As owners of a 1938 bungalow, Garen and Michelle Horgen loved the charming look of their older home. However, like many owners of older homes they found their energy bills to be unacceptable. Knowing that their old single pane windows were a source of energy loss, they began searching for ways to make them more efficient. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Shown is an Art Nouveau settee purchased for $25. A total investment of under $100 for new upholstery and finishing supplies brought new life back to this settee. When purchased, this piece had worn and dirty upholstery, the springs were falling out of the bottom, and the finish was scarred and faded. The renovation consisted of 2 ½ yards of new upholstery applied with a stapler and glue gun (no special tools needed). The springs were retied and new jute strapping was added to the seat. The wood... more

When asked to contribute an article to Northwest Renovation about design trends in period kitchen renovation for 2010, I thought about both what — as a professional designer — I am observing industry-wide and locally what many of our clients are doing. Only a couple of “new” trends came to mind: we will see more durable eco-counter surfaces with period appeal and better integration of smart appliances into cabinetry in 2010. Designs that respect the original character/period of the home will... more