70 Degrees-It's Building Season

Building season has officially started with todays 70 degree day. Time to get your plans together, submit for your permits and build, build, build. This year is a little differnt from the last few years. Contractors are available, you don't have to get in long lines for a designer and a then the building and planning departments. You can take your time to refine your design. Actually give the interior some thought. Which brings up a point, what else did we not have time for in the last few years?

How about the low hanging fruit? Conservation construction, solar orientation, miroclimate analysis, landscaping and neighborhood design. How about incorperating new technologies? Tankless water heaters, Photovotaic (PV) shingles, metal roofs and PV drapes. For this and more, talk to you above average designer.

I am getting away from stock plans. Semi-custom plans or full custom plans are the best way to live better in you new home, addition or remodel.

Color-Secrets of Inspiration

I layed out the basic of color theory in previous posts. Here are the real secrets of color. Inspiration comes from all around us. A favorite painting, postcard, flower, concert poster, restuarant, team logo, brochure, clothes, fabric, a nature walk, historic place and magazine layout. A chef even spends time dishing up food that is pleasing to the eye. Eggplant, spicy mustard, roasted pepper, citris and latte are all part of a rich pallette to draw from. Themes are a way to bring harmony to a room or a whole house. Start collecting your favorite color schemes in a scrapbook or take pictures with a digital camera.

I have some more Heroes

Architecture for Humanity are my new heroes. Architects working across the world to promote social change. From disaster relief in New Orleans to humanitarian aid in South America, Asia and Africa. It is inspiring me to be a better person. Think of the change a clinic can make in an impoverished comunity or even the difference a house makes in New Orleans to a family. You don't need to be an architect to make a difference. Anyone can bring about social change with the gifting they have. Can you make a diffence in someones life. That is social change. It can be that easy.