Blog

Your Home Symbolizes Your Hopes

BillBriggs — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:43:18 -0500

Whether you are moving into your first or tenth house you’ll always get butterflies when you open the front door. This is when you realize “This is all mine.” Your priorities are probably different when purchasing a house than they might have been several years back. Now it isn’t just for a quick profit so you can move up the housing ladder. It’s about creating a genuine home.

All your hopes and dreams are found in your home. This could be the place where you see your children grow up, where you and your spouse will grow old together and where you will entertain friends and family during the holidays. You want to create a home that is both functional and cozy, welcoming to your guests and most of all a place where you can unwind. When you see the kitchen you want to be able to imagine gathering around it laughing and celebrating, and not just a place you walk through on your way to work.

When you are designing your home so many of your hopes and dreams for the future go into it. You want it to be perfect. You want it to represent you. You’ve worked hard to have the house of your dreams and it now represents so much more than just a place to hang your hat. It can represent how you want to live your life and the plans you have for the future.

In these crazy economic times it is reassuring to come home to a true home. A place where you can get away from the chaos and feel like yourself. If you know you’re going to be staying put in the same house for a while, why not put your whole heart and soul into it.

At William S. Briggs we want to help you create a home for those lasting memories and make those hopes become a reality.

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC

214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

The Home Shows Well, But Does it Live Well?

BillBriggs — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:45:16 -0500

Walking into a new home is always fun, that’s why almost all of us, at one time or another tour homes we don’t intend to buy. New homes appeal to our sense of family, tranquility and of course ego. When trying on a home, we often imagine ourselves entertaining, showing the house to our friends and watching our kids play with their friends. When we envision these activities, homes with an elegant entry, formal areas, wood floors, granite counters, a spacious family room and a backyard show very well.

But, a house we live in sees these activities for just a few hours a week or sometimes just a few hours a month. A house we live in most likely sees older kids doing homework, younger kids with toys scattered all over the floor, families grabbing a quick meal before or after a soccer game, tired parents in their pajamas sipping coffee in the morning or a rare occurrence when everyone gathers in front of the TV for a movie. A “living” house is quite different than a “showing” house. So which do you choose? A house that works for a few hours a month or for most hours every day? I’m not a fan of making that choice. I think homes need to do both and do both well.

Elegance comes from materials and visual layout. Livability comes from the floor plan. When you combine these elements, you have a home that is both great to entertain in and to live in. Proper design and detail enhances elegance and livability. Well-designed cabinetry can hide the clutter of living while still presenting a striking impression to guests. The right sized rooms provide space for family living without chopping the house into small areas that will not see much use or large areas that will be seldomed used. Art spaces provide room for showcasing taste while also protecting items from young hands.

The next time you visit a new home ask yourself some real-life everyday questions:

Where can I keep an eye on my kids while they do their homework?
Do I want everyone to see my coffee maker and blender?
Can I get to the kitchen in my pajamas without showing my outfit to the neighbors?
Where are we going to eat pizza after the soccer game?
Where is everyone going to kick off their shoes and drop their backpacks, purses or briefcases?
Where do I charge my iPhone?

When there are good answers to these questions, the house is a pleasure to live in.

Interested in building a new home or remodeling your existing one? Give me a call, I’d love to discuss how you can have a home that shows well, entertains well and lives well.

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamSBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

Classic Architecture - Homes Designed for Now & Later

BillBriggs — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:21:02 -0600

There are few purchases in life that are truly meant to last a lifetime, but a custom built home is certainly one of those purchases. As important as it is to build the house of your dreams, it is also important to ensure the architectural design of the home will last for generations to come. Many of the homes in the Park Cities and surrounding areas (i.e., Lakewood, M Streets, Bluffview and Preston Hollow) were built in the 1920s. And while the kitchens and bathrooms have certainly undergone renovations (probably several) in the past 90 years, the architectural structures of these homes have remained intact.

Much like the classic “little black dress” found in the closets of most women or the classic men’s navy blazer, classic architectural design never goes out of style. Rather, it serves as the foundation from which interior design trends may be showcased. As design trends come and go, classic home architecture remains steadfast, protecting the architectural integrity of the neighborhood, the livability of the home and the buyer’s investment. Just as a new necklace and trendy shoes transform the little black dress, trendy interior design updates transform the classic architecture of a home, keeping it fashionably current from one decade to the next.

Employing an architecture firm to lead the design-build process of a new home assists in achieving a classic design that maximizes the buyer’s initial investment. Entrusting the renovation and updating process of an older home to an architectural firm ensures the integrity of the home’s design remains intact and all updates are consistent with the home’s architectural structure. Hardware updates such as doorknobs, kitchen and bath faucets, cabinets and molding should complement the owner’s personal style as well as the style of the home.

