Counter Tops 101

By |2012-09-25T23:06:25-07:00September 25th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

Counter tops are the crown of the kitchen not only because they are one of the most pronounced design elements, but also because they are in constant use. In the 1950’s your choices for counter tops were laminate or tile.  Now there are a myriad of additional countertop options.Laminate and TileThough the old standbys are

Recent Project: Master Bathroom Remodel

By |2012-09-24T20:05:07-07:00September 24th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

We're excited to share some pictures of this recently completed project! We've coupled the photos of the finished bathroom with before pictures so you can see the transformation. Our client's choice of oil-rubbed bronze fixtures really set the tone for their new bathroom. And boy, were they ready to say good-bye to their old carpeting

The Supersized House

By |2012-08-28T15:57:15-07:00August 28th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

Do you have a parent or grandparent that grew up during the Depression?  I love the resourcefulness and frugality of so many who grew up in those tough times. While later generations, including my own, loudly encourage us to reduce, reuse and recycle, the Greatest Generation quietly set the example of self reliance and intentionality.Our

Current Projects: Bathroom Vanity

By |2023-01-30T08:48:10-08:00May 24th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

We are in the beginning stages of three bathroom remodels at the Lewis home. Joe has been hard at work building new vanities for the hall bath and the master bath, and they look great! The picture below shows the master bath vanity. Due to the space constraints in this bathroom, a majority of the

To Build or Not to Build

By |2023-04-03T07:11:49-07:00May 17th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

That is an important question. For many years we at Stearns Design Build (Stearns Construction at the time) insisted on only remodeling, or, as we like to put it, recycling homes. We have since justified designing and building new homes. The justification is that new building stock is necessary. The fact is that we love

Should You Replace Your Windows?

By |2012-04-17T20:45:50-07:00April 17th, 2012|CTA Consultation|

In February the Federal Trade Commission handed down a complaint against five window manufactures for making wildly false claims in their marketing material about expected energy savings from their replacement windows.

This is not to say that you should not pay attention to your windows with an eye toward energy savings and possibly even consider replacing them. But on average most window replacements will reduce overall energy bills less than 5%, not the 50% claimed by some manufactures. But there are other reasons than return on investment that may encourage you to replace your windows. One of those reasons is comfort. Good windows will make your home more comfortable. The other reason is aesthetics. Windows frame the world beyond and should be just as beautiful as your best framed work of art. Indeed, a properly placed window may be your best piece of art. A high quality window will encourage you to open it on a nice day, unlike poor quality windows that must be fought to get them opened and closed. These are good reasons to replace windows, but most people are sold new windows on the idea that they will have a short return on investment, which is seldom the case.

Honoring Black History Month: Ietef Vita

By |2012-03-08T14:35:11-08:00March 8th, 2012|Community, CTA Consultation|

For Black History Month, we wanted to dedicate a weekly blog to an influential African American individual in a field related to the environment and/or building science. Sometimes championing a cause requires a unique approach, especially when reaching a younger audience. Such is the case with Ietef Vita, aka DJ Cavem (which stands for “Communicating

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