Working on a tight building site at Lake Monticello to do an addition and renovation has become one of our specialties over the last few years. This home needed a first-floor bedroom and accessible bathroom added and the homeowner wanted to upgrade the kitchen. The site, like many at Lake Monticello, had some space constraints that would limit the options. We worked with the homeowner to figure out how to achieve his dream, stay within budget, and execute a design that he would love.
We worked through the space constraints and made sure to avoid existing window conflicts to add just enough space to get a luxury bathroom and an incredible kitchen added to the existing home. Through the design process we worked with M3 to make sure we hit the budget where the client needed us to fall. The balance to meet high aesthetic expectations and budget goals is always one of the hardest balances to make work in residential design. Having a trusted builder on the team early is incredibly important to make this all work.
Keep an eye out for more photos as finishes are installed!
When doing a renovation, it is important to take a holistic view of what is possible. Most of the renovation and addition projects we receive start with a challenge such as – we want to add a primary bedroom on the first floor to make our home a lifetime home. This is a great place to start and we love taking on that challenge.
As a full-service design firm, we can evaluate the existing home for structural systems, aesthetics, function, aging-in-place, and efficiency. We look at how the existing home is built and how to most efficiently add the desired space. We offer aesthetic solutions coupled with building science and efficiency expertise. We think through aging-in-place standards to make the home as adaptable as possible over time.
For many additions or renovations, there is an opportunity to add the right insulation in the right places and upgrade the mechanical systems, while making the space functional and beautiful. We don’t stop at picking out just the right tile and cabinets, we make sure the renovation addresses monthly utility bills and the durability of the structure. This holistic approach provides the highest value to our clients for their investment.
If you are thinking about doing a renovation or addition, consider adding durability, indoor air quality, and comfort to your list of priorities. This brings your investment into a long-lasting value-added proposition.
Thrilled to be included in the 2024 Top Virginia Employers for Interns Awards.
We are honored to be recognized for our work exposing college, high school, and middle school students to a career in architecture through our various education outreach programs. This outreach started many years ago with Ray working with Albemarle High School drama students to design and build sets for their plays and musicals. He set the culture in our office to mentor future generations, and we have continued the work for decades.
Our industry also requires years of internships for all of our team as they move through the process to get licensed. We have the best group of interns ever in our office right now. Thanks to them for all they do to learn and serve our clients!
Virginia employers recognized for internship programs
Richmond – The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) today recognized 136 recipients of the 2024 Top Virginia Employers for Interns Awards.
The annual award celebrates Virginia employers who provide high-quality internships to students. Some of the noteworthy efforts of employers include exposing interns to senior leaders, structured mentorship programs, housing allowances, paid time off, security clearances and training for industry certifications.
“These employers deserve recognition for their innovative internship programs and helping students learn and grow,” said Alisha Bazemore, assistant director of innovative work-based learning initiatives at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. “A meaningful internship can really boost career opportunities for students, and, at the same time, help strengthen Virginia’s workforce.”
More than 85% of the recipients provide paid internships, predominately in person during the summer. Approximately half of the awardees offer non-traditional internships, like those for students with disabilities, career switchers, veterans or active-duty military members transitioning to the workforce.
Recipients will be honored in different ways by regional internship collaboratives April 8-12. Events range from ice cream socials to a minor league baseball game. (A list of the events can be found here). V-TOP will host a statewide event in Richmond July 25 as the Commonwealth celebrates Virginia Intern Day, an occasion dedicated to honoring the engagement of employers, students, colleges and universities in work-based learning opportunities.
V-TOP is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It is funded by the General Assembly’s Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program.
This commercial renovation in Farmville, Virginia started with a request to analyze the space to determine how many offices and conference rooms could be added in the existing building. The existing space and finishes did not fit the aesthetic that the law firm wanted to present to their clients, so we had to figure out how to efficiently insert their program and upgrade the aesthetics. This is a common challenge when innovative businesses look to relocate. The existing building stock is almost always dated and rarely represents the company that is growing.
Existing Interior
Interior Rendering
We worked through the program, analyzed room sizes, developed an overall aesthetic, and worked within the existing structural system of the building to develop a refined layout. There are access controls that allow clients to feel welcomed into the building without giving full access to spaces that require privacy. We learned how the company works to deliver the most efficient layout that still feels open and welcoming to visitors to the space. We determined durable building products that could be added to the exterior while keeping the project on budget to upgrade a dated façade into a creative building solution.
Rendered Conference Room Floorplan
This project in Farmville will allow this business to continue to grow, and the building itself will act as a marketing tool to set the tone for future clients. Thinking through the flow of spaces, security, privacy, structural systems, and budget is a key to keeping a renovation on track.
The 2024 Best of the Valley Daily News Record competition has opened. We are thrilled to be nominated in three categories this year. If you need some help deciding who to vote for in each of these, here are some pointers.
When considering our gallery as one of the best, please take into consideration some of the criteria by which we judge a gallery. The Arts Council of the Valley is a gallery that has the appropriate lights, hanging systems, and has staff in the facility. It is a professional space that features some of the best artwork we have seen in the valley. The North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird Ciderworks has fresh amazing cider available along with comfortable seating anytime you visit. You not only get art, you get comfort and flavor. Oasis Fine Art and Crafthas every kind of art, from the most amazing artists you will ever meet each and every day in their space. The artists of the work themselves are often there and you can meet them. The Virginia Quilt Museum has beautiful hand-crafted tapestries that tell of the tradition that is still thriving in the valley. The Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Centercan rent you a room if you get tired from viewing their art. They also have a restaurant in the same building. The Frame Factory and Gallery can not only show you art, but they can also frame your art. VMRC Park Gables Gallery has awesome people living in the same building as the gallery, who you can meet and talk to about your art preferences. Our gallery, which we love and are proud of, is alas just a hallway. We do have brilliant artists that hang their work, the lighting is ok but not gallery lighting, we have food and drink on First Fridays from 5pm – 7pm only, and there are no rooms to rent or comfortable chairs to sit in. If we were ranking us in this category, it would not look good for winning. I think in March Madness terms we lose the play in game in this category.
Now when you think of home renovation, there is nothing better than having a solid plan in place before swinging a hammer. We can certainly lay out a plan of action and I think we will do a pretty good job of it. I am sure if you are looking for someone that fits this category with the widest range of services you could say all we do is design so that limits our appeal. However, I am not sure we can compete with the people that actually do the home improvement work like our friends at Sustainable Solutions. So again, in terms of our March Madness rankings, I don’t think we are making it to the final four.
Best Architectural / Interior Design Firm – Vote here
Finally, this is our category. I know we qualify for consideration, and we are up against some other amazing architectural and interior design competition with Moseley Architectsand LDD Blueline. However, also in this category are our friends at Gray Fox Design Works and Mill Cabinet Shop that do amazing and beautiful furniture and cabinets that certainly enhance the interior design of a space. We are also up against Herr & Company that builds beautiful and amazing buildings and homes and Funkhouser Real Estate that can sell an architecturally interesting home. So the competition is tough, but I feel like we can make the final 4 in this category, right?
We are honored to be included in the three categories and always appreciate your support. You can vote daily from March 27 – April 4 in this round to determine the top 5. Voting and promoting all of these local companies is so important to our survival as small, locally owned businesses.
