That time of the year

It is that time of the year again! Family, deadlines, anticipation, what to get Uncle Bob, when do we travel, remember family and friends we haven't seen for a while, and eating too much. I prefer to think it is bioligical, the urge to put on a few pounds to keep the cold out. Yeah, sure. It is really the 3 cups of sugar in the Amish Friendship Bread we just made....

No time to think about a project! Well, I had a great client last year who wanted to surprise his wife with the schematic plans for an addition they had been talking about for a while. It was a great idea, except that how do you explain spending that money, and what about her ideas in the mix? So, it became a greater idea, an inclusive design process that lead to a pretty neat design and a fun holiday experience they could share with family and friends. While the economy (ugh!) put it on hold, with any luck it can take off this spring

Which reminds me, a hint as you look ahead (see also item 1 above):

Hint: Improper planning. The finished project will only be as good as the design and plan. Without proper planning, unexpected problems could cause additional costs. Black Dog Note: This means planning from the start, before anything is built, not starting a project and then trying to figure it out along the way. There are too many variables involved to just “wing it.”

Have a Merry Christmas season and hope to hear from you next year!

Looking ahead

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD!
What?!?
Well, now is the time to design. Spring is the usual best time to start building and the design process inevitably takes longer than you think. You will need several months before the shovel hits the dirt, so plan ahead, and use the cold winter months to plan, and build when the flowers come up!

Welcome to Black Dog Architects!

Hello! The is the first post for Black Dog Architects! On this page I will try to offer tips, advice, random thoughts and the occasional diatribe, all intended to help you with the process of working with an architect (me!) and the process of designing and building your project. Enjoy, and I hope to hear from you!