Tag Archives: architecture

Residential Design: Include your pets in your plans

Posted on April 6, 2018 by

We consider the needs of children, possibly aging parents/in-laws, and our client’s tastes and desires when designing or remodeling homes.  But what about the furry family members?  Pets are a big part of our lives and making homes comfortable, secure … Continue reading →

Posted in Ask an Architect, Design and Construction, Residential, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sharing the business of architecture with high school students

Posted on March 6, 2018 by

Last week I had the opportunity to speak to students at Burlingame High School who are taking beginning and advanced architecture classes.  They have a nice design studio with up-to-date computers and design software.  Their teacher has an architectural degree … Continue reading →

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I need it yesterday! Why does it take so long? (Part 2)

Posted on February 14, 2018 by

On July 2, 2014 I posted a blog article with the same title.  This is an update to that article.  Now that the construction boom is the new normal, we have noticed several other factors that are slowing down the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial, Community, Design and Construction, Hiring an Architect, Residential, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Statute of limitations” on unpermitted construction and other bad advice

Posted on December 5, 2017 by

We keep hearing from our clients of the bad advice that they were told when buying property.  The top piece of bad advice, by far, is that if unpermitted construction occurred a long time ago, it no longer needs to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ask an Architect, Budget, Community, Design and Construction, Hiring an Architect, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Residential Contractors for Commercial Projects: Proceed with care.

Posted on October 19, 2017 by

In the current Bay Area construction boom, some commercial clients have been hiring residential contractors to fill the need.  Sometimes this works out fine for both the General Contractor and the Client, but sometimes the project can go haywire if … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial, Design and Construction, Residential, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Property Reassessment: How to plan for property taxes after additions or improvements

Posted on August 8, 2017 by

The building boom is still going strong in the Bay Area, and one question that comes up often is “What will this project cost me in increased property taxes?”  Here are some things to consider and how to get the … Continue reading →

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I like/I wish/What if: Working with Clients to Apply Design Thinking

Posted on November 29, 2016 by

By Lorianna Kastrop, Vice President, The Kastrop Group, Inc. Architects   “Design Thinking” is all the rage in Silicon Valley.  People are applying it to all sorts of companies and products, and we can apply it to architecture as well.  … Continue reading →

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