FIVE home design tips for the new year!

Ready for a Happy New Year? 2012 has been an INCREDIBLE  year. I have had the pleasure of meeting with extraordinary clients who are kind yet very determined and passionate about the space they will call home. Being invited into someone’s house to meet with them and listen about their home future plans is always a treat! I take it seriously. While it can be an incredible amount of fun to transform a home or build a dream home it is not for the faint of heart. Anything worth doing well takes effort and perseverance. I want to say thank you to all my clients this year for letting me be part of your life while we design your home!

In an effort to share the kindness that has come my way this year I want to share a few helpful hints for anyone considering a home design project!

After picture of a farmhouse with new front porch and a southern side screen porch.

Before picture of the SAME farmhouse. Owner wanted home to have more character and a welcoming front porch with enough space for a swing.

Ten FIVE home design tips to keep in mind during design.

1. DREAM. Think about how you live right now and how you  imagine your future. Houzz.com and Pinterest were made for dreamers!
2. TIME. Take the time to do it right. Everyone is anxious to get started but planning and making sure everything is decided before you start can save you time. Really? YEP!  Spending time to plan can save you time.
3. BE HONEST. This goes to my jetted tub clients who have NEVER used their tubs in ten years. I have decided there are either those who like a soaking tub and will use a tub or those who have never used one in 5 years and might never use one again in the next 5 years. So with that in mind don’t stray too far from your everyday life when designing which brings us to…
4. WONDERFUL A new home or extensive renovation can be wonderful and inspiring  but at the end of the day food needs prepared, clothes need washed and phones charged. Don’t forget the small details and how everyday activities should have the space to do them well and the way you like to do them! Think about how your FAMILY lives and how your home can help you live better.
5.  TEN PRIORITIZE  Item Five is not item TEN. Yes I can have a list of hundred items here but a very wise editor at the Kansas City Star once told me pick 5 topics and do them well. Same idea for home ideas you can have hundreds of ideas in a home but some are more important than others. Make a list and you will be surprised of how many items/ideas you can reach but be prepared to be flexible…view or more storage in a kitchen translates to windows versus cabinets. It is your home so YOU can decide. Be strong and consider your options. your friends will want to help, your family will want to suggest ideas and your window and cabinet-maker will also be very happy to share an opinion. Many opinions can confuse and cause doubt so keep YOUR big ideas handy and remember this time, this house is all about YOU :)

Screened Porch!

An article from the the Kansas City Star I wrote about Screened Porches!

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/11/3859494/drawing-board-screen-porches-are.html

Fall is a great season for a screened porch. Spring is equally a wonderful season for a porch and even summer can be an enjoyable season! Currently 90% of my home design projects include a screen porch for clients. Why are screened porches so appealing? A screened porch can provide a bug free, fresh air yet dry space to enjoy anything from dinner with friends to a quiet place for coffee while reading the paper. After a busy day working inside, even a few moments spent on a porch can provide a welcome chance to reconnect with nature.

A new screen was added to an existing home. While the home had an existing screen porch it faced north towards the driveway rather than south towards a shared garden.

To make a screen porch feel part of home I like to use sliding doors. A four panel sliding door unit with two doors that slide and two that stay fixed creates a doorway of five to six feet wide that makes the porch feel connected to the adjacent room. It is perfect for entertaining when an extra table space might be needed but everyone can still overhear what is happening inside. This additional space easily can make a cozy room feel just right when filled with guests. Sliding doors don’t take door swing space in either the porch or room which helps furniture layouts on comfy porches. Being able to open a sliding door just a smidgen to allow fresh air in is also a bonus as it easier than opening a swing door and using a door stop which is pretty much required here in the windy Midwest. Doors between the house and porch also don’t need screen doors since the porch provides the screening proving easy clear access.

Using a double sliding door unit provides a wide doorway from home to porch.

Location, location, location, a screen porch will block sunlight into the adjacent rooms. Ideally the room with doors to the porch has windows on adjacent walls to allow natural light. Although a wraparound porch may seem intriguing it can create dark interior rooms by limiting sunlight. Southeast is the preferred location to allow light throughout the day but not the harsh west light. The porch roof overhang needs to be studied to see what works well to block summer sun but allow late fall, early spring light.

