I am back from a recent trip to Europe where one of the purposes of the trip was to visit the BAU International Trade Fair. Known simply as the BAU, the annual gathering is the largest trade show in Europe that focuses on architecture, construction, materials, and building systems. I have attended a similar US-based show in the past, but...
In our city of Asheville, NC, we are fortunate to have many historic properties intact, contributing to the uniqueness of our town and culture. Making the decision to purchase and renovate rather than build new can be difficult, with many factors to consider, such as location, cost, and schedule. For those who simply love older homes, rehabilitating the structure...
Stainless steel appliances took the appliance world by storm back in the 1990’s and have dominated the market since. However, there are new finishes on the horizon that can be expected to appear in homes. Will these new finishes be the end of the stainless steel? After finding many consumers and designers sought alternatives to stainless steel, product manufacturers are working...
Homeowners often ask whether they should build a new home or renovate their existing home when their living circumstances change. From growing families to health issues to aging in place, there are many situations that can affect the how a homeowner needs to utilize their home. By identifying your current needs and comparing them with how your needs might evolve...
Stepping away from the cookie cutter lifestyle and designing your home's interiors into a place that reflects your personality, inspiration and way of living is becoming more and more the norm. Your home is your sanctuary; Why would you want your walls and rooms to resemble or mirror that of a home furnishings catalog or someone else's sanctuary? While magazines...
Going the extra mile to promote a commitment to the environment. Asheville and Western North Carolina residents take steps each day to push our progress towards becoming a greener community. Through the use of green architecture in private residences, businesses and community buildings, our area is experiencing substantial growth in the number of green projects that are coming to fruition each...
Our home is our retreat, a place to escape work, catch up at the dinner table with family, and to kick back our feet and relax. With green design all the rage, homeowners have reverted their attention from the “McMansion” mindset to achieving more efficient, “Green” homes, and they are turning to architects for guidance in the smart design of...
Green . . . Sustainable . . . Net Zero Home . . . Low Impact Building . . . Energy Star . . . NC Healthy Built Home . . . LEED We seem to be inundated with so much “green” lingo these days, it becomes difficult to know what is legitimate and what isn’t. At a recent “Designing for...
If you’ve ever driven the Blue Ridge Parkway and dreamt of living in the Smoky Mountains or the Southern Appalachians, we’ve compiled a series of complimentary guides rich with information about designing a mountain home. Informed by our decades of experience as mountain home architects, we share expert advice about topics like building on steep slopes, terrain-specific building costs, and materials suited for withstanding the mountain weather. Our passion for creating personalized and heartfelt homes is apparent in all of our work and it is our pleasure to share our expertise with you in these free and informative guides.
