Board & Vellum has moved to Seattle’s iconic Smith Tower in Pioneer Square. Learn more.
Craftsman Manor Resurrection – Architecture & Landscape Architecture by Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential

How An Architect Can Help Before You Buy A House

Ever heard of someone buying a house only to learn their big remodel dreams aren’t possible? The competitive real estate market can add pressure to buying a home before you have the full picture. That’s where we come in! An architect can help you understand the potential of a house before you even make an offer.

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Outside the Lucille on Roosevelt in Seattle, WA, a jogger runs along the sidewalk, which is lined with growing and colorful plants.
The Business of Design

Why I’m a Generalist Architect

Many architects and designers choose to specialize in a specific sector or focus on a single project type. That’s awesome and necessary, but it’s not Jeff. His journey as a generalist architect is why providing out-of-the-box services is part of Board & Vellum’s DNA, and it’s what keeps him dedicated to design of all kinds.

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Sliding mirrors in the master bath. – Remodel in a Tudor-style home: Morning Light Master – Board & Vellum
Ask a Designer, Custom Residential

What Really Adds Cost To Your Home Remodel?

Have you ever heard that moving a toilet is a budget-busting home improvement? Would it surprise you to learn that we think this is debatable? There’s no doubt that home remodels cost money, but the big-ticket changes might not be what you expect. So what’s really going to impact your project budget?

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Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Custom Residential

Five Design Priorities for Your Home

Any design project is going to be filled with more decisions than you can anticipate. There’s a balance between understanding how to compromise on things that aren’t as important and prioritize the things that really matter. Here’s what we recommend to help our clients make good choices for their projects without giving up what they love.

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Looking into the dining area of The Urban Sanctuary. There's a small cat cut out in the bench seating at the table and a brick wall in the background.
Ask a Designer, Commercial, Custom Residential, Multifamily Residential

Storytelling in Design

What inspires designers to create beautiful projects? Just like making a fantastic dish to eat, it’s about more than the individual ingredients — it’s about how they all work together! In design, it’s so much more than meeting the basic programmatic needs of our clients. It’s about telling a story.

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Looking into a bright, clean kitchen. The lower cabinets are slate blue and the uppers are light wood. The walls are clad in white subway tile and there are orange pots on the shelves.
Custom Residential

Five Ways to Make Your Kitchen Feel Larger

If you’re like us, you probably wish your kitchen had just a little bit more space – it’s one of those places where things just seem to pile up with nowhere to go. It may not be an option to actually increase the size of your kitchen, but here are five smaller projects you can invest in to make your kitchen live larger.

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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.

Navigating the World of Backyard Buildings

When it comes to backyard buildings, there are many things to consider. The first is: what exactly is a backyard building? From accessory structures to detached accessory dwelling units to garages, we’re breaking down the three main types of backyard buildings and how they function on your property.

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.

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 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.