Having nearly 20 years of practice in the Park Cities and North Dallas, William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC understands the unique character and charm of the area. From initial sketches to the placement of the last doorknob, William Briggs remains involved in the design-build process, ensuring clients are accurately represented in the construction process and that the architectural design is accurately interpreted as building progresses. William Briggs works diligently with the contractor, craftsmen, city officials, landscaper and interior decorator to see that all design details are effectively and cohesively executed. Design fads come and go; classic architecture is designed for now and later.

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

Look in the Cabinet! 7 Reasons for an Architect's Help

BillBriggs — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:13:46 -0500

How many times a day to we say "look in the cabinet"? Cabinets are one of the most used and visible features of any house. Getting them right in terms of storage needs and design makes a house not only better looking but more livable as well. Here are some quick thoughts on why you should work withe architect to develop the cabinet designs, the trim, and the finish details:

Cabinet vendors like to build what they have built before. Innovation may not be their best quality.
Cabinet vendors are great at making cabinets, but are not especially trained in aesthetics or do they always take time to understand your unique storage needs.
Interior designers may understand an overall look to be achieved but typically cannot communicate it accurately and comprehensively to the cabinet guy (by drawings and dimensions). This puts too much reliance on the cabinet maker without much real control and coordination.
If there is some gap in understanding about the mouldings, cabinets or how the tile or stone is ordered and installed or detailed, the architect is the best source for the resolution, provided the architect has produced the information.
Tile and stone orders will be more accurate, and the details of how the finishes are done will be better refined.
Pricing process of stone, tile, trim and cabinets will be more definitive and accurate.
Scheduling will be much more accurate.

A real custom home suits the needs of its owners. Hobbies such as cooking or sewing or office needs carry with them some unique needs and require the right cabinetry. Without the right cabinets, a beautiful home is often cluttered with the stuff that doesn't have a place.

William S. Briggs

William S. Briggs, Architect, pllc
william@williamsbriggs.com
214.696.1988

Choosing a Renovation Contractor?

BillBriggs — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:16:26 -0500

Choosing the right contractor for your remodeling project turns out to be a much bigger challenge than choosing a contractor for your new home and here's why:

Renovation Requires Flexibility - Every new home follows a fairly standard construction schedule. Each renovation has a unique schedule and the contractor has to be quick to spot problems and adjust schedules as problems arise.
Renovation Requires More Supervision - Contractors are not on a job site at all times. When a house schedule is following a standard plan, supervision can become routine. During remodeling, time is usually much more compressed and scheduling between tradesman is much tighter and more subject to problems. A remodeling job requires a contractor to be on the job site much more than a typical new home.

Some things you should ask a contractor before you give them your remodeling assignment are:

What percentage of your work is new versus remodeling? - If they do little remodeling work, then they will struggle with the transition at your expense.
How much time do you spend on the job site? - The more time on the site, the more a contractor will minimize your costs and time.
How do you handle unknown problems? - The correct answer is to stop, get everyone together and regroup. If a contractor guesses wrong and proceeds, it can be very costly to undo this mistake later.

Renovation is a contracting speciality and just because a contractor has successfully built new houses is no guarantee or remodeling results.

William S. Briggs

William S. Briggs, Architect, pllc
william@williamsbriggs.com
214.696.1988

Can I Save Money Buying Cheaper Materals?

BillBriggs — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:15:00 -0500

The short answer is yes, for a while. But...

It takes a good understanding of the short and long term tradeoffs in the choices that you make. Some things you need to think about when balancing your choices are:

Maintenance Cost - When paint became lead free it also became less effective in protecting wood. If you want to spend more on regualr repainting costs go with wood. If you want a maintenace free exterior go with brick or stone.
Replacement Cost versus Durability - If an item lasts the lifetime of the house, it may appear more expensive now but will not requirement replacement ten years out. If you plan on keeping the cost for a while, keep track of the expenses you'll have later or the costs you'll have when its time to restore the house to "like new" condition.
Unforseen Problems - There are a lot of new housing innovations that appear to be less costly now but may have unforseen problems. For example EFIS, short for External Foam Insulating Sytem, was (and still is) marketed as a low cost alternative to brick. But brick exteriors rarely if ever cause problems. However, when EFIS has problems it can be very expensive to repair.
New Problems - I can't recall ever seeing a serious mold problem with older homes constructed with "old fashioned" materials. I've only found mold problems in newer homes built with newer "cost saving" materials.
Resale Value - Some items like granite counters often translate into higher market value and marketability. If you put these items in when you build, you get to enjoy them while you own the house.

One last thought. Extra costs for quality materials typically end up in the mortgage. Costs for repair and maintenance often come at the worst possible time.

William S. Briggs

William S. Briggs, Architect, pllc
william@williamsbriggs.com
214.696.1988