We’re quite proud of this recently-completed project, which won a Platinum award for kitchens in its cost category, in the national Best of the Best remodeling competition.

The kitchen work was part of a larger, whole-house remodel for a young couple in the West End. The Owners, local restauranteurs, wanted commercial-quality stainless equipment, and a whole lot of contemporary style.

 

Dear Mason,

Seriously ready and eager to put a large addition onto our late 1970’s rancher…. Should we build up or build out? Is a second story addition far more expensive to engineer and build than a first floor expansion? Does building up add more value in the long run or is every house different?

Tracy B, Ashland, VA

Tracy,

When it comes to the expected magnitude of investment for remodeling and additions, it most often holds true that simpler = less costly. In that regard, you should know that the conditions of an existing house, and how those might work with the requirements of a particular

In the course of some reading recently, I happened across this:  According to the sages of ancient India, there are three fundamental processes at work in the universe:  creation, preservation, and transformation.

 

Interesting.  Those processes are at the core of what we do in the design and building / renovation business.  Unknowingly following the tenets of the ancient

Somewhere during early conversations with almost every client, we are asked something to the effect of “Do you think we’ll build value with our proposed renovation?”

 

Naturally, I have had plenty of opportunity to build (what I think is) the proper response, which asks the homeowner to dig deeper regarding his or her definition of value.

 

From my perspective, there are essentially two types of value which one might consider, as one thinks about home improvements.  First, and obviously, is the increased potential real estate resale value as a result of improvements.  Second, is the intrinsic