Having always lived in a four season climate I appreciate fall yet realize that winter is around the corner. As much work as it is to winterize a porch by hauling cushions and even furniture inside, it is equally exciting to bring it back when the warm spring weather returns. Keep in mind while shopping what furniture, fabrics and even rugs will need protected and where they will be stored if necessary during those winter days.

Sometimes a client is tempted to want the ability to use a screen porch year round by installing windows. Honestly it isn’t the same as it becomes a sunroom or another room with many windows and the outdoor feel can be greatly diminished. Feeling a breeze roll though on a screened porch on a quiet fall evening is definitely a treat, and for those warm, still days a ceiling fan built for exterior (wet and wind) use is a welcome addition!  Adding a screen porch can make a house feel spacious with it’s unique features of sunlight, fresh air and nature sounds creating a completely different feeling space altogether. A screen porch provides the perfect place to be thankful for our Kansas City fall days.

The goal of any sensitive addition is to make the new feel as if it was already there! New screened porch added to existing brick Colonial home! The second floor is a new master suite.

Interior Doors!

here is the link and the entire article I wrote for the Kansas City Star on interior doors!

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/05/3533670/drawing-board-interior-doors-shouldnt.html

 

Interior Glass Pocket doors photo by Jim Barcus Kansas City Star

 

DRAWING BOARD

Drawing Board | Interior doors shouldn’t be an afterthought

Mirrors, glass and sturdy construction are worth the extra expense.

By REBECCA RIDEN

Special to The Star

By REBECCA RIDEN     

Updated: 2012-04-08T03:11:24Z

About this feature
Kansas City contains such vibrant public and private buildings that House + Home wants to share residential design through an architectural perspective. Local architects will write about ideas, building materials and projects. Drawing Board runs the second Sunday of each month.

        The doors inside your home are a key part of a new home design or renovation. And even on their own, they’re a worthwhile upgrade.

Consider how many times a day an interior door is used. Careful attention is needed when deciding on a style or size.

Style

Often clients are surprised to learn that they have the option to select an interior door style for their home. If a door is not selected by the homeowner, the standard default is a hollow six-panel Colonial molded door. A solid interior door with frame and panels is more expensive than a hollow one, but just one test swing at a showroom, and clients are sold on the feel of a sturdy and beautiful door — they bring back memories of an older home.

Sometimes doors are the first items to be replaced on a home renovation dream list when clients say their existing ones feel flimsy.

Mirrored single panel door. Photo by Jim Barcus Kansas City Star

Details

Even within a door style there are many options. Craftsman-style doors with simple square detailing can have several panels within their frame or just one. What makes sense with your home? Do you want to dress it up with applied trim, accent arches with an arched top panel or quietly add detail with an elegant yet, simple panel design?

Once a door style is selected, other features should be considered. The panels can be glass, providing a great solution where you need acoustical privacy but still want to see into a room and feel connected to nearby activities. The glass doors can help create a quiet zone within the house for reading, homework or even to make a phone call while the adjacent room has a television or music playing.

Configuration

Interior doors can be pocket doors, which slide completely into a wall and out of the way. Pocket doors are a good option for a small room, hallway or where wall space is a premium.

Doors can save wall space, too, if a full-length mirror is desired in a bedroom, bathroom or closet. You can add a mirror to a single panel door easily for a custom traditional look. Many door manufacturers will allow the option of a mirror on one side.

Even the numbers of doors in an opening should be thought through. A pair of smaller doors or a bifold door rather than one large door can save space, frame the doorway and add interest. The size of the door is a key thing to consider. Examine the doors you have now to confirm what size works for you. Often, larger bathroom and bedroom doors are selected to accommodate future potential needs.

Spend time selecting home elements such as doors because then you’ll enjoy them for years to come.

 

To reach architect Rebecca Riden, go to RidenArch.com.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/05/3533670/drawing-board-interior-doors-shouldnt.html#storylink=cpy

 

London Bridge isn’t the only thing falling down!

