Architecture and Interior DesignFeature Articles
The world of architecture and design is vast and varied so on this page we provide links to feature articles that may be of interest. Most of the pieces have appeared in other publications. Think of them as a greatest hits album. If you're a writer and have something that may fit in here or elsewhere on the site, feel free to weigh in by going to the contact page and dropping us a line. We're always on the look out for words or images with a distinct point of view. FEATURE ARTICLESConcrete Thinking
After filming in a number of kitchen and bathrooms that featured concrete countertops, vanities, sinks, and shower surrounds I began a quest to meet the guy doing all the work. It didn't take long because at the time in the DC area, there was only one company doing it. Other concrete contractors are popping up across the country, this is the story of how it got started. This piece originally appeared in the Home section of The Washington Post. Here lie some concrete choices. Hot Rolled Steel
I first saw this material at one of the show houses at The Washington Design Center. It's basically the same stuff they use to cover pot holes in the street. Because of the way it's produced, each piece of black steel is unique due to the graining that occurs. Although not for everybody and more at home in modern settings, if unique is what you seek, ask your local architect or designer about hot rolled steel. Green Design For (Mostly) Regular Folks
While researching the straw bale house story, one name kept coming up, Sigi Koko. I hunted her down and asked her about other green-centric projects she was working on. I was looking for a sustainable design story for the average homeowner doing a kitchen remodel and this is what we came up with for green design for regular people - just like you. A Black Bedroom
A black boudoir shows up in a Washington DC Show House and the crowd goes wild. I put this picture on the site as "Black Bedroom" and it keeps generating tons of hits of people looking for black bedrooms. Now for the first time, here's the rest of the story... Waterfront Home Times Two
A family buys a waterfront home then gets the opportunity to buy the place next door. They do the deal and then turn the keys over to the design team. The results are seen here. Salt Box House
Last year I went to a design awards ceremony hosted by one of the magazines in town. They had some gorgeous photography of all the winning homes shot by the talented ladies at Hoachlander Davis Photography. I liked just about everything that won including two houses by the same architect, Jeff Broadhurst. One is a "shack" which we'll see next year the other one was his house/office. It's new construction designed to look old - one of my favorite angles - and he designed it to look like a "salt box" house. Open Floor Plans
If I had a dollar for every time I listened to architect say, "we removed the interior walls and opened up the floor plan," I'd have, um, several more dollars. It happens a lot in older homes with small rooms when people want a connection between the eating, living, and cooking spaces. Our house has an open plan which may be why it took me so long to see this story. It was triggered while I was working on a script for the NAHB about the use of open floor plans in solar homes. Here's a story about three differnt kinds of homes, a row house, a craftsmen and a rancher that were all changed by an open floor plan. Embassy HouseTurning A Government Building Into A Private Residence
Every organization that has a lobbyist, or political agenda has an office in Washington DC. Likewise every county in the world has an embassy, consulate, or a diplomatic residence located somewhere in the District. Many of them line lower Massachusetts Avenue, an area called "Embassy Row." Many foreign embassies are open to the public, some routinely host art shows or other cultural events. I myself have been to the Italian, Swedish, Swiss, and Finnish embassies. Tomorrow I'm hanging out with the Brazilians (bom dia!). Anyway. Some of these buildings, which technically belong to the governments that inhabits them go up for sale and fall into the hands of private owners. Here's what happens when an
embassy becomes a house.
Solar Goes Mainstream
I got interested in alternative energy last year, partially because every house and car story these days has an energy angle to it. Everybody keeps telling me how solar power is now affordable or almost affordable (depending on who you listen to) and I got curious about whether real people are actually converting their homes to solar. I found a local company in the DC area installing panels on people's roofs and also solar panels that are embedded into roof shingles. Pretty cool huh? Check it out... The Sears House - A Brief History
The picture at the top of this page is actually a "Sears House" in Reedsville, Virginia. At least that's the homeowner told me. Do you live in a simple, well-built house constructed sometime between 1908-1940? Do you live close to a rail line? Here's the story... Living Large - Outdoors
A major trend in exterior spaces is moving everything outdoors. Outdoor kitchens, living rooms and over-the-top pools and spas are taking the place of backyards, porches and patios. Here's a look at the cutting edge of living it up outdoors.
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