We spend at least a third of our lives in a single room. We turn there for comfort, refuge, and daydreaming. So why don’t we give more thought to our bedrooms? Not to get too personal about it, but it may have something to do with our private and public selves. We give our all to impress and entertain others, so the kitchen and other main floor rooms get our primary focus. But the bedroom is private, and if no one else is going to see it, we may think it unworthy of our attention — to our own... more

As you evaluate a potential home remodel or a new purchase, you may envision doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor. Either way, you will find value in hiring an interior designer to help see your vision through from beginning to end. By engaging a professional designer, you become the direct beneficiary of his or her expertise, resources, passion, and innovation. The following speaks to what you should expect when hiring a professional interior designer. Your Needs Are #1 An interior designer’s... more

Wall decorations go back to the days when people lived in caves. There, on the stone walls, are the images of hands and animals. Mystical beings look out at us as artistic memories of that time and place. Although the Chinese were using decorated rice paper to embellish their walls for thousands of years, the story of wallpaper in Europe started with the use of beautiful tapestries that were hung to both bring beauty into the space and act as a form of insulation. Castles with stone walls were cold!... more

Often, we at Harvest Construction LLC are asked to design and remodel a bathroom from floor to ceiling. Frequently the potential client will add, “It’s just a small bathroom, about 6’ X 8’,” which typically means they really don’t want to spend much money on this remodel. Then the client will add their wishes for finishes in their remodeled space, such as tile in the shower or tub surround, tile on the floor, and sometimes heated travertine floors. While these finishes can be beautiful... more

I love the idea of using repurposed and recycled materials in my interior projects, but I hate the idea of giving up great style. In my many trips to design markets and gift shows I have found some amazing recycled and repurposed products that are super stylish, easy on the eyes, and easy on the environment. I have managed to find pieces that are the true definition of green, no greenwashing here! One of the main benefits of eco-friendly furniture is that it means less material ends up in the landfill.... more

The anatomy of a staircase is not something most people will contemplate or take the time to know. After all, unless one is a stair guy, why would one need to know the difference between a ball top and a tread cap? While it’s true that stairs are more complicated than just about anything else a carpenter could tackle, it’s also true that if you have stairs you will eventually find yourself standing in front of a stair guy, trying to decide what to do about your out-of-date or -code stairs. At... more

With the current economy forcing people to stay in their homes because they can’t afford to sell them, we see some new trends in the remodeling industry. Before 2008, it was common for people to spend $50K or more remodeling their kitchens, and being able to recoup the investments when they sold their houses a few years later. That all changed with house prices plummeting four years ago. This kitchen involved moving the range out of the island and the refrigerator from where the range is... more

We recently completed a remodel of the second floor of our 1924 bungalow, which involved reconfiguring 500 sq ft into a master suite with a bath and two closets, a second bedroom, and a reading alcove, all without adding a dormer or changing the roof line. Like many who consider remodeling, we contemplated moving but chose instead to live with dust and contractors for six months. As an architect, I had already helped many homeowners achieve their dreams of a new kitchen, bath, or large addition.... more