I’ve been working with a new builder to develop a more accurate budget for the ADU project. One element of the design that accounts for a HUGE percentage of the overall cost is the kitchen. And, in the kitchen, one of the of the most expensive elements is the countertops.
We’re not building an elaborate kitchen [...]
A while back I wrote about an exciting product called “Ice Stone.” Back then, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the price of materials, but I have the sense that it’s not cheap. Still, if you’ve got the cash and can afford to be “green,” it’s a great alternative to granite, quartz, or [...]
If you had told me a year ago that I will spend over $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, I might not have even started this crazy endeavor. Early in the process it seemed as though financing would come much sooner, and that things like design fees, permits, etc. could be wrapped into the mortgage. Talk about [...]
Some great ideas from the UK
Came across a great blog today highlighting some fantastic work in the Pacific Northwest.
Here’s an interesting green floor finish from Vermont Natural Coatings.
Here’s an interesting product - it’s an additive that make concrete waterproof. I’m sure there are a variety of manufacturers out there, but one company I found is called “Hycrete.” It might be a great idea if you were building below grade, or were worried about water intrusion through the slab. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be [...]
I’ve dedicated several earlier posts to the wonders of concrete stain. Up until now, however, I wasn’t sure if there was an alternative to the acid-based colorants. Acids work GREAT, but they aren’t the most environmentally friendly of products. And, there are certain challenges to staining indoors (like ruining your paint, millwork, etc).
So, without further [...]
Stumbled across a great design today. What a nice way to handle street numbers and a mail box.
Photo found on the great site, Eye Candy. Original image from Basis Design Build.
Previously I’ve written about the merits of cement fiberboard siding. Recently, I found a new blog by a fellow designer/builder that features a great panel-version of this material. Here’s a photo from Jason’s blog, with the installed product:
This product is called “Cem Clad” and is manufactured by US Architectural.