Design Pages

Off Goes the Roof!

2007-06-18T18:17:00.000-05:00

The Klaassen Vander Ley Residence

This house will be getting a new upper floor. The first image shows the existing conditions. The second image shows the temporary blue roofing, common to many project under construction. The third shows the crew working hard at framing the new bedroom wall!

North Metro Home & Garden Show

2007-02-21T09:01:00.001-06:00

Ashley and Susan will be at this years North Metro Home and Garden Show. They will be part of an architect's booth where you can talk to them about your own home project(s). See the link below for more information.

http://www.ci.blaine.mn.us/_docs/_SafetyServices/_HousingDepartment/NorthMetroHomeAndGardenShow.pdf

Search For Shelter Design Charrette

2007-02-09T16:11:00.000-06:00

Kevin in our office participated in the "Search for Shelter" design charrette hosted by the AIA Minnesota Housing Advocacy Committee. This event involved a variety of design professionals and students coming together to aid nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Open Arms of Minnesota, North County Cooperative Foundation, Audubon Neighborhood Association, Kingfield Neighborhood Association and the Neighborhood Development Alliance. See the links below for more information.

http://www.aia-mn.org/committees/pdf/Charrette_2007_PR.pdf

http://www.aia-mn.org/committees/pdf/2007s4sinvite.pdf

Here is a link to see the work produced during the charrette!

http://www.aia-mn.org/committees/SFS.cfm

Visitor From Abroad!

2006-11-29T10:10:00.000-06:00

We are very happy to have Hans-Christian Karlberg joining us from Belgium. You can see his work at www.hck.be Below is a schematic sketch he did for a new house project. He will be with us through January 2007.

Adding Up In Edina - 2

2006-11-29T09:55:00.000-06:00

There has been steady progress to this house in Edina. The exterior is almost complete and they are doing the finishing work to the interior. See the previous blog posting for an image of the existing house.

What a Great Party!

2006-10-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

The Open House was quite a success. We want to thank everyone who came to celebrate with us. (We may even have another one next year!)

Open House

2006-10-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

We are having an Open House and everyone is invited! Come see us, our work and meet the newest members of the firm.

Date: Thursday, October 26th, 2006
Time: 5-8
Where: Laurel UllandArchitecture
2836 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Site Observations

2006-10-09T15:53:00.000-05:00

Above this existing dining room an entire second story was being renovated and added to. The vertical cut in the wall shows where new structural elements were added to support the work upstairs. This will easily be repaired and painted to look as if nothing ever happened!

The Mudroom

2006-09-21T20:41:00.000-05:00

Mudrooms are one of those spaces in your home that is "hardworking". It is a room you use everyday. You touch things in it. You leave your things there and it can get messy.

Don't be stingy on the materials in this space. They will show their age faster than usual because they are touched and heavily used everyday. Ceramic tile, stone, solid wood, semi gloss/ glossy paint and other durable materials will work beautifully in this space. Avoid materials that show alot of dirt, like a solid white floor!

Give everyone in the household their own space within the Mudroom. It can be a hook on the wall, a basket, a locker, or a shelf. It is a perfect way to help keep the space tidy.

Adding Up In Edina

2006-09-19T15:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a before picture of a house about to get a second story addition and renovation.

Here is the house mid construction. This picture was taken October 5th, so there will be more in progress photos in the future.

The Laundry

2006-09-17T21:15:00.000-05:00

Planning a Laundry Room - People spend more time doing laundry than they would like to admit. Make this space as usable and comfortable as possible.

If you have front loading machines, remember that most washer doors are hinged on the left and therefore they should be placed to the left of the dryer. Some manufacturers have doors that can be hinged in either direction, so be sure to check with the machines you have chosen before deciding on the final plans. It can make doing laundry much easier.

Plan storage space for dirty and clean clothes.

If you tend to use bleach or harsh chemicals when doing your laundry, choose materials that would not be damaged if they were spilled upon.

Good lighting is a must. It is too easy to miss that food stain on your favorite shirt and if it gets washed and dried, that stain will be there forever!

Allow space for hang drying. This can even be a retractable rod that is abve a sink. That way the wet clothes cna drip right into the sink.

Front loading washing machines use alot less water and they actually clean your clothes better.