I recently visited Home Depot to purchase a new compass. After the clerk mistook my intent to be a search for compost  (was it my accent?), I was informed that they no longer sell compasses.

I have an i-Mac, an i-Pad, an i-Phone (but refuse to wear an i-Watch). I know I can download a phone app for a compass, and I know I can use Google Earth to evaluate building sites without ever walking them with my clients.

Still, the demise of the compass suggests the loss of one of the most vital aspects of home design – romance.

New Clients. New Designs

Take a few minutes to check out the work we are doing for our newest clients… an addition to an iconic PNW midcentury modern house overlooking Puget Sound… a large family house for two work-at-home professionals in Connecticut that straddles a stream… A lakeside modern bungalow for a very steep site with a roof designed of gorgeous laminated arches… and a sweet little Hamptons retreat designed to live large for indoor/outdoor entertaining.

Every design we create is a personalized reflection of our clients’ lifestyles... in total response to their one-of-a kind building sites.

Let’s talk about hats.

All hats have one thing in common: they protect heads. 

A firefighter's hat is hard, to protect against falling objects. The very wide brim is worn on the back of the head to divert water away from the first responder's head and onto the back of a rubber coat. The front has no brim maximize vision.

A baseball cap, on the other hand, sports a wide brim on the front to shade the eyes from summer sun. And a classic Stetson does it all. The deep front brim shades the eyes; the smaller rear brim sheds water on the back., and the side brims turn up to shed the elements to the back, but are the smallest, enabling optimal hearing.

So it is with roof overhangs, brimming with purpose.

At Lindal and warmmodern living, we continually sing the praises of wood as an enduring, sustainable, and warmly welcoming building material.

It’s been a very long time since we’ve read two more compelling treatises on wood than these, published recently in Seattle. We’ve long known that the Lindal lifestyle nourishes the mind and the soul, and these provide both scientific and romantic affirmation.

In the 1990’s, oversized master bathrooms with whirlpool tubs ranked tops in providing the highest return on investment in home sales. In the early 2000s sleek kitchens with the most up-to date technology were the most valued amenity. The November 17 Wall Street Journal reported what we’ve known for sometime – the most valued amenity in new homes today is … the accessory dwelling unit. The Journal describes an ADU as a zone in a home that has a private entrance, a bathroom, and food prep area to accommodate an older – or younger – generation of family members.

The article notes that an accessory dwelling unit may also function as a home office, studio, or escape space for loud music. The key design elements for these functions are no different.