A special guest blog post from Don Carter PE a structural engineer I have enjoyed working with over the years. Not only do I respect him and value his wisdom he is a wonderful family man also! I will never forget one morning many years ago when I stopped by to drop off project drawings and he met me at my mom van to save me from unbuckling my new-born son’s car seat and jostling him awake. My first words were to explain a point on the project he interrupted… ”the project can wait let me see your baby”.  Thank you Don for always keep it straight family is first. 

This post reminds us in addition to creating a beautiful space that meets needs,  above all it has to be safe for your family. Hire a professional engineer. Don Carter PE can be reached at Foundation Engineering Specialists LLC WWW.fdnengineering.com (913)685-1434

Deck failure. Use a professional structural engineer to keep your family safe. Photo courtsey of Simpson Strong Tie.

A colleague recently shared that when his lake home’s deck began to show signs of rot on the walking surface he took up the damaged boards, only to discover that the main structure underneath was also rotting — but to a much greater degree.  Out of sight out of mind.   Our company looks at maybe half a dozen balconies, porches or decks each year that are in some stage of noteworthy failure, and it’s a growing part of our business.  With the average life expectancy of a wood deck being 10 to 15 years nationally, maybe a little more in Kansas, this problem will increase as Johnson County subdivisions age.  Decks cause more injuries and loss of life than any other part of the home structure.   Since 1999 there have been 850 reported injuries and 20 deaths as a result of deck failures¹.  We see 3 reasons for this:

1. Under Design.  Many decks and porches are added by homeowners as a weekend project. Without a credible plan, these decks are often built based on what looks nice, not what meets the requirements of elementary engineering. Local cities have rigid rules to control deck construction, but their inspectors can’t be everywhere so accessory structures are often built without plan review, permitting or final certification. 
2.  Materials Breakdown.  These are outdoor structures subject to all the ravages of Midwestern weather. Without periodic maintenance, Mother Nature easily has her way with exposed wood.  Years ago redwood was the deck builder’s material of choice because it looked nice and seemingly lasted forever.  But when cost and availability changed, redwood gave way to cedar which in turn gave way to treated fir.  Early wood treating chemicals protected wood for a long time but they contained arsenic and are now banned.  The jury is still out on how long newer chemical treatments will last, but no material can sit outside and retain its original properties forever.
3. Unplanned Loads.  Decks and balconies are code specified for people and light accessory loading, same as inside living space. It’s not uncommon though to see people adding a hot tub at more than triple the per square foot loading.  What started out as a capable structure gets increased loading with no thought given to reassessing the frame or foundation.  I recently examined a failed second story balcony, which was debris on the lawn by the time I saw it.  Eyewitnesses reported that the balcony had been loaded with people standing shoulder to shoulder and still others sitting on the hand rails.  After a lot of lawyering, the building owner was held liable because he hadn’t posted a load limit.  I doubt the average homeowner has any earthly idea what his deck’s occupancy limit should be.

For your liability protection and the safety of family, guests and self, make time to look at your deck with a critical eye.

1.Photo and select information for this article were obtained from Simpson Strong Tie

Maho Bay Camps St.John USVI

It has been a year since I spent spring break on the island of St John in the US VI. Do I think about it almost everyday? YES! It was a wonderful and inspiring trip.

How can a spring break vacation possibly have anything to do with my home blog you might wonder? Everything and everything!

 

Maho Bay Beach St John USVI

My husband and I had always dreamed of taking our kids to St John to snorkel the reefs. We are more of a beach family than a snow family. Our family vacations are few and far between but always involve being outside and off the grid. No phones, no computers no I-anything! Our children like our adventures and the family time.

