I recently went to visit a prospect who was interested in having their (new to them) home modified by adding a kitchen to the basement for Grandma. To educate him, I said that what he wanted to create was called an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) and that permitting...
In residential remodeling, as in life, we often set out to accomplish a task and discover that our plan needs altering. We have to adapt in order to keep going in the right direction. This pattern repeats itself. Getting stuck is not an option. I share my philosophy...
"We recently had a child and we love our home, but it would be so much better if we could do a small addition." This is a common consultation for me. A family bought a home they were comfortable in that fit the budget at the time. Then the family grows. This...
I am a self-proclaimed renaissance man. I love tools, motorcycles, old cars and trucks, and having a place to store my tools that is off limits to others. A place to be creative, dream, make stuff, and hang out with likeminded folks. A place to be myself, watch...
This is the $64,000 question. It is asked in so many ways and so unlikely to get an accurate answer that I had to find out for myself. Everyone thinks I know this stuff anyway, so I might as well. If the answer were easy, we would all know it. The problem is that the...
There is no way to succeed in remodeling without the ability to draw what the proposed project will look like. That is the bare minimum in residential remodeling. I once was told that I could get a building permit on a napkin, and by golly it worked back in the day....
Project Name The Challenge This home had a small protrusion over the garage which was a potential space that was not taken advantage of on the original structure. The clients imagined that by moving the wall further to the front of the garage it would create a very...
Modern master bedroom suite additionThe Challenge This home was built in the 1920’s it had good bones. It had a confusing backwards kitchen and had an addition in the ’70’s. I had looked at the home for a friend a few years earlier and had discouraged her from...
Building Memories: A Case Study in Crafting the Ideal Family Gathering PlaceThe Challenge This 1999 home is part of a tight knit subdivision. The family wanted to have a gathering place for themselves to relax and enjoy time together, and a place away from the daily...
2 Story Addition in Historic North EndThe Challenge The home had an enclosed back porch that was a transition to a basement with plans to have the second story enlarged to finally have a Master Bedroom Suite. The home is in the Historic District and it is a...
