We’ll be starting construction soon on a home in Auburn on the Green River. This is a project that has taken several years to permit, but with such a beautiful site, I have a feeling the end results will be worth it. We’re designing two new replacement homes north of Green Lake as well as a 20′ wide modern single family home on Queen Anne (see image below).

As we progress in the design and construction of these projects we’ll be sharing more info. I hope everyone has a wonderful 2012!

While many of our projects are larger jobs like new single family homes, or second story additions, once in awhile we’ll take on smaller jobs like these two bathroom remodels.  We started the design process by identifying problems that needed to be solved and understanding our client’s goals. Both of these clients needed more storage space but also wanted to increase the functionality of the space while creating a modern and warm atmosphere.

STORAGE ISSUES
To gain more storage space we designed the vanity in one of these bathrooms to continue into a blind corner so larger items (like that 24 pack of toilet paper from Costco) can fit under the sink. In the other bathroom, additional storage space for smaller items was needed close at hand. We took advantage of the large wall space above the vanity and broke that down into separate wall mounted medicine cabinets flanking two mirrors. In the vanity below, drawer space was maximized by making the cabinet under the sink as narrow as possible.

LUXURIOUS MATERIALS
Often the first thing that is noticed when entering a bathroom is the tile work. In both bathrooms we choose to accent one shower wall with a particularly special tile. Other tiles were chosen for the vanity back splash, the bathroom floor, the shower floor, and the shower and/or tub surround. TIP! When choosing bathroom tile, there is a fine line between creating a sophisticated appearance and creating something that looks more like a tile showroom. If too many different tiles are chosen that do not coordinate with each other it can quickly start to look like a tile showroom. Try to limit the number of different tiles to about five in a bathroom, and some of these should be similar to each other (like the shower floor could be a smaller version of another adjacent tile).

To see more images and read more about these projects and twenty four other projects visit our project gallery.

Let’s first begin with how long the design process may take. If the project is smaller like a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel, and either has no structural changes or minor structural changes, then the design time would likely be about 2-6 weeks.  A larger project like a room addition that involves an architect and a structural engineer will likely take 6-8 weeks to design. An even larger project like a whole house remodel or second story addition may take 3-4 months to design. Most of my clients who design a new house from scratch take over 6 months to go through the process.

Building department review times will vary depending on the jurisdiction. Many small projects can get over-the-counter permits, or permits that are issued within one or two weeks. Larger projects should allow 8-12 weeks for review and one round of revisions with the City or County.

If your goal is to start a project in 2011, be sure to leave enough time for design and permitting. If you intend to start a construction project this Spring or Summer you should start the design process now. This is especially important for weather sensitive projects like second story additions, or other projects where good portions of the home are open to the weather.   If you would like to discuss your project please give us a call at (206) 204-0490 or use the contact form on our website.

I feel pretty fortunate to be able to bring my dog to work with me.  He does put in long hours when I have to work late, and he ‘helps out’ whenever possible.  Here is an short slide show of a typical day for Cooper.

We designed the project completely in Revit (a 3D BIM program by Autodesk).  This is our largest project yet done in Revit and it went pretty smoothly.

The project also includes a new playground and outdoor classroom area.  The playground incorporates outdoor learning opportunities such as organic gardening, a sound garden, and areas for kids to put on presentations (like ‘music in the park’).

The typical sprinkler system will run as low as 80 cents per square foot to as much as $4 per square foot, depending on where you are located and access to water. A house using well water will likely need large reserve tanks to supply the necessary water flow. A house connected to City water may face higher fees to connect to the water system. So it will definitely cost more to have a safer home, but what is the price you can put on a life saved?