Live/Work

Well, we’ve officially moved into the painful, “lose the frills” phase of the project. Because the cost of the project exceeds our lender requirements, we’ve started hacking and slashing to cut costs. A big portion of these costs? Windows.

Here’s how the math works out:

Removing 8 windows saves us a total of  $2400 in costs, plus another $500 in labor. It’s tough to give up the natural light, especially on the south side of the building. However, this is part of the reality of building. Windows are a major expense to any project, and we made the decision to go with fewer windows that were higher quality, rather than a lot of cheap-o vinyl windows. It’s part of my philosophy that we should strive for quality over quantity…even if it means going with “less” for a time.

Here’s a few images of how the building will look with the windows removed: Read the rest of this entry »

I’m just as guilty as the next person - there are a few rooms in my house with the ass-ugly venetian blinds. If I had my way, I’d replace them all tomorrow. Eric over at Longhouse has found a nice modern solution from Ikea. Take a look:

Well, to placate the city, we’ve removed our glass roll-up door. While a bit of a hit for the design, there are some functional benefits. Namely:

• Standard French doors are more energy efficient
• It would be easier to convert the lower level to a living space at some point in the future.
• It will help the appraisal - apprasers, lenders, and just about everyone else sees the roll-up door and thinks “Garage!” The French doors say, “house” which has a higher value

Here’s a few renderings:

Here’s some great work from Minnesota-based Eastvold Custom Woodworks. Some of my readers will be familiar with their fantastic work on Jason Hammond’s project, From the Ground Up.

What I like about Matt Eastvold’s work is not only how good it looks, but also how much effort he puts into using sustainably sourced materials and “alternative” products like bamboo and wheatboard. Another great aspect of Matt’s work is his ability to select the right hardware for his designs. The handles in these photos are placed perfectly - they compliment the lines of the cabinets and don’t clutter up the scene. Kudos Matt!

Check out what can happen when you’re committed to good design on a realistic budget ($51 per square foot!):

As part of my never-ending quest to find affordable housing options, I stumbled across this interesting article in the New York Times. Here’s a brief excerpt:

Mr. Flueckiger chose to build with industrial materials in homage to the region’s history but also to prove that it was possible to create an affordable, durable house that was beautiful and interesting to live in. He began envisioning his design as an alternative to modernist prefabs, many of which sell for about $250 a square foot.

What I find most compelling about this case study is that it’s the first example of seemingly good design on a reasonable budget. While I’ve often admired the modern prefab movement, it’s refreshing to see what can happen when talented individuals apply building cost as part of the equation. The main problem with the modern prefab movement is that it’s still a largely bourgeoisie endeavor. It’s insulting to even think that $250 a square foot falls into the category of “affordable housing.” Hats off to Mr. Flueckiger!

Here’s a great guide to designing a rainscreen system. Kudos to the guys at Build Blog for assembling the info!

In previous posts I’ve hinted at my dismay with the appraisal process. Well, I thought I’d take a moment and spell out a few details, hopefully so others will go into the process with their eyes wide open.

First, I’ll preface this post with my belief that there are plenty of ethical, professionals in the field of appraising. Nevertheless, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are some serious flaws with the process, many of which are being highlighted by the mortgage meltdown.

Here’s the problem: appraisers are in the business of making an appraisal “work” for the bank or mortgage office who has hired them. While one would hope they’d maintain a degree of objectivity, let’s be clear: appraisers make their living, in large part, from the business that banks/brokers deliver to them. If deals fall through due to an appraisal, it’s highly likely the bank/broker will look for another appraiser. So, in a nutshell, the incentive is for the appraiser to value the property at the amount specified by the lender or broker.

Let’s get specific as to how I managed to lose $600. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re in a bit of a holding pattern right now - waiting on financing. I’ve been working with two different mortgage brokers. One broker is what I would call a traditional broker. He’s looking to finance our project much in the same way you would if you were creating an addition to your home.

The other broker is taking more of a commercial approach. He’s pitching the project to banks, with the idea that the ADU is actually more of an “investment property” capable of generating separate rental income.

Basically, I’m hedging my bets here. My hope is that one or both methods will work, and we’ll be able to obtain financing.

Commence finger crossing. Read the rest of this entry »

I was listening to a bit of a round table discussion on creating new “green” jobs as part of an overall economic revitalization. A great idea, no doubt. In fact, if the government were to really put its energy behind developing alternative energy sources, we could deliver a real one-two punch: freedom from foreign oil and high-paying eco-jobs (everything from blue-collar manufacturing to white collar research and engineering).

So what’s the problem? Well, first, let’s address my point about the government. While you hear a lot of “discussion” about alternatives, the truth is current policies are modest at best and do little more than shift dollars: from oil/coal to hydrogen/corn fuels. While it’s GREAT to think about moving away from fossil fuels, these “alternative” technologies carry enormous downsides like higher food costs and CO2 emissions (for a great discussion of this issue, see “Who Killed the Electric Car“).

But before I go too far down the “what’s wrong with the government” road, let’s get back to that round table. In the discussion, one audience member posed the question:

Let’s assume we do create all these great green jobs. What’s to ensure that folks across a wide economic and racial spectrum will have access to these jobs? In other words, will these new jobs help us all, or will they benefit a select few?

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve always been a fan of Marmoleum. Not only is it a “green” material, but it’s incredibly durable and forgiving. We’ve got two dogs, and with our wet Portland winters, it makes a great buffer between our living space and the outdoors. Here’s a couple of neat options I just found on the web…can’t recall which blog it was one, but you can find out more from the corporate website.