Making a great first impression
The entryway sets the tone for your house’s design, mood, and guest experience. This space should reflect your style and personality while creating a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you have a grand foyer or a small apartment nook, these key design elements will help make the most of your entryway. The Front Door The front door can often be overlooked, but it is the first point of contact for your guests. If you are a home-owner choose a bold paint color to create an eye-catching focal point in the exterior and interior. Current color trends: Lime Green, Charcoal Gray, Classic Red. Not a fan of bold colors? Unique door hardware is a great way to make a tangible first impression as guests enter your home. If you rent and aren’t allowed to alter your door, an entry mat with a bold pattern or texture will set your unit apart from all the rest. Clean & Clutter Free! Proper storage in your entry will help you make an organized first impression. A large entry is perfect for built-in storage: closets, cubbies, or even a separate mud-room to keep the dirt out of your home. Small spaces can achieve the same effect using a hall tree, wall-hooks, or a small console to drop your keys/mail as you come and go. Current trends: DIY pallet with hooks, refurbished and bold colored consoles. Décor Choose a focus piece in your entryway and keep the other elements simple and complimentary. Large spaces lend way to choosing a chandelier or pendant as the focal point for a classic design approach. Other options are a grand staircase, furniture, or area rug. Some creative ideas for smaller spaces are shelves with personal framed photos, a ladder to hang coats/purses/scarves on, or even a unique wall mirror (which will help your space seem larger). Current trends include: inspirational quotes (on canvas or wall decals), floor mirrors, and bold wall colors and patterns. Whether you’re designing on a budget or doing a complete overhaul, have fun with your entryway design and choose elements that will help reflect your personality and keep you organized! By: Lisa Kramer, H2D Architecture + Design
Hiring An Architect 101
When taking on a remodel, addition, or new construction project, many owners are unsure where to begin. Often times, the first step that the owner takes is to call a builder to get a quote for the work. The builder may then ask if the owner has a design for them to bid and build from. If the answer is 'no', this is where the architect comes into the picture. An architect can provide a wide range of services to their clients including feasibility studies, space planning and design, code research and compliance, energy efficient construction, material selection, permitting, bid negotiation, and construction observation among many other services. At first glance at the architect's fees, it may feel like you are paying a lot for just a few plans and visit to the building department. Instead, you are paying for years of training, expertise, and experience for an architect to help bring your vision into reality. The time spent working with the architect may also help you to avoid expensive mistakes during construction by working out the kinks through design, layout, and detailed construction documents on paper prior to starting construction. Over the course of the design process, the architect and owner will pore over the design in painstaking detail until the drawings contain enough information for the builder to take the plans and build the project. During the design process, the architect will help with suggesting materials and construction methods that may suit your budget or help with ideas for creating an energy efficient home which can save thousands over the years. The design costs are a relatively small percentage compared to the added value that good design can achieve. A beautiful, creatively designed space alone will maintain premium value for the long term and for potential future resale.