Our Blog
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We’ve Got You Covered
Pergolas, arbors, and patio covers remain popular landscape features and can set the footprint for additional living space. They block the sun while still allowing air circulation, provide architectural interest, and can add value to your home. Because the terms are often used interchangeable, here are the definitions for each type of structure and some
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Hide and Seek
When you think of “good design”, it is common to think of what you see when you look at a room or a product. For example, the color, style, size/proportion, and the overall feel it imparts. However, good design is also what you cannot see. Good design has a purpose even though it may not be
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Good Vibes for the New Year
The new year is symbolic of new beginning and fresh resolutions. Preparing your home for the New Year is the perfect time to decide what you want to keep and what to leave behind to create space in your life and home for new opportunities. Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) — which literally translates to “wind
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Raise the Bar on Home Entertaining
If you entertain frequently, consider having a designated space for a bar in your home. It makes hosting company convenient as it keeps the guests refreshed and it might even help by keeping them from getting in the way of the cook. If you decide to install a bar in your home, you have the
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Make a Grand Entrance
When designing the perfect house, there is one area that is often overlooked –the entry/foyer of a home. The entry experience is important for a few reasons: It is a transition from the public domain of the street to your private domain of your home. It’s the “middle place” to let one adjust and ease
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Four Ways to Transform an Old Fireplace
By Liza Riguerra When it comes to old or unused fireplaces, there are a variety of options that will transform the space from an eyesore to a treasured focal point. In this traditional Noe Valley home in San Francisco, we transformed the living room by dressing the inside of the fireplace with birch logs and
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Remodeling Horror Stories
The fodder of cocktail party conversations, everyone has had, or knows someone who has had, a horrible experience with a contractor and is happy to share it. What homeowners often don’t realize is that the traditional Design – Bid – Build process is inherently flawed and that they may have inadvertently contributed to creating their
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Wallpaper Wonders
Mention the word wallpaper, and homeowners conjure up the vision of their grandmother’s flocked velvet prints and old-fashioned busy designs and remember the miserable task of having to scrape it off years later. However, today’s wallpaper is back and better than ever and new technologies are making them easier apply and adhere better. If you’re
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Pantries
Want to take your kitchen from great to spectacular? Consider adding a walk-in pantry. While adding a pantry may feel as if you are taking up valuable cabinet space, if it is carefully tailored to your household’s storage needs, it can add functionality and increase organization. Corner pantries are perfect for small kitchens with unused
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Command Center – Offices in the Kitchen
Designer: John & Lynn Hammerschmidt/Photo by Charlie Gibson Even if you don’t have room for an office, a small dedicated space in your kitchen can serve as your family’s “Command Center.” It can serve as a writing desk, high-tech hub, homework zone and first aid station. It creates the ultimate multi-tasking space! Pay bills, sort
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Design Smarts from the Kitchen and Bath Industry
Talk about an explosion for the senses… With over 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space to cover and over 500 vendor displays, Suzette attended the Kitchen and Bath Industry show to compare new products, get answers straight from the manufacturers, and hear about advances in technology and sustainability in the kitchen and bath industry.
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Aging in Place Home Improvements
The term “Aging in place” refers to the preference of most adults that they remain in their home of choice as long as possible. In fact, 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 report that they would prefer to stay in their current residence as they age. Many considerations regarding aging in place,