St John is a magical island with half its land in the US National Park System. This assures the beaches are protected with little development. Radios aren’t even allowed!  The journey to St John takes some effort and our trip  from Kansas involved cars, planes, train (Atlanta Airport concourse change), taxi, and a ferry ride! We started at4am and arrived a little  after 3pm in St. John. We were tired, slightly cranky, excited and even overwhelmed by the rapid change of climate and pace. A sign all was well and an adventure was about to begin? (Besides driving on the wrong side the road?) A sea turtle emerged to swim beside the ferry between St Thoma sandSt John. Just seeing a big turtle in the stunning turquoise water encourages us to take care of our small part of the world everyday!

Maho Bay Camps St John US VI

Maho Beach Camps is an amazing place to stay. Imagine a screen porch with a cot and the sound of the ocean. Simple but really what exactly do you need on a vacation? I need a change of scenery and a chance to reenergize. Great food including the golden pancakes and self serve hot coffee available at sunrise is a treat. I like to experience new places and learn from them. I also like having space to breathe and see nature quietly at my own speed. It grounds me to wake when the sun blazes through a tent window and fall asleep to the sound of the nearby beach after an exhausting yet exhilarating day hiking or snorkeling or even just lazily watching the waves. The first night the rustling below our tent did cause a slight worry. Was it a giant wild iguana or an animal with large teeth no just a tiny hermit crab! Marcel the Shell was on vacation too!

Maho Bay Camps St John USVI

 

The Camp was developed in 1960’s on leased land with the stipulation that the land could not be altered. The lease is up and the camp is on borrowed time. It had been a dream of mine to go ever since a family from church took their daughters. They wanted their family to experience the coral reefs. The reefs are fragile and take many years to rebuild after a storm and easily damaged by human touch. One bad swipe of a snorkel fin can cause incredible harm.

Sunset Maho Bay St John USVI

The tents are built individually or in pairs on deck platforms high above the natural terrain to not impede water, nature and wildlife. Gently placed with care the tents provide stunning views and privacy as the land steeply slopes to the beach. Some tent walls are screened while others have an opaque canvas. The sightlines limiting seeing into tents are protected by the height between the boardwalk and a set of stairs to each tent. It still marvels me the overall layout of the camp. Simple yet effective! The boardwalks connecting the tents also protect the fragile natural floor. The many stairs are daunting at first. Especially when realizing each tent doesn’t have running water. Infact the only potable water is by the check in desk.  All water on St John is trucked in. Very little fresh water is available on volcanic islands as St John and St Thomas are. Seeing and hearing the water trucks everyday throughout the islands made me think twice about all the water I use year round. The showers are located in a shared bath house. The showers involve a pull string to ensure not a drop is wasted. The showers are also cold! After a day at the beach all is well and an afternoon shower is slightly warmer!

Maho Bay Camps Boardwalk St John USVI

There are nightly activities and a wonderful sharing library to exchange books. This area is also a brilliant idea to leave what you don’t need to travel home with.  We bought beach toys and left them for another family to enjoy. Sand castles are a big deal in out family!

Maho Bay Camps Sharing Shelves St John USVI

We rented a Jeep from Thomas (who still is a contact on my phone never know when we might return and need another ride!) and visited a different beach each day. Each beach had its own unique ecosystem and different species inhabiting the reefs. Wild goats kept us company at Lemon Cay! We were often the first to arrive on a beach as the early sun after an early turn in had everyone up and ready to start another day’s adventure. The hot pancakes and fresh fruit breakfast also provided encouragement!! One day we walked the coral reef trail a guided tour by a US Park Ranger downhill through the trees and along the stone walls of an old Sugar Cane Plantation. The end of tour left us on beach waiting for a boat ride back toCruzBay! It was a shady day enjoying the inland part of the island.

Reef Bay Sugar Mill St John USVI

As an architect what did I learn?

1. It is possible to build very gently to protect the terrain.

2. Raised boardwalks are an ideal way to limit impact on the existing grade and keep from “Cow paths” shortcuts being created. It is too far “down” to veer off path!

3. The parking lot can be far away and kept screened with a short-term drop off provided!

4. Tents/rooms can be far away as long a cart is provided for initial luggage gear move in.

5. Access to potable water and limited use of fresh water by pull strings is tolerated once the beauty of the area and effort it takes to get water is understood

6. A space to share books and leave groceries is a great idea at any vacation spot! A board with an area to note what you saw each day is nice to see what everyone else is doing too!

