This spring, Board & Vellum is moving to Seattle’s iconic Smith Tower in Pioneer Square. Learn more.
Designing a vacation home: kitchen with an owner's pantry. – Board & Vellum
Custom Residential

What Not to Forget When Designing a Vacation Home

When it comes to vacation home design, there are some things that are decidedly different from a typical home design: features you need in a vacation home that you don’t need in your main home. But what are they? Here are five features you should make sure you include when designing a vacation home.

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Great Design – Woodinville Pivot – Modern Interior Design – Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential, Interior Design

How Do You Get Great Design on Your Project?

Great design takes patience. So, if you want your project to look and function like it was designed really well, you need to invest in design, and that takes time. There are several later phases after the design concept is formed that are crucial to your project’s success. Here’s a quick review of why.

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Communicating with your architect. – Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Tips for Communicating with Your Architect, Interior Designer, or Landscape Architect

Communicating with your architect or designer is crucial to the success of your project. How do you prefer to communicate? Great professionals will strike a balance between their communication preferences and yours. Here are ten tips to help you find that balance and ensure you and your design team are on the same page.

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Modern Farmhouse – Rendered View: Exterior in Snow – Sharing a Vacation Home
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential

Sharing A Vacation Home Between Two Families

Are you considering sharing a vacation home with another family? It’s not uncommon, and a great investment, but make sure you go into it with eyes wide open. Here are a few questions you and the family you’ll be sharing with should ask yourselves before starting design.

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Selecting a commercial space for your business. – Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Commercial

How Do You Select the Right Commercial Space for Your Business?

Selecting a commercial space for your business is very important to get right. It’s not as simple as “location, location, location” when it comes to ensuring the success of your retail or commercial space. There are many important details you need to check. Do you know what to look for before you sign a lease?

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Cost of construction in Seattle: what is driving it up? – Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential

What is Driving Up the Cost of Construction in Seattle?

Does it seem to you like the cost of construction in Seattle is through-the-roof-crazy? You’re not wrong! Why is the cost of construction rising to surprising heights? Well, it’s complicated. Here are a few reasons why, and a few ways that you can plan your project to ensure it’s worth it. (It is!)

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Would you like to read more from the team?

If you enjoy reading our blog as much as we enjoy writing it, that simply makes our day. You may also enjoy a few of the related posts below.

Your House Shouldn’t Be Perfect

Homes are meant to age. And while obviously new spaces have their place, there is something special about a home that feels a little imperfect. Here are some of our favorite materials that add an organic, lived-in feel to a home, even when the spaces are entirely new.

Rolled up project construction documents for a home.

Factors that Impact Permit Timing

How long does it take to get a permit? This is a perennial question we wish we had a simple answer to. In reality, there are many factors that can impact permit timing. Here, we explore what those factors are so you’re armed with the right knowledge before your project goes in for permit.

Installing Mature Trees in Your New Landscape

The living part of your landscape can take years to grow in. That’s why we love including mature trees in a fresh landscape — they immediately provide the shade, privacy, and impact of an established garden. If you’re thinking about installing a mature tree in your outdoor spaces, here is what you’ll want to to consider.

Snoqualmie Valley View Home – Board & Vellum
16x9-fall_city_residence-exterior-cabana-view_1

Snoqualmie Valley View Home | Photo by Cindy Apple

Choosing the Right Pool for Your Home

Pools are becoming a more and more popular addition to single-family homes, even in the notoriously chilly Pacific Northwest. They’re a great way to enliven your outdoor spaces, but the decisions made when choosing the right pool for your home can be overwhelming. Here is our guide to helping homeowners through the process.

A well established garden that has been growing for three years. The plants are colorful and healthy.

What Happens After Your Landscape is Installed?

You hire a landscape architect to update your yard, go through the design process, and select a beautiful landscape that you love and have it installed... and it’s not quite what you were expecting. What next? Your landscape architect is here to help.

Backyard Artist Studio – Board & Vellum
Layering of Space

The backyard oasis is comprised of layered spaces and programs — framed by the new garage and studio, and the main house. Backyard Artist Studio | Photo by Meghan Montgomery

Using Drones for Site Planning

You’ve probably heard of drone technology — but did you know it can be an effective tool for design projects? We’re breaking down all the ways drone technology can improve your project, create efficiencies, and help you collaborate with your design team.

Considering a project, or curious about something?

Say hello, and send us your questions via the form below. We’re always pleased to make new connections, and eager to get to know you, your project, and your goals.

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Board & Vellum receives Just label from the International Living Future Institute, a voluntary reporting tool for social justice and equity indicators in the workplace.

Achieved a Just label from the International Living Future Institute in 2023.

Board & Vellum is honored to be a Gray Awards Finalist for landscape design, earning the recognition for the rooftop garden at the Lucille on Roosevelt.

Honored as a finalist for residential landscape design.

LEED Certified in White

Our team includes LEED-accredited professionals.

Certified Passive House Consultant in White

Our team includes certified Passive House consultants.

NGLCC Certified as LGBT Business Enterprise – Board & Vellum Recognition

A Certified LGBT Business Enterprise Since 2016.

PSBJ’s Top 25 LGBTQ-Owned Businesses 2016 in White

Honoring companies that lead in promoting equality.