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Design Dilemma:

We’re on a limited budget this year but want to incorporate the spirit of the season into holiday decoration.   We have a new small Christmas tree with a limited selection of favorite ornaments.  What ideas can you share to use free or a “next to nothing” cost to add jolly to our holiday?

(credit: Charles Schultz)

Sue’s Solution:

It’s easy to “deck the halls with boughs of holly” when you go “shopping” outdoors.  Keep in mind, “less is more” and group like-items together.  Use balance and proportion to fill up your 3D space – up and all around.  Pick a color scheme, red and green from the outdoors is a great choice.  Adding blue accents will update the look.  Texture and pattern add visual appeal.  Light and reflections in mirrors or on metals bring a display to life.  A fun idea, as seen below, is to use a ladder as a tree and decorate with ball ornaments, painted pine-cones, etc. and add light strings.

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Design Dilemma:

Eight months ago we sought out a builder to help bring our dream of a 3400 SF home into reality.  We needed to lower the cost so we were promised a 3000 SF home to fit our budget.  After three months of waiting to see architectural drawings, we were told there would be a substantial delay.  Then, five more months of complete frustration over back-ups, being told they can’t start work, and poor communication has us looking for other options now.  Where do we go from here?

John’s Solution:

Time is money. Overtime is more money. Unfortunately, this builder most likely promised something he couldn’t later justify.   A Needs and Options Report considers all factors:  process, budget, and timeline.  You might find the 3400 SF plan is indeed a better option and there might be ways to get there within your current budget.  The right architect becomes apparent where there is good communication and feelings of trust.  When an architect spends quality time with you up front, it’s a good bet there will be essential communication between all parties including craftsmen and designers. Trust the process and trust your architect/builder.   The more information you have up front before the build begins, the easier the process will be for all involved.

The Far Side, Gary Larson, 1985

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DESIGN DILEMMA:

My husband and I have decided to remodel our home of 45 years so we can “age in place.” The rooms are boxed in and we would like an open concept floor plan but the staircase is in the middle of the home! What suggestions do you have to create a more open airy feel without moving the stairs?

SUE’S SOLUTION:

I highly recommend installing a floating staircase for a modern open, airy feel. They can be formed from a vast array of materials and finishes and custom configured in numerous shapes including straight, switchback, curved, and even spiral.  Multiple flights can add an even grander 3-dimensional effect. We can help you create a beautiful new staircase and even make it a special art piece in the center of your home.

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DESIGN DILEMMA:

The lighting in my bathroom is terrible!  It’s so frustrating applying make-up and my husband complains about shaving.  Help!  What can we do to improve the situation in our bathroom?

SUE’S SOLUTION:

Good lighting makes the face.  All three types of lighting, ambient, accent, and task, should be layered in each lighted room, including the bathroom. Things to consider are color and temperature of bulbs and shadows.  Facial angles create shadows and can morph one’s look in a number of unflattering ways.  I recommend installing a new lighted mirror over your vanity that is lit all around.  Within recent months, many manufacturers have introduced LED lit mirrors.  The lighting is built in the mirror getting rid of the need for other fixtures.  With a clean contemporary look, these LEDs provide bright clear long-lasting light closest to that of sunlight.  They make it so easy to illuminate the face from above, below, and from the sides.  The results will be something to love!

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DESIGN DILEMMA:  HELP!  PAPER IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD.

I work at home and I’m having a hard time staying organized.  How can I best manage overflowing papers in my office?  I need to keep the office running smoothly and find files quickly.  Also, Post-It-Notes are convenient reminders but they can quickly become unsightly when every surface is covered in them.  No matter how hard I try or what strategy I take, paperwork grows quicker than ants building their hills.

SUE’S SOLUTION:

There are a variety of storage mediums I recommend to handle papers in a functional efficient manner: cabinets with drawers, shelving, magazine bins, and folders.  Certain legal and financial papers need long-term storage so these are best kept in a drawer within a locked cabinet.   “To-do” papers can be filed in multi-colored project folders and stored in a magazine bin/binder.  It is helpful to index the folders for quick retrieval.  The magazine bins can be shelved in the open or behind closed doors.  As far as reading materials are concerned, I would make a stack of unread newspapers, magazines, store flyers, etc. and diligently toss them each week on garbage night.  If they haven’t been read in a week, you probably won’t get to it.  Electronic news is highly recommended.  Do not use Post-It-Notes for tasks.  Task management is best organized on a smart phone.

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DESIGN DILEMMA:  THERE’S A HOLE IN MY CEILING!

I have beautiful custom cabinets in my kitchen but the venting hood ducting was left open.  It looks unsightly and there’s a hole in my ceiling!  What’s the best way to finish this and match the cabinets?

SUE’S SOLUTION:

Matching the cabinet trim and color will make the space look uniform.  The vent stack was covered from hood to ceiling hiding the hole.  Some rules to consider when designing molding are scale of room and, in this case, design of cabinets.   The molding here needs to have the same visual weight and proportion.  Types of molding can be combined but they should all be painted the same color to look like one piece.  In this kitchen, the best solution was to build a façade matching the cabinets and add a dramatic crown molding around the kitchen.  Below are guidelines to use when planning crown molding.

