“Every mother needs a cockpit,” says architect Elizabeth Emerson of E/L Studio. In this case the cockpit includes her customer’s long and linear office, extensive craft and wrapping paper storage, and a laundry area, with closeness to the kids’ craft…
The days of A historic New Jersey barn were numbered. “This barn was in horrible condition. It was looking sad and forlorn,” says architect Arturo Palombo. “It had reached the point at which the homeowners needed to rip down it…
Carmel-by-the-Sea (often called just Carmel), a little town on California’s Monterey Peninsula, is known as much for its own golf because of its natural beauty. Chicago’s Dirk Denison Architects tapped to this beauty in a house the company designed on…
We’ve all been there. It’s so easy to get carried away by the promise of a clean slate and jump into the new year with a running start … just to burn out by February. Whether you are hoping to…
Formerly I’ve looked at louvers and wood slats as devices for controlling sun and adding texture to an exterior. Screens can also be a strong formal gesture, giving a home an aspect of beauty while also filtering sun. The three…
Even though California wildflowers are alarmingly threatened in their natural habitats, a number of them function beautifully — if quirkily — in house gardens. In fact, the wildflower that’s easiest to grow can also be the best understood and the…
Fall is an excellent time to be in the garden. Soon enough there will be a killing frost; after that happens, it is time to re examine your garden into bed for the winter. Our first frost date is inconsistent…
When designing a bathtub for someone in his or her golden years, remember this person may have poor vision, mobility or balance. A caregiver or partner might require room to aid with the bathing process, thus a shower space ought…
One of the perennials to get in your garden is milkweed. I know that when most men and women hear the name, they cringe, grimace or turn up their nose, stating, “But isn’t that a weed?” No, not actually. And…
If you like the design of your current kitchen and your cabinets are in great shape, painting them may be a smart thing to do. Another budget-friendly route would be to buy and install new cabinet boxes (or “carcasses,” as…