Renovations can be a lot of fun! Much of that depends on the mindset of the client. As architects, part of the role is to set realistic expectations by educating the client on the process.

Every renovation that we undertake at Ross Design begins with a close examination of the existing structure. We explore its strengths, its quirks, and the untapped potential it holds.

Whether it is a light refresh or a complete transformation, we see each project as an investment in the future. One of our most memorable compliments came from a client who told us she felt like she “had moved without ever having to move at all!”

As part of revamping the marketing strategy for Ross Design Architects, I have decided to restart my blog. I googled and joyfully found it just sitting there…waiting. I discovered it had been a decade since my last post!

Happy 2015!!!

This past year, I’ve enjoyed becoming acquainted with several other architects through social media. We share ideas, articles, projects, and sources via Twitter and Facebook.

Color has always trended. From year to year, the palette of clothing and interior design lurches this way and that in a seemingly random way. You can clock the shifts with the seasons at your neighborhood Target or Pier 1.

It seems every time you turn around there is another social media platform that becomes an indispensable marketing tool (AKA time sink) for business. The newest rage is Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual scrapbooking system.

Right before Christmas a friend of mine working for the local office of a national design magazine called to tell me the office was closing. The staff had been given leave to take the books from the library if they desired and she wanted to know if I was interested.

I was having lunch with an interior designer friend of mine the other day. While we were discussing what was going on in our lives and businesses, she brought up her upcoming trip to Serenbe. 

For the last couple of months, treehouses have been a major topic of household conversation.

As I approach the first anniversary of this blog, it seems appropriate to do some tweaking. The new graphic on the right side of the page is a detail from a triptych I created for a visual communications class in graduate school many, many years ago.

Last week, I had the unique opportunity to experience marketing from two opposite sides. On Wednesday, a local coalition of building supply vendors grouped together to present Curtain Call – a full day of continuing education seminars tailored for architects and interior designers.

This year, we opted for a staycation for spring break. To give the kids something to look forward to, we decided to join the newest urban phenomenon sweeping our neighborhood and acquiesce to a request that we raise chickens.

Every now and again, I am asked about “smart house” technology. It is a discussion I’ve followed through the years, sometimes with interest, sometimes with amusement.

“My contractor told me I needed to call you. We know exactly what we want. How much do you charge for the blueprints?”In these cost challenged times, this is a familiar theme.

Every now and then, I come across something that entertains and teaches. Always the best combination!

Accounting for approximately 20% of our national electrical usage, lighting is one of the most critical and difficult parts of a design.

The day after Christmas proved to begin very early for me. As is often the case, I took advantage of the quiet time to peruse the blogosphere. I was amused to stumble across the following press release from Pantone…

This is the house that Jack built… in the late 1940s after he returned from the war and started working for his father. It was a smart 3 bedroom house with a side porch designed to appeal to young men like him. It was an optimistic time.

The remarkable thing about the design field is that it is a lifelong journey. When you are young and idealistic, you are insistent that life match your design. As you mature, you come to realize that your design should match life.