Gaines Group Architects
harrisonburg custom farmhouse

Building a Custom Energy-Efficient Home: Where Do You start?

If you are thinking about building a custom energy-efficient home, where do you start? Many will first go to the internet (thanks for reading my blog) to get their information. This is a great place to gather lots of opinions, but be sure you are looking at opinions based on your...
solar pv custom green home

Thinking of building a new home – consider these questions first

If you are thinking of building a new home – you should consider these questions first. 1. What is a typical day for you and your family? What can be done to make things easier and more organized – cubbies, laundry chute, kitchen island? 2. Think about the activities,...

Remember to include the fun when you are building your new home

Remember to include the fun elements when you are building a new home. Don’t just focus on the functional elements for daily life. Include things that you enjoy doing from sports to crafts, from reading to bird watching, from watching tv to working out. in home basketball...
custom albemarle home

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 7) – Moving the dirt

Thinking of building a custom home? Know the steps so you can control the process. The next step in our series is just after you sign the contract with a contractor – what happens? Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links: Part one...

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 one – Part two – Part three...

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 4)

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links: Part one – Part two – Part three – Part four – Part five – Part six – Part seven Now that the design process has kicked off there are a series of steps that...

Custom Home – How to Get Started (Part 3)

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links: Part one – Part two – Part three – Part four – Part five – Part six – Part seven In our discussion, you have now decided to hire an architect and found the...

Custom Home – How to Get Started

Catch up on this series “Custom Home – How to Get Started” with the following links: Part one – Part two – Part three – Part four – Part five – Part six – Part seven Calling an architect to some seems like a luxury or at least an expense that...

The start of a project is one of the most exciting stages

The ground breaking of a project is a very exciting first step of any project. You spend months on design, learning what the client wants, and testing variations to get it right. Then you submit the design to the city / county for final review and to get the permits required to...

House in the Woods – project under construction

Here is another project we have under construction. It is designed for the future, can be taken off grid, is accessible, and can support a self sufficient lifestyle. Let us know what you think.