7. A store that is within walking distance and safely within the “no cars allowed area” is a treat for kids. Everyone on vacation needs space to safely explore and enjoy Root Beer that served in cool bottles!

8. Having only limited lighting ensures privacy and a big starry sky at a “campground!” Keep that flashlight handy!

9. A casual dining system of ordering at the counter and waiting to be called for terrific food actually encourages conservation with travelers from all over while waiting. This casual interaction happens readily table to table! Friendly staff helps too!!

10. Having a beachside rental for chairs, paddleboards and snorkel gear made it easy to enjoy the beach right away!

The list goes on and on…Spring 2013 see you there!

Trunk Bay St John USVI

 

Cozy Home

“I want my home to be cozy, a warm inviting family house.”  I often hear that when meeting clients for the first time. When you hear the word “cozy” what image pops into your mind? I think about homes I have designed on paper and then visited built and moved in to see them full of life with children  running around and laughing. I also think about a house I have never visited but have looked at enough it seems as if I have.

Carl Larsson Dining Room from the Carl Larsson website

One day I will go but until then here are pictures and paintings of Carl Larsson’s work and his home that inspired him. A renowned Swedish nineteenth century painter. His wife was also a designer and designed many of the fabrics from curtains to table linens. I enjoy this house so much for 3 reasons:

1. It is beautiful and comfortable in both in the pictures and the paintings,
2. The watercolor paintings are stunning and tell a story of life at that time of  a happy family in a happy home. I am drawn to paintings of everyday life.  
3. I like the fact that this house was far from the normal of the day as they surrounded themselves with color, textiles, and furniture that made them comfortable. This house is timeless as comfortable now as it was over 100 years ago.

CARL LARSSON, painting "Till en liten vira" (Getting ready for a little game), 1901. National Museum, Stockholm

Here is a link to the official website! Enjoy! http://www.clg.se/encarl.aspx

Here is a quote from the website:

The stark colours of the dining room may not seem all that remarkable to us now, but writers and critics of the time were merciless when it came to the ”raw” colours and the simple chairs that the Larssons had ordered from carpenter Arnbom in Sundborn. A conventional dining room at the end of the 19th century ought to have dark furniture and make a dignified impression.

Carl Larsson Dining Room

 

Renovation Inspiration as seen in KC Star!

Here is a link to an article I wrote that is in today’s Kansas City Star:  Drawing Board | Thoughtful additions to an existing home

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/07/3350614/drawing-board-thoughtful-additions.html

Living Room Featured in Kansas City Star's House and Home

Homeowner’s Chart of Highs and Lows!

 I love this chart by David Lupberger. There are many highs and unfortunately some lows when building a custom or how I like to think of it being a handmade home. This is a very realistic chart every homeowner should keep handy to help understand why some site visits are fun and exciting and others not so much.

Homeowner’s Emotional Roller Coaster by David Lupberger

The design stage is always fun because anything is possible and seeing the possibilities hopefully will take your breath away. When the construction drawings are done,  you want to get started. YESTERDAY! You are excited to begin but it takes time to price an accurate and complete estimate so the bidding and contract stage can seem to drag. You want to start! Today.

 The first time you actually walk through your freshly framed home is a moment you won’t forget. You have imagined this space for months maybe years and now you are standing there. It isn’t done or nearly complete just framed and but you can SEE it for the first time. Framing can be fast. A large skilled crew can work magically fast. Too fast sometimes! It makes other stages painfully slow and while I hesitate to say unexciting to not offend my favorite electricians or HVAC team it just isn’t as readily apparent what has happened in a day”s time. Yes you will appreciate your cozy comfortable well lit home for years to come.

 Add in a schedule delay due to weather or sequencing or life and the finishes can be a slow process. You have seen it and now you want to live it!  Did I mention framing is fast? Too fast! Anything handmade takes time! Your custom dream home will be done but allow it time and watch the chart. Also feel free to speak up! Asking questions will help you understand where on the chart you are. Soon you will be living in your handmade home!

