Archive for January, 2008

Countertops: Why Kitchen Remodels Cost So Much

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

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 [...]

Concrete + Glass Countertops: Fuez

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

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 [...]

Soft Costs and Expenses to Date

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

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 [...]

Pavers with Flair

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

Some great ideas from the UK

Northwest Architectural Style

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

Came across a great blog today highlighting some fantastic work in the Pacific Northwest.

Eco Finish

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

Here’s an interesting green floor finish from Vermont Natural Coatings.

Waterproof Concrete

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

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 [...]

SoyCrete: Concrete Sans Acid

Friday, January 18th, 2008

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 [...]

Mail Box Inspiration

Friday, January 18th, 2008

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.

Cement Fiberboard Panels

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

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.

a new studio, a new home