Insights

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...

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...

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:...

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,...