CROWN MOLDING RULES:

1. SCALE OF ROOM
   • consider décor/furnishings: ie. large colorful lamp and large print wall covering can hold a larger crown molding

2. CEILING HEIGHT
   • 10’ or higher, give 1” width per 1’ height, ie. 10’ tall room=10” molding
   • less than 10’ it varies, ie 8’-9’ ceiling looks good w/5” molding
   • different ceiling heights within home: vary size of moldings to be in same proportion

• SIZE & DETAIL of other moldings in room-including baseboards
  • molding doesn’t have to match baseboards but needs to be same visual weight
  • no rules to use same molding throughout home – but if uniform ceiling height throughout home and small rooms, it will create a nice flow

IDEAS ON WHERE TO USE CROWN MOLDING:

1. WINDOWS
   • use same molding as a cornice for window treatment to create a seamless look
2. SLOPED CEILING
   • crown is typically used at the junction of a wall & ceiling but at a sloped ceiling, it would be too low and on an odd angle
   • to give illusion of taller walls, place molding in from edge of ceiling, 3”-4” in for a 8’ ceiling and paint walls and slope the same color
3. SMALL ROOM CEILING
   • layer drywall for a look of wide crown
   • this is like framing a picture where the picture is the ceiling, ie. 2 pieces layered on ceiling (3/8” + 3/8” = ¾” drop from ceiling)
   • inexpensive and big bang
4. COMBINE TYPES OF MOLDING
   • purchase narrower crown and add a narrower trim
   • put crown up and then drop down 2” and put up narrow trim
   • paint crown, 2” drywall, and trim all same color to look like one piece
   • can layer more than 2 times
   • inexpensive and big bang
5. CONTEMPORY/MODERN DESIGN
   • for a simple clean profile molding, put a ½” drywall reveal joint under crown and above baseboard that creates shadow line between drywall and trim
   • create a modern look with deep stained wood and a sleek flat profile (not ornate)

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DESIGN DILEMMA:  HOW DO I CHOOSE AN ARCHITECT WE CAN TRUST?

Surfing through many architects’ portfolios can be overwhelming.  There has to be a better method than listening to all those video testimonials that pizazz through many architects’ websites.  How do my family and I choose an Architect that we can trust to manage our valuable home project?  What questions do we need to ask to make sure we find a great match to work with us?  How can we make sure our conversations are focused so the architect understands exactly what we want saving us both time and money?

JOHN’S SOLUTION:

Pay attention to curiosity, passion, and sustainability.  These key factors help evaluate an architect’s personality, professionalism, competence, and creativity.  They can indicate compatibility and trust between everyone involved.

1. CURIOSITY

Is the architect curious about my lifestyle?  Never mind his/her success story, what about mine?  The architect needs to be curious about you and your day-to-day interactions.  You have done your homework investigating architects, so sit back and let the architect investigate what you want for your home.  His questions should show considerations for making your home beautiful, inspiring, and functional.  Your architect needs to discover what works for you on a daily basis and what the possible positive impacts that could create your day.

2. PASSION AND THE F.A.B. PROCESS

What are the architect’s passion and driving factors?  Employing the F.A.B. process when interviewing architects helps determine this.  The “F” = Features can be found on many architects’ websites and, hopefully, all architects can explain the “A” = Advantages of these Features.  The “B” = Benefits are most important.  Look for an architect who understands why Features and Advantages Benefit you; otherwise, they do not truly understand your purpose for meeting them.  The best architect for you can be determined by how many design Benefits you gain from his/her passion for your dream home.

3. SUSTAINABLE

Will I have a sustainable family in our newly designed home?  Sustainability is important, not only to reduce overall environmental impact, but to provide for the needs of your family.  Not all architects/builders prioritize a sustainable lifestyle.  The key is having your architect understand and implement your lifestyle and wishes, not theirs.

Frank Lloyd Wright said he could design a house that would cause homeowners to divorce. He said it was important to pay attention to what the client wants and provide them the plan that makes a sustainable family. They need to benefit from the features implemented in the home, otherwise, the advantages of the features provided will not make sense.

Let your architect discover what your needs are otherwise keep searching for the one that will have the passion to give you the benefits for the features to be implemented in your dream home.

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DESIGN DILEMMA:  HOW CAN WE REDUCE COSTS WHEN BUILDING OUR DREAM HOME?

The time is right to build our dream home to provide more space for our family but the budget is tight!  What can we do to plan our dream home while deciding upon cost reducing options?  Why should we choose an architect to get the “biggest bang for our buck” when building our dream home?

JOHN’S SOLUTION:

We provide a detailed estimate of expenses allowing you to pick and choose what features are important to you. Our expertise helps you narrow down these decisions by evaluating your priorities and wishes. Below are some cost-saving items we discuss with you to maximize your budget while respecting your desires.

• SIZE OF HOME
  • Cost-savings by reduction in square footage in places it counts
  • Added space with minimal cost
    • 9’ ceilings vs. 8’
    • maximize usable space by using an open floor plan
• SITE LOCATION in a neighborhood that fits same size, style and price of desired home
• COMPLEXITY of geometry: reducing or simplifying design
  • low vs. high pitch roofs can reduce labor and time to fabricate
  • reduce number of exterior corners/bump-outs
• MATERIALS of high quality and expense along with decorative items that can easily be added or switched out at a later date
• LANDSCAPING plan-develop into stages

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DESIGN DILEMMA:  WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EIFS AND STUCCO?

We are building a home and considering an EIFS or Stucco covering.  We love the sleek, smooth, clean contemporary look and the variety of styles and colors.  We’ve also heard many benefits including fire resistance and good sound barrier.  They both look the same.  What can you tell me about the difference between these surfaces?

SUE’S SOLUTION:

From looking at the exterior of a home, it can be difficult to tell the difference between EIFS, Exterior Insulation and Finish System, and Stucco. They look similar because they are covered in similar material.

The greatest difference is in the construction.  EIFS has a base layer of insulation board attached to wall sheathing.  A thin base coat including a reinforcing mesh is applied over the boards.  This base coat is sealed with a finish coat.  Stucco consists of a layer of cement-based stucco covered with a thin finish coat and installed over stone or plywood.

When choosing either system, it’s very important to hire a respectable company to install either surface and then perform regular inspections over the years.  The chart above helps explain how the two stand up to each other.