Note From BillKitchen crimes!A few issues ago, I declaimed the common bathroom design mistakes that frustrate me to no end. For the most part, these indefensible design choices were observed in rental homes that I’ve stayed at throughout my travels. I personally prefer the vacation rental over a hotel room and because of that, I am back once again on my soapbox to vocalize another common source of plain bad design: the kitchen.
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Project SpotlightThe Van Prooyen's Fresh Take on a forever homeThere is a certain duality to the meaning of a “forever home”. On the one hand, it means a home that’s built with the future in mind, so that no matter what life has in store, your home can remain steadfast in meeting your needs. On the other hand, a “forever home” also means a place that stays timeless; classic design that stands the test of time. When Karen and Gary Van Prooyen decided to set out on their custom home journey, this concept of a forever home was at the forefront of their minds.
Reminder: DuPage PADS Drive for 155!It’s May, the sun is starting to shine, and we are only two months away from the fourteenth annual DuPage PADS Drive for 155 charity karting race! You may remember that this is one of the favorite events for the Studio21 Architects team, and we always want to take some time to highlight this event that raises money for such a worthy cause. If this is your first time hearing about DuPage PADS or their annual charity kart race, here’s a quick overview.
DuPage PADS was founded in 1985 to provide interim and permanent housing to those experiencing homelessness in DuPage County. PADS is tuned in to the fact that the solution to homelessness is so much more complex than offering food and temporary shelter; it is about offering the tools and support to stop the cycle. In addition to housing, the team at PADS puts their clients in touch with any supplemental support they may need, like case management and employment support. Documentary...NOW!A NOTE FROM BILL There never seems to be a dull moment at Studio21 Architects; I am well and truly back from my trips to Las Vegas, for the International Builder’s Show, and New Zealand, for the A.M.I. Mastermind Summit, and I feel like I am back into the swing of things at the office— just in time for the slowly warming weather. As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers, and while that generally proves to be true, for me the advent of Spring means something else entirely: the beginning of racing season!
Decompress Your Design StressARCHITECT'S ADVICE I’m sure it comes as no surprise that stories about design projects often come with ominous undertones. Home projects are a source of constant stress! Why would you ever start a renovation––don’t you know projects like that can ruin a marriage? Design projects just bring out the worst in everyone! One quick Google search, and it looks as though the confirmation is right there; pages and pages of articles about this topic are right there at the forefront, and with that, it starts to feel like there’s reason to be worried. Take it one step further, and you can see in seemingly scientific percentages the rates of frustration, regret, and even separation in couples that jump into a home design project. [Okay, I know that so far, I am sounding like a harbinger of doom, so let’s just take a breath before moving on.]
Welcome to the Studio: A New Approach!I’ll be honest with you; after welcoming three new team members over the past year, it’s clear that these Welcome to the Studio articles are not a favorite activity for their subjects. Occasionally it devolves into a matter of me chasing our newest team member around the office for an interview! As they say, hindsight is 20/20, so just like we create a tailor-made experience for our clients, we’re going to customize this article to suit our fellow introverts and introduce not only our new Project Manager, but also a new design program we’ve been using.
[Author’s Note: With that being said, I do feel like I should apologize to the other introverts on the team that I’ve subjected to an entire article.] A Note From BillThe View from New ZealandThis edition of A Note from Bill is quite special, at least from my point of view. I am writing this article from an extraordinary place. If you remember my “year in review” article from last issue, you may be able to guess where I’ve been these past few weeks...Queenstown, New Zealand!
I took the fifteen-hour flight from O’Hare to come here for the Mastermind Summit held by the Architect’s Marketing Institute, which is where a group of architects from around the world come project Spotlightfrom sunny floridaSunshine, sandy beaches, all with a piña colada in hand. That’s what we imagine when thinking of Florida. It is certainly lucky to have several projects in the Sunshine State! Bill took a trip to Florida this past January—a mixture of work, racing, and relaxation—which inspired us to dig a little deeper into our southernmost design projects.
We get it. It may inspire a bit of envy to read about beautiful beachfront properties, especially when For The Love of GIngerbread!A resounding favorite among the team at Studio21 Architects is, of course, our annual Gingerbread Design Party. While in the past few years, we had to think creatively to organize an event while keeping health and safety a top priority, this year we were able to once again host in our office and to celebrate even further, we decided to add another tradition to the lineup: Gingerbread for Grown-Ups! It was two whole days of fun, with so many awesome designs and many great memories made. Before we get into
Best of 2023A Look Back on This Year's SpotlightsCrazy and interesting things tend to happen annually, and 2023 met those expectations through and through. In the world of architecture, amazing feats were completed. Malaysia’s 118 Merdeka became the second tallest building in the world, shorter in stature only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. In Las Vegas, “The Sphere” opened its doors, merging arts and technology into a globular events venue and new staple of the Las Vegas Strip. Closer to home, in residential design and construction, we too witnessed many changes and revelations. This year, we noticed a rise in clients enlisting Studio21 Architects to turn their existing homes into domiciliary paradises. Many clients still opt to start from scratch with new builds, of course, but no matter the method, we are always in the business of dream homes.
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