Inspiration
When planning a project, we seek ideas and inspiration from many sources. In addition, we need good practical information about the products and techniques we end up choosing to include in each project. Where do we look and what can we learn?
To begin, the many "shelter" magazines, both for the public and the trade, provide a steady feast of images and ideas. Use these to get a feel for the look you're attracted to, see new products, and get a feel for current design trends. A trip to a bookstore or library can provide hours of browsing on both general and specialized topics, some you may even choose to own(and many are in our library). The internet offers hundreds of useful (and not so useful!) sites. The hardest part may be making sense of all you may discover and learn there. This is where our experience helps put that knowledge in perspective.
We often begin by looking together at images and products that you're attracted to from these sources to guide the look and feel of your project. Here are a few places to start.
Magazines
There are shelter magazines built around just about every design style, reader interest, and budget range. Some feature a steady stream of pictures of enticing projects featuring the latest products and design features. Others balance images with more pragmatic how-to information. Use magazines to discover project features you'd like to include in your project. Mark images with even a single feature that you like. We'll use these images to understand your taste and expectations as we seek to include these features in your project
Inspired House strikes a perfect balance between project images in a range of styles and budgets and the practical information that led to their creation.
Fine Homebuilding looks at the craft of building with features on both projects, techniques, tools and materials. The technical focus is oriented to the trade and homeowner with a deeper interest in building and residential architecture.
Dwell represents a younger attitude toward living and creating spaces. Its a great place to get a fresh feel for what's being done today, along with the people and ideas that are influencing these trends.
American Bungalow is about a style that is warm and inviting and for many, evokes the feeling we want from a home. While the style might not suit every house, there's a lot to learn from this classic American approach to home.
Metropolitan Home is one of many that are dedicated to a style. Others include Period Home, Traditional Home, Southern Home, Home. What we design finds its expression in the elements that define each of these styles.
Metropolis is for those with a taste for contemporary style with an urban influence, Its a great place to get a feel for the latest trends and the styles, applications, and products that are used to achieve them.
Natural Home embodies an approach to living in and creating spaces that honor the environment and favor simple living. Others include Real Simple and EcoLogical Home.
Books
A trip to any bookstore with a large Architecture or Home Design section offers the opportunity to browse your way toward an understanding of what appeals to you, and perhaps why. There are books on every style, project type, technique, and design philosophy. The volume can be overwhelming, and may likely be as confusing as it is informative. We will be your guide in sorting out all you've seen, and perhaps brought home. We'll work with you to make sense and order of the many directions these books offer.
Inside the Not So Big House is one in the series of popular books by Sarah Susanka and features a Wolfworks project celebrating attention to detail and craft.
The New Kitchen Idea Book is one of many great books from Taunton Press offering a variety of design ideas and reliable information on particular rooms and house styles
The Barefoot Home celebrates a favored style of living. Author Marc Vassalo does a great job revealing that we are often happiest and most at ease in relaxed living spaces.
Websites
The web is an aggravating, but ultimately incredible information resource. Less satisfying as a source for images, it excels at locating specific resources and gathering information. As with many web searches, the trick is often to filter out all the excess to find truly worthwhile information. We have had both good and bad experiences with information and products located on the web. We value whats available but are cautious about relying on unknown vendors, preferring reliable local resources.
Jamie's Podcast about the value of a thoughtful Design Process, with useful advice about home design and remodeling, as well as topical interviews and design features. Give it a listen!
An extensive selection of home decorating products including lighting and plumbing fixtures. A good place to get an overview of products
Featuring the Not So Big House concept and associated resources.
Taunton Press publishes Fine Homebuilding magazine and the Not So Big House series among many other excellent books. The site provides many useful resources and links.
A well organized resource for green building information with a regional focus; with practical tips, informative checklists, and links to information and products
Rather than use the dumpster we encourage you to give away things you no longer need. Freecycle connects you with people who will take away the things you would otherwise throw away. Waste = Food.