Help us determine the best of the best – architectural details – week 4

The votes are in for week three, see who won here.

Over the last few weeks we have asked for your help determining the best fo the best from our past architectural projects. Here are three more choices, what do you think is the best detail this week? To thank you for voting each week, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

Amazing stair

StairWell1

Column and beam connection

DSC09075

This front porch

IMG_4018

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 5)

Building a custom home is a complicated, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming process. Understanding the steps is the first step to making it easier.

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links:

Part onePart twoPart threePart four – Part five – Part sixPart seven

Custom home

Old Town Harrisonburg Custom Home

The drawings are done and the design is finished, so what is the next step? Well there was one thing I did not mention during the design phase that is an important part. You need to decide if you are going to negotiate contract with your builder or put the project “out to bid.” 

We strongly encourage our clients to select a contractor based on interviews and negotiate the contract with them. Having the contractor involved during the design process allows a feedback loop on pricing and constructability that is extremely valuable. It also allows the contractor to be somewhat involved during the design phase so they can understand why things are done as they are before construction begins. This approach will lead to the best value for the project.

The other approach is to put the construction documents that were developed out to bid. Usually you select 3-5 contractors, give them 2-4 weeks to price the project on a competitive basis, and then open the bids to decide which contractor you want to build your home. Typically the prices are fairly close to each other, but if one is a lot lower, that contractor may have missed something. We often see that the lowest price is a contractor that made the biggest mistake. This leads to a confrontational relationship if that contractor is selected.

custom home

Custom Home – Albemarle County

So selecting the contractor is a very important part of the design process in our opinion and should be done in the schematic design phase for best results. The contractor will typically charge a fee for their pricing services during construction while some apply that fee to a reduction of construction costs if they get the job.

Green Term Defined: Water Conservation

water efficient toiletThe average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. On average 70% of that water is used indoors with bathrooms being the largest contributor. Older toilets use  as much as 3.5 – 7 gallons with each flush while standard models use 1.6 gallons or less. The good news is that WaterSense labeled toilets only use 1.28 gallons per flush. Through water conservation the average household can cut total water usage by 60-70%.

Water Conservation takes into account activities to manage fresh water resources, protect the water environment, and to meet current and future demand for fresh water.

water senseStrategies for water conservation include low-flow shower heads, low-flow toilets, composting toilets, dual flush toilets, faucet aerators, rainwater harvesting, efficient washers, and in ground irrigation systems.

Help us determine the best of the best – architectural details – week 3

Votes are in for Week 2, check for that post to see who won.

Over the last 26 years we have done some really fun design projects at our firm. While every project has some very interesting design components, there have been a few that just really stand out. Here are some images of three of my favorites. Which do you like best – vote for one (in the comments section below) and we will post three more contenders next week. Help us narrow down the best of the best from all our projects. To thank you for voting each week, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

shipping container flooring used for ceiling

Chewning 006

Floating cabinets

078009-R1-7

Corner Windows

090651-R1-11A

 

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 4)

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links:

Part onePart twoPart three – Part four – Part fivePart sixPart seven

Custom homeNow that the design process has kicked off there are a series of steps that will take place. You have hired an architect, who is an expert at this process. Trust them. Personally I have had a building that I designed, have emotional attachment to, and a professional duty to make sure it is done right under construction continuously for the last 11 years. Trust me, I know the process. 

There are three phases of design: schematic design, design development, and construction documents. Each phase will deliver a different level of detail and information and each phase requires certain questions and answers. Your architect is your guide to help you build your custom home with comfort and confidence.

The schematic design phase sets the program for the project. The conclusion of this phase will see the creation of sketches of spaces showing connections and relationships, square footage estimates, basic section, renderings, and a general idea of the overall aesthetic of the project.

Custom homeThe second stage, design development, identifies the materials, window and door locations, room sizes, as well as solidifying the plans and elevations. The structural design for the project will be largely figured out during this phase as well as dimensions of all spaces. This is the last phase where major design elements evolve and most questions are answered at the conclusion of this time.

The last stage of the design process is the creation of construction documents. This stage develops the drawings needed for construction. Details are created, final selections are confirmed, notes are added for specific elements of the project and the structural system is finalized. The contractor can solidify a price for construction and the contract will be based on these drawings.Custom home

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 3)

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links:

Part onePart two – Part three – Part fourPart fivePart sixPart seven

In our discussion, you have now decided to hire an architect and found the right one for your project. So what should you bring to the table to get the design started?

The first conversation with the architect about your custom home and design goals can be intimidating. You don’t want to overload them with your ideas, but don’t want to waste any time getting started. So what is the best way to communicate your dreams?

Custom homeThe first meeting is a chance to get to know the project in-depth. We like to have a conversation about the way you live from daily routines to special occasions. It helps to have the site information if you already have one along with pictures of things you like and want included. It is also good to have measurements of any big pieces of furniture or artwork that will need a special place in your new project.

A good place to start collecting your ideas is on our Houzz page, but some clients use Pinterest or the time-tested pictures in a folder. It is not important how you bring your ideas to the table, the important thing is that you bring as many of them to this first meeting as possible. The conversation will focus on everything from when you get up in the morning to the parties you host during the year. Learning about how you live dramatically impacts how the house will take shape so that you can live life to the fullest.