Designing Principals

Meet Bruce and Nicole Caldwell. The Caldwells are in the middle of a remodeling project to transform their 1950s East Millcreek ranch from its traditional style to a rustic, Southwestern style all their own. Usually, we feature clients in this column with finished projects, but for a change we have decided to follow the Caldwells…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A person going through the process of finding a design style may be surprised at the types of items selected — people tend to be eclectic. A person’s design style is as unique as his or her own personality. It may not be what is advertised on the billboards…

By 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…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer The holiday season is often the busiest time of year for gatherings, so it is also the time when your home’s capacity and functionality are tested. This is when you learn (or remember) you really could use that extra bedroom for Grandma, your dining room isn’t quite big enough…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A room with plain, white walls can be transformed by a simple coat of paint. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what wall colors you choose. Because color is powerful, you may feel indecisive and insecure about choosing color schemes. We’ve all experienced…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer In architecture, the basic building blocks of good design include space, light and order. Good design doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be subtle and still have a huge impact on a house. For Tom and Maria Maloney, all it took was bumping out the house 2 feet,…

Practical, aesthetic details make home shine By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Architect Mies van der Rohe said, “God is in the details.” Others have said, “The devil is in the details.” We suppose it’s all in the perspective. Certainly when it comes to a home renovation, you can feel very inspired or very tormented…

By 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…

By 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…

By 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…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon While we devoted the past three columns to flooring, this week it is time to look up and discuss the project hanging over your head: ceilings. The ceiling is often a seriously overlooked aspect of your house’s appearance. While walls, flooring and exterior work are important when it comes…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon 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…

By Annie V. Schemmer A room with plain, white walls can be transformed by a simple coat of paint. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what wall colors you choose. Because color is powerful, you may feel indecisive and insecure about choosing color schemes. We’ve all experienced the difficulty…

By Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer When it comes to remodeling, sometimes it is the little things that can make all the difference. Today the influential detail we want to discuss is lighting. Changing lighting fixtures as well as their placement can drastically enhance architecture, give character and individuality to a space, and set…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon As baby boomers age, most have plans to keep living in the homes they have now. And as baby boomers prepare for the future, there has been a rise in the demand for home designs and renovations that are more accessible. One of the most requested designs lately is…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon When you are talking home renovation sometimes bigger isn’t better. Sometimes the biggest impacts are the small projects that rearrange existing space. Often times, clients think they have to have a new addition but reconfiguring interior walls and even plumbing may be more economical than doing new construction. A…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Most of us have been in homes with fantastic views. We remember homes with majestic panoramas of beautiful mountains or breathtaking vistas with city lights twinkling in the distance. Of course, these views usually come with a hefty price tag. Here, a window is reflected in a mirror left…