Lessons learned from 20 years of owning, flipping, contracting & designing in New Jersey 1) Get a Zoning Analysis before Closing - I've...

I've been there. Before I was a licensed contractor and architect, I was a homeowner and did many DIY home improvement projects. I would...

With the thought of any type of home improvement in these times may seem unimaginable, the past several weeks have given homeowners a...

Let’s face it…you’ve likely got too much stuff in your home, and are likely not even aware of everything that you have. AUDIT: If a...

Having discussed the finished attic topics of zoning and planning, and stairs & windows from my earlier posts, we now move on to the...

Having discussed the topics of zoning and desired space planning for finished attics from my earlier post, we move on (up & out) to...

As home prices in NJ appreciate so does the value of every square foot of usable space within the home. Thus, the unused space of an...

Thoughts on light switch placement in homes and the impact SmartHome technology.

Hues of blue continue to be going strong in Maplewood, NJ kitchens from cabinets to paint colors. Here are 4 of our kitchens which span...

The design process for a new home, addition or remodel can be very long and complex. Essentially the process is a constant stream of...

On a recent trip to Barcelona I had the pleasure of touring architect Antonio's Gaudi's famous multi-family apartment/home, Casa Batllo...

Mudrooms continue to be one of the most desired elements when homeowners do a addition or remodel. The items needed for busy families add...

Your unfinished basement can provide large living space potential. Finishing it can improve property value and be a welcome alternative...

As a continuation from the earlier blog about 1st floor remodels of Maplewood Rooms (sunrooms or 3-season rooms), I wanted to describe...

Maplewood, New Jersey, has a room named after it: the Maplewood room. Known across the USA as simply "a sunroom", it is lovingly...

Prior to meeting with clients in person and on site, we always recommend an initial phone call to discuss location, project type, scope,...

For a residential architect, one of the most challenging discussions to have with clients is the overall project budget. Architects are...

Last Saturday, the world lost Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA. I offer him and his store a mixed eulogy. As a part-time resident in a...

​One step in the home sales process that is often overlooked is a zoning analysis. Having a zoning analysis completed prior to closing is...

A contract for a home addition or remodel has several components. For many homeowners, this may be the first and only large project they...