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8/14/2023

Let's Talk Timelines

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A note from bill: let's talk timelines

So, you want to be done by Christmas?
​

The winter holidays may seem far off while we’re in August, but when it comes to my topic of interest this month, you can never start planning too early. Let’s talk about timelines.

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7/10/2023

DefinING your own sense of home

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a note from bill

definING your own sense of home

 “Always remember that you are absolutely unique—just like everyone else.” This quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead seems like a truth we can all agree on. Design especially fosters the expression of that uniqueness; for many, it acts as an outlet for individualism. Certain architects—if they know what to look for—can harness originality to use as a helpful tool, like how I seek to understand the unique traits of each of my clients to create a design that accurately reflects how they live, in the best possible way.

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6/19/2023

aGING IN pLACE

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a note from bill

there's no place like home when growing old

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​A few weeks ago, I had a surgery. Nothing major (no need to worry about me)—just a simple procedure for my knee. During my recovery, it reminded me of how fortunate I’ve been to have complete mobility and of how it feels to suddenly have limitations. It’s simply a fact of life that, at some point, everyone’s body becomes less capable of those physically demanding things that came so easily in youth. It also made me aware that things could quickly change with an unexpected accident. I know that 
my current home is not conducive to someone with limited mobility. A temporary issue with a knee after surgery is only the tip of the iceberg; I am an architect, after all—I tend to coach my clients to think about how they might live in their homes in future years.
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The term aging-in-place gets thrown around often on the topic of retirement. Fundamentally, it means staying in one’s own home permanently, rather than moving into assisted living. Experts have made contrasting conclusions regarding aging-in-place; some say the benefit outweighs the risks, and some say the complete opposite. But when we look at what older folks have to say, the message couldn’t be clearer: Most of us want to stay in our own homes. Of those aged fifty and older, 77% want to remain in their homes long term, and according to the same AARP study, that number has not changed in over a decade. The biggest pitfall of aging-in-place comes down to the home itself; many of our homes don’t accommodate the changes in needs that come with age. As we get older, upstairs bedrooms, bathrooms without grab bars, and steep flights of stairs can cause discomfort and even danger.
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For years, I have talked about designing and building a small ranch home (with a big garage, of course) that I can grow old in. A ranch-style home eliminates the biggest obstacles to mobility, but should the need for a wheelchair arise, the home’s design should also include larger door openings and space to negotiate a wider turning radius. If thought about during the design process, a home can easily incorporate so many features that make aging-in-place a more seamless process. In my case, I plan to relocate. But for those of you who want to stay, what changes can be made to make a home more suitable for the long term? These are just a few design aspects that I have considered.

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6/15/2023

Due Diligence: Don't Design Homes Without It

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a note from bill

due diligence: don't design homes without it

​THE DREADED MONEY PIT. HOW DO WE AVOID IT? THIS MONTH’S NOTE FROM BILL DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF QUIETING THE EXCITEMENT OF BUYING NEW PROPERTY, SO THAT YOU DON’T MISS THE RED FLAGS THAT COULD COST YOU LATER. 
When you come across a property that you absolutely love, it’s especially easy to feel anxious of potentially losing it to another buyer, so you pursue more aggressively than you really should. And we’ve all heard the horror stories: the couple who excitedly purchases their first house, only to find out months later that the foundation beams are rotting away; or the developer, with big ideas of an apartment complex, buys a property only to learn after closing that the site isn’t even zoned for that purpose. A property that bleeds you dry—financially, at least—strikes fear into all of us, yet it’s all too easy to think, “oh, that will never happen to me.”
 The only way to steer clear of costly mistakes down the road is to think critically and do your due diligence before buying. When comparing which is worse, losing out on a property to another buyer or purchasing a property with significant underlying issues that need attention, I will always think the latter is far worse. Believe me, I know that it’s not ​fun to start imagining yourself in a home, only to have that property sell to someone else. But remember: there will always be another property. By applying these considerations, that next property will be far less likely to be a so-called “money pit”.

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6/15/2023

FIVE REASONS WHY A DESIGN+BUILD FIRM COULD BE RIGHT FOR YOU

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a note from bill

five reasons why a design+build firm could be right for you

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Designing and building function as two sides of the same coin. They are each complex processes in their own right. With numerous moving parts to consider, it’s understandable that to jump into an addition, renovation, or even a custom build, you take a leap of faith. Faith that this build will end up being all that you’ve hoped for, and faith that it will go as close to plan as your vision of the completed project. You need to consider things like the 
style and functionality of your home, as well as the timeline and budget. And even before all of that, you need to choose which avenue to take to bring this project to fruition. The traditional avenue is to hire an architect, who does the design, and they hand it off to a contractor for the building phase. Another option is to hire a builder, who then contracts with an architect to design the project. Both options can have great outcomes and work well for many different types of clients; we ourselves often provide services through these avenues!
You may not be aware, however, that a third option is out there: an architect-led Design+Build firm. At Studio21 Architects, we offer the One Point Design+Build service. It combines the architectural and construction aspects into one unit within our firm, and through the entire process, the emphasis is on design. The potential for miscommunication and finger pointing common with the use of two separate firms diminishes, without sacrificing the quality of the work. Below, I’ve put together a few reasons why a Design+Build firm might be the right fit for you and your next project.

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  • Home
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    • SELECTING YOUR EXPERT ARCHITECT
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