Design Matters
Thoughts of an ArchitectA Message from The Firm
Our blog, Design Matters, is a place for our team to share our knowledge, community events, projects, resources, and opinions. It is a place for you to keep up with us and for us to hear from you. Thanks for reading!
Environmentalist, Homesteader, or Prepper – where do you fall?
We design a lot of homes that are healthy, energy-efficient, and durable. Some are for clients that want to reduce their monthly utility bills as much as possible or clients that understand the negative health impacts of modern construction. Some homes are for clients that want to reduce their impact on the environment. Then there are our designs for clients that believe society is coming to an end and they want to be prepared for anything.
Composting and Compost Bin: Green Terms Defined
This is my favorite time of year. Plants are blooming, trees are sprouting leaves, and my compost bin is working ...
Composting and Compost Bin: Green Terms Defined
This is my favorite time of year. Plants are blooming, trees are sprouting leaves, and my compost bin is working ...
6 Spring Tips for an incredible Vegetable Garden
This wet winter has been incredible for our soils. We got a lot of moisture for growing rich soils and beautiful ...
SVBA Home and Garden Show – April 12-13
If you plan on renovating a home or building a new home, the SVBA Home and Garden Show is the place to find the ...
Building relationships in a small town – Trust is the key to success.
The Gaines Group expanded into the Shenandoah Valley almost six years ago. Our first project in the valley turned ...
Harrisonburg Starry Nights – Safe, energy-efficient, healthy light solutions
The dark-sky movement is an effort to reduce light pollution. This is a problem not only in large cities, but it ...
Old Town Harrisonburg Custom Home – Update
This infill project in Downtown Harrisonburg makes the most of a small footprint. Featuring an open floor plan, 3 ...
Before you bring baby home, get it ready for the changes coming.
What are the things you need to do in your home before the new baby comes home? What precautions do you need to ...
An energy-efficient home can take on any style.
I got the question last week, can we make a particular style energy-efficient. There is a common misconception ...
A FLIR T420 Thermal Camera, a Trash Bag, and a Snowstorm
Getting an energy audit for you home is a relatively new concept. This process will highlight the problems in your ...
Penn Laird Dream Home Finishing Construction: Project Update Part 5
The clients have moved into their Penn Laird dream home, built by Trost Custom Homes. Here is the last group of ...