Insights

5 Signs It’s Time to Remodel Your San Francisco Home

5 Signs It’s Time to Remodel Your San Francisco Home

5 Signs It’s Time to Remodel Your San Francisco Home The way we live in our homes deeply impacts our daily happiness, productivity, and overall well-being. Yet many San Francisco homes—full of historic charm—simply weren't designed for modern lifestyles. Whether...

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Navigating the Confusing ADU Process

Navigating the Confusing ADU Process

The term ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, has become ubiquitous in discussions about housing in San Francisco. But often, people don't understand what it means other than that it’s a process to add an “in-law,” or another dwelling unit, But what does that really mean?...

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The Benefits of Hiring a Local Architect in San Francisco

The Benefits of Hiring a Local Architect in San Francisco

Designing or renovating a home in San Francisco is a unique challenge, influenced by the city’s rich architectural heritage, varied terrain, microclimates, and strict building regulations. Whether you’re planning a new custom home or restoring a historic property, the...

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Vertical Additions: A Guide to Expanding Upward

Vertical Additions: A Guide to Expanding Upward

Looking to expand your square footage but aren’t sure how to achieve more space in your existing house? A vertical addition can be a fantastic way to do that without sacrificing your layout or requiring more property. Especially in a volatile housing market like the...

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Controlling Costs

Controlling Costs

When considering a large renovation/addition project in San Francisco, cost is always a primary concern (and a big stressor). Cost creep/unknown costs are some of the things people most want to avoid. Most people have either had a bad experience, or heard horror...

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Make Basements Feel Like Livable Space

Make Basements Feel Like Livable Space

Just about every San Francisco house was originally built with an unfinished ground level including a garage, and some extra storage space on the side and towards the back (often called a “basement”, but not underground per the usual definition). Some are still...

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Legalizing Unwarranted Space

Legalizing Unwarranted Space

Legalizing Space We often find “Illegal”, or non-legal rooms in San Francisco homes, typically in the the ground floor. I often get asked about the implications of this, and what the process is to legalize it. I will summarize as much as I can in a Q&A format. Q:...

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A Thoughtful Approach to Indoor Lighting

A Thoughtful Approach to Indoor Lighting

The fact that I have blue eyes and Scandinavian genetics probably has something to do with my glare aversion. But even the non-glare averted can benefit from good light balance in obvious, and subliminal ways. The usual approach: A grid of evenly spaced recessed cans,...

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