When designing a home, it is important to ask a lot of questions to figure out the goals of the new project. Why do you want to expand that room, how do you use this area, and even, what kind of car do you drive? Understanding the specific ways things are happening and how the client wants them to happen is at the heart of good design. If you have ever thought about it, you probably realize that a house is the most complicated machine you will ever own. A home has water vapor moving through walls, mechanical systems moving air, vents exhausting fumes and humidity, walls resisting wind, roofs shedding water, and the list goes on. Buildings are complicated for sure, just like the lives they facilitate are complicated.
So when approaching a renovation or addition project it is important to know the client’s values. In order to best design the right solution for them you have to know the goals, problems, challenges, and budget. This is the work that we do as architects, we boil down complicated problems into easy-to-digest decisions. Our work in the early phases is an act of uncovering the story. We develop a narrative of spaces and shapes working with your budget in mind. These parts are woven together into a built form that can be used to create the physical space.
As architects, we help reduce stress and unknowns through our shared experiences and work to enhance livability through design solutions. It is not only our job to understand you but to be able to translate your goals, lifestyle, and hopes into a physical space that will flourish with you. This project renovation in Fluvanna County would not have been possible without the contracting skills of M3 inc.Teamwork withtrusted partners is another key to a successful project.
Over the last year of uncertainty, it has been difficult to figure out what products have changed, what is available, and what the “right” answers are for our clients. As a firm, we have always worked hard to stay informed about changing patterns, products, and best practices in the field and that is hard to do working remote. Reading articles and studying text can only teach so much, so we had to ask ourselves, what could we do to stay on top of things in order to best serve our clients? We started hosting online education sessions each month, inviting product experts to help educate us and others in the industry. We worked at finding a range of sessions that not only benefited our own learning, but a community we built online of industry professionals. One of our “Golden Product Rep” that helped us with a virtual seminar is Steve Norris with American Bath Group. He has a wide range of plumbing products, many that we use in our projects, and delivered some excellent information for us to consider during the design process.
Today, Steve is with us live and in-person – outside of our office with a trailer display of his products. This gives us a chance to put our hands on things, see the differences, and understand how to guide our clients better through the selection process. We have also invited some industry colleagues to join us because we are better as a team than we are working in a silo. During our time spent with the American Bath Group, we had the privilege to learn about cutting-edge materials and products that are being utilized in residential and commercial bathrooms. By far one of the coolest advancements we viewed was shatter-resistant tempered glass.
This demonstration was conducted by our very own interior designer a more professional example of this technology can be viewed here. We were asked to press down on the glass as hard as we could and upon breaking the glass stayed a solid, laminated in place. This technology will not only save your bathroom from disaster but has the possibility to save lives.
Overall we were incredibly thankful that American Bath Group took the time to show us all of the newest material advancements and allow us to not only learn but to grow as a team.
Whether you are trying to tackle a kitchen renovation or building your dream house, the selection process can be daunting. Our interior designer has provided a breakdown of the 7 most common kitchen countertop options available to help make that process a little less overwhelming.
Granite For some time, granite has not only been the leading choice in countertops but is also the first to mind for many with its natural beauty to define any space. Coming in nearly 3,000 different color variations, there is sure to be a style to appeal to everyone – but maybe not to everyone’s budget. While the cost for granite has come down in recent years as the demand increased and more engineered options became available, it is still considered a very expensive material due to the fact it is a natural material and its labor costs.
Soapstone Soapstone is sometimes put into the granite category because it is another natural stone, but it really should be seen as an alternative for all its other wonderful characteristics. Coming in a traditionally dark, even color that can vary from gray, green, blue, and black with a satin finish that accents both historic and modern homes beautifully. It has been growing in popularity because of its flexibility.
Marble This natural stone is considered more temperamental than its counterparts granite and soapstone due to its porousness and fragility. Once it is scratched or stained, the repairs are difficult. If used in the right locations, such as a baking island, marble can really elevate a kitchen’s luxurious feel.
Quartz The countertops are usually about 93% quartz particles mixed with resins to create the slabs we are familiar with. Due to this, it can mimic the dramatic veining and other natural occurrences that are loved in marble and granite while also being nonporous and scratch, stain, and heat resistant. The latest trends have included integrated quartz sinks and blending recycled glass particles into the resins.
Solid Surface Solid Surface is a completely manmade option made from a blend of acrylic particles and resins pressed together into sheets. The appearance can be a deterrent for some because of the lack of elegant veining the natural options provide, but for those that do not mind speckles, they can browse the wide array of colors and patterns solid surface has to offer. Now considered one of the mid-tier options for the countertop solutions expense-wise, solid surface can look great in all kitchens.
Laminates
Also in the manmade category, we have laminates which are plastic-coated synthetics that are easy to clean laminated to a piece of particleboard (MDF). The great thing about the laminate option is that there are literally thousands of colors, patterns, and styles to pick from now that there is a resurgence in demand for the product. It can be found in pre-formed segments that are ready to use or can be custom fabricated.
Wood or Butcher Block
Coming in several different varieties that provide a warm and cozy connection back to nature, wood countertops can be fairly expensive and potentially problematic from bacteria build-up if not properly maintained. They are relatively easy to clean but must be oiled and sealed regularly. It is another great option as an accent counter such as on an island or used with rustic or farmhouse-themed kitchens.
This past weekend The Gaines Group team had the privilege of supporting the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) through some competitive mini-golf. Everyone was thrilled to get out of the office and enjoy the sunshine while learning who could really talk the talk and walk the walk.
Architect, Deborah, wiped out the whole team and accepted the title of ‘Gaines Group mini-golf champion’. Marketing Executive,Matty, came in a close second, only knocking her ball into the pond once. Golf-pro/ Architect, Charles, came in third, not being able to back up his pre-game smack talk. And finally, Interior Designer, Maggie, shocked us all with a record of 3 shots into the waterfall with a final score of 78 strokes.
Our first Net-Zero design came back in 2005. At the time Solar PV was expensive and rare for most of our projects. We focused on building energy-efficient to reduce energy usage, but Solar PV almost never got added. Then the price of solar thermal dropped and we starting seeing more interest in that technology. Today, things have switched drastically in the favor of Solar PV as panels are very affordable. As energy costs continue to rise renewable, “Green energy”, is rising in popularity. The switch to renewable energy seems like a no-brainer, there are several benefits to taking the plunge into a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, more specifically – solar power
GiveSolar is a non-profit that not only understands the benefits of solar power but is working towards installing panels for 20 Central Valley Habitat for Humanity households with twelve solar panels through their Solar Seed Fund. This project will not only make solar power more accessible but also promote green energy and the economic benefits of going solar. GiveSolar has been an active member of their communities since 2016, beginning with a solar barn-raising, since then they have been striving to eliminate poverty through green energy.
Solar power pulls energy from the sun that would otherwise show up on your utility bill, this form of energy reduces electricity bills, cuts down on carbon emissions, and can even increase property value! These panels save homeowners roughly $14,000.00 in a span of thirty years, panels not only work for you but work towards keeping our environment healthier. You might be asking yourself why doesn’t everyone switch to solar? There are common misconceptions that sway homeowners from going green, one of those being unpredictable weather, when in fact cloud coverage doesn’t significantly affect the power the panels absorb. Solar panels also don’t require warm weather in order to work, what’s stopping you from going green?
