residential architecture Archives

Is the kitchen work triangle complete nonsense?

17 min readDo you need a better kitchen work triangle? Maybe…or maybe it’s completely wrong for you and already the cause of your problems.

Odds are, if you’ve ever given serious thought to an upgrade for the kitchen of your mid-century home, you’ve run across the term “kitchen work triangle”.

And if you have issues with how your kitchen works—not enough storage, not enough prep space, no room to share the work, a crowd underfoot at dinnertime every night—you’ve wondered if this mythical concept of a perfect kitchen work triangle is the solution.

Maybe…or maybe it’s completely wrong for you and already the cause of your problems.

Can an open floor plan be too open?

36 min readThe open plan is a hallmark of modern living. Flow between spaces is a cornerstone of mid-century design. But do open plans always work in mid-century homes?

Right here at the top, I’m writing you a permission slip: If you like an open plan space, you can have it. Let’s open up your layout!! We’ll figure out structure and flow and make it happen.

And if you DO NOT LIKE open plan areas … you are not required to have any big open floor plan areas in your home. We can find pockets of rest, create visual and sound separation between spaces, and introduce elements to separate a too-open layout.

The right answer for you is the right answer for you!

Is an open plan good?

There’s been a lot of debate over the “right” or “wrong” nature of an open floor plan over the last couple of years. The pandemic years, in particular, created a big push back against a long standing real estate trend for big flowing spaces.

The How and Why of (This) Residential Architect

16 min readA residential architect’s skill in design and creativity has the power to take a few remodeling dollars farther.

Did you know that average cost to hire a residential architect to design a remodel is $47,000.

Isn’t that crazy?

That’s more than most people want to spend ON their remodel!

And that’s why architecture in this country is generally for the one percent. I used to work on projects with price tags just like that and … now I don’t.

I’ve got a good reason for that …