My Blog

Buying a new home vs renovating an old one

Buying a new home vs renovating an old one

Buying a New Home vs Renovation an Old HomeBuying or building a new home vs. Renovating your current one? (Pros and cons) Sometimes it is about what stage of life you are in and what your future home goals are. I know we have all watched HGTV shows like Love It or...

Fireplaces – Functional or Just Pretty

Fireplaces - Functional or Just PrettyIntroduction Fireplaces provide more than just heat in a home. They are key to creating a warm, inviting atmosphere in your house throughout the chilly winter months (and other times too). They also become a centerpiece for any...

Stacy and Clarence: A Real-World Home Remodel Story

Stacy and Clarence: A Real-World Home Remodel Story *If you’ve already read the preview on Instagram, skip down to the “Time for Tough Choices” section to find out what happens next!* Have you ever wondered what an “Extreme Home Makeover” would look like… in REALITY?...

The Ugly Dog Crate Dilemma

The Ugly Dog Crate Dilemma

My furbabies have been a little (a lot) needy as of late.  They have become my minions, they just sit and stare at me or follow me wherever I go. Here we go again...“No, Jozi, you can not have another snack. No, Buddy, you just went outside 5 minutes ago.”  I really...

FAQs: General Contractors

FAQs: General Contractors

There are many considerations when trying to decide to hire a general contractor to oversee an entire project, but first we need to define what a general contractor is and what they do. A general contractor manages a whole project from start to finish. They oversee...

Where Does the Design of Your Dream Home Come From?

Where Does the Design of Your Dream Home Come From?

I would love to tell you that somewhere, there is a fairy godmother who waves her magic wand and “poof,” out of the air, your perfect home plan appears, but that is just not the case.  In the real world, finding the perfect floor plan can take a lot of time and...

Can You Afford To Build Your Dream Home?

Can You Afford To Build Your Dream Home?

Have you always dreamed of building a new home but you are not sure if you can really afford it? Have you qualified for a new home loan, but now don’t know the next step in finding the right size house plan to fit your needs and your budget? Or is your spouse like...

That Time I was on Extreme Home Makeover

That Time I was on Extreme Home Makeover

I am often asked what I “do” as a designer.  People think we are all imbued with fairy dust due to the magic of TV, where the designers pull a design out of thin air.  They are mesmerized by unrealistic shows where the clients are not involved in the decision making...

What Do Love Languages Have To Do With Building a House?

What Do Love Languages Have To Do With Building a House?

It started out as a hushed whisper, two voices: a man and a woman, that I couldn't quite make out, not for lack of trying, as I stood in one of the tile aisles at a big box store.  This hushed whisper quickly escalated to a full on “yelling” match, the kind you expect...

You Said Yes to a Floor Plan Review…Now what?

You Said Yes to a Floor Plan Review…Now what?

Now we have to dig into what you really need in a home based on your daily life habits.  We need to uncover how you see yourself living in your new home.  Functional design is all about creating a floor plan that works for you not against you.  Problem: Do you like to...