radiant heat for their homes. What used to be thought of as a luxury is going
This post first ran in 2017. 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
Hardwood flooring is becoming the most popular floor option, eclipsing carpeting and laminate in the Bay Area, according to Bill Powell, of 123-Floor, a Marin flooring expert with more tha 20 years of experience. Hardwood is popular for good reason. “I look at hardwood as an asset in the house,” Powell says. It’s beautiful, durable,
What does it mean to design for indoor outdoor spaces? Living in California, we have the option of developing that space in between our indoor living and the openness of the great outdoors. We call it a transitional space. That area that is a little of both. Our long season of mild weather makes creating
A front page article in the Marin Independent Journal recently touted a 6.5% increase in the assessed value of property in Marin County. With property values increasing, it might seem like an odd time to think about a renovation project to improve your property value. However, increased property values can mean increased equity in your
This post previously ran in 2017. 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
Change in any industry can feel sluggish when you have a great idea you want to see catch on. That is certainly true for proponents of structural insulated panels or SIPs for short. In the 1930s, Frank Lloyd Wright experimented with an early prototype that lacked insulation, in his search for materials that were functional,
This post first ran in 2016. 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
Some people think that concrete floors are more likely to evoke industrial spaces, rather than homes. In fact, according to the International Association of Home Inspectors in their history of concrete, the first homes to use concrete were in Yugoslavia in 5600 BC. Home-building and construction techniques have changed a lot since then, but concrete is still
A version of this post first ran in 2018. ADUs are growing in popularity in California, and with good reason. ADUs – accessory dwelling units (also known as “granny units”) – are small living spaces that are on the same property but are separate from the main living space. They can be attached to the