 

Next Time I Want An Architect: A Homeowner’s View

Visiting a home for the first time to learn about what changes an owner is thinking about is always exciting. Is it a new addition? A renovation or reconfiguration? I enjoy learning about the proposed changes and ask many questions. Sometimes spaces need changed because they are too small or too dark or just don’t work. Maybe the space they need doesn’t exist yet.  Or the space is there but doesn’t fit how they live, too formal and unused while the causal space they need and use everyday is too small. Perhaps the home was built without thinking about a great view.

Farm House Renovation

 I recently met with a prospective client who wanted to buy and modify a home to take advantage of a stunning lake view and provide more room for family and entertaining. A master bath needed enlarged also. During the course of tour and asking questions, I discovered that they had renovated the home they currently live in. This time they wanted to use an architect. I asked why and they kindly sent me an email explaining it better than I can on why hire an architect.

 Although we love our home and our addition, we

really wish we had used an architect to be the project coordinator rather

than a builder/contractor.  We had a few issues that probably would not

have appeared had we used an architect.  There

 was really no one to hold the builder accountable except for us and by the

 end of the project we were weary.  There were also a few things written

 into the bid/contract that were not completed the way he promised. 

At the end of the day our goal was to get more space and we did.  We

doubled our living space which made a huge difference for our

family….teenagers + additional space = quality of life!  But we have

learned some lessons.  Projects are difficult.  It is super hard to work

full time and coordinate a remodeling project.  In the future, we really

want the finished product to look like what we were promised on the front

end. He also used the lowest grade of doors and hardware – this

is not something that we specified in the contract.  We just did not know

to ask for those types of things We like nice touches such as good hardware and solid doors and would

maybe compromise in other areas to have these types of things.  We also

like the idea of something being customized especially for us and our

lifestyle.  Space is still important but the quality of the space is more

important to us at this stage in our lives.

Looking for the Cane in the Corner

Miracle on 34^th Street is one of my favorite holiday movies. Christmas, Santa, NYC, great coats and a dream about a house! Does it get any better? Add in an apartment that has a view of the Macy’s Day Parade. Wow! I grew up in the suburbs so I always dreamed the opposite, an apartment in a high-rise with a view, a doorman, a butler and maybe a chance to play in THE park. The butler was actually from watching Family Affair!

 I am not sure how many times I have seen this movie but it is always still exciting to see her run in the house and find the cane. It is a sign that her dream came true. It is her house. It was meant to be.

Sign of a "Dream House"

 Wouldn’t it be great if all houses had a sign that this was the perfect choice? Often they do, with a great location, perfect floor plan a kitchen that works well, a spacious yard and a price that fits. Sometimes that sign can be elusive. There are more questions than answers: it might work if we add a family room? It could work if the kitchen was redone? Would it be perfect with a master suite? If it only had a bigger garage with mudroom!

 I am often called by prospective clients who are deciding whether to buy a home that requires a renovation either small or whole home to make it work. Sometimes it is an easy answer, “Yes you have enough space to reconfigure the kitchen and it will work. Let’s design it!” Other times it is complicated and needs thoughtful design drawings to see if makes sense. If they already own the house, love the neighborhood, and the addition will make their home function better, the fee to develop a design makes sense too. You never know until you see the possibilities.

Sometimes the answer to buy or not hinges on what can be added or changed. I always recommend that clients step back and dream about what their perfect home would be and make a list. How far is the list from what is there? Our neighborhood is filled with well-built homes over 50 years old from another era long before jetted tubs, SUV’s and backpacks. Compared to new houses with tall ceilings, open plans and three car garages it can be tricky to transform these existing homes to compete with a new home. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense.

 When dreaming about the home if the “perfect list” is very extensive it may not make sense. The second step would be where is the perfect house and is that where you want to live? Prioritize what are the most important spaces or features you need. Also create a list of why you are considering the home to buy, what features drew you to it? Comparing the lists side by side might give you the answers you need. With lists in hand, that cane just might appear in a corner to let you know this home is for you!