Year – 2009
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Cost of adding on to home twice that of using existing space
Read More: Cost of adding on to home twice that of using existing spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A family in Murray asked us to help design an addition to their house. This couple likes to entertain, and their small kitchen/family room combination isn’t large enough to accommodate their guests. After reviewing the couple’s project, we determined that they don’t actually need to add on because they…
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Design should focus on flow of public, private spaces
Read More: Design should focus on flow of public, private spacesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There are places in your house meant to be public, and there are places meant to be private. When thinking architecturally, there are three levels of interaction in your home, and they need to be identified and appropriately designed in your remodel. The first is public spaces. These are…
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Rearrange existing space or add on to create master suite
Read More: Rearrange existing space or add on to create master suiteBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Some of the most sought-after simple pleasures of life are realized with remodeling a master suite. Finally, the bathroom you don’t have to share with the kids, the convenient double sinks, a separate shower and luxurious soaking tub. At last, the coveted walk-in closet with enough space to spread…
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Replace windows to capitalize on property’s views
Read More: Replace windows to capitalize on property’s viewsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Everyone knows that curb appeal, or what you experience as you look at a house from the outside, is an important aspect of a home’s architecture. But don’t forget that what you experience from the inside of your house looking out can be even more important. By replacing the…
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Safely, sanely living through your remodeling project
Read More: Safely, sanely living through your remodeling projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Construction sites are considered one of the most dangerous work places in America. Whole government agencies are dedicated to making them safer. So, how do you keep your family safe when your home becomes the construction site? Although it is not always possible, the best approach when it comes…
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Be safe when tackling a remodel on your own
Read More: Be safe when tackling a remodel on your ownBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Re-mod-el (v.): to alter the structure of: remake; as in: “I want to remodel my … (fill in the blank — kitchen, basement, bathroom, etc.).” With few exceptions, everyone has a desire, if not a plan, to remodel something about their home. The psychology of this desire — whether…
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Snowmelt systems can make home safer
Read More: Snowmelt systems can make home saferBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Snowmelt systems are designed to take the sting out of Utah winters. Last week we discussed permanent systems to keep snow and ice off your driveway. These systems, which can be expensive, feature electric cables or hot water pipes running under your driveway. Today we’ll discuss some other options…
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Heating a driveway melts winter shoveling
Read More: Heating a driveway melts winter shovelingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Heating your driveway is one of the most popular outdoor heating applications with obvious advantages, especially in the midst of a Utah winter. There are two basic choices for driveway heating — electric cable or hot water systems. You cannot add such a system to an existing concrete driveway…
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Architect provides solid foundation for remodel project
Read More: Architect provides solid foundation for remodel projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There is no getting around it: If you are remodeling your home, you are going to need a set of plans. Plans will be required for municipal review prior to issuing a building permit, for contractors to provide you with a bid on your project, and for enabling them…
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Digging out your basement to add new space
Read More: Digging out your basement to add new spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer When you are thinking of ways to use the existing space in your home, don’t forget to look in the basement. A basement remodel can be a less-expensive, less-invasive alternative to a home addition. It doesn’t require changing the exterior of your home or encroaching into your yard. A…
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If your house needs a little extra room, look to your attic
Read More: If your house needs a little extra room, look to your atticBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer People tend to look at the space in a home in terms of quantity — either there is too much space or, more likely, too little. Architects, on the other hand, see space as a way of creating an experience in a structure, a commodity that should be shaped…
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Multitask your rooms, make better use of space
Read More: Multitask your rooms, make better use of spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Multitasking: the performance of multiple tasks at one time. This word, dating from 1966, describes a lot of our lives. From the dubious practice of talking on our cellular phones while driving to the mom trying to feed the baby while getting the other children out the door to…
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Analyze wants, needs before starting remodeling project
Read More: Analyze wants, needs before starting remodeling projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer As residential architects, we naturally question what triggers someone to turn those remodeling dreams into reality. We have discovered there are three areas that motivate people to get the ball rolling. The first is the tangible need for a different physical arrangement. For example, the anticipated birth of another…