Are you here to learn more?
Welcome to the Board & Vellum blog.
Our blog is a resource for anyone wondering how to approach their project, seeking answers for their design questions, or simply eager for a peek inside our world. It’s a friendly resource from the design team at B&V.
Advice for Young Architects
Arts & Culture
Ask an Architect
Building Green
Civic
Commercial
Custom Residential
Events
Firm Culture
Historic & Traditional
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
News
Other Tangents
Seattle Design Community
The Business of Design
Third Places
Interior Design
Mudroom Must-Haves
Mudrooms are a very common request from our clients whose homes don’t already feature one, as they can ease the coming-and-going process, especially for busy families. Hear from our interior design team about their recommendations for mudrooms that will not only meet your needs but excite.
Read more.
Custom Residential
Designing for Fire
Gathering around a fire is an ancient human activity that maintains its magnetic attraction, even now. As a feature that so viscerally attracts us and so often is the backdrop of our favorite memories, why not design more than one location in your home or yard where you can encourage the comfort of a fire.
Read more.
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Why Special Amenities Are the X-Factor in Multifamily Design
In this extremely competitive rental and condo market, even atypical, outside-the-box amenity spaces can’t be counted on to elevate a property over the steep competition, especially if they feel tacked on as a bonus. It takes a cohesive design story tying the whole building together to truly stand out.
Read more.
Commercial
Private Offices vs. “Open Office” Concepts for Workspaces
Over the years, the popular (and researched) opinions about what makes for an ideal workspace have shifted from recommending private offices, to semi-private, to the so-called “open office” concepts, and back. But, different types of workspaces are ideal for different types of companies, based on budget, type of work, company culture, and more.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
Why Should You Hire a Certified Arborist?
The proper care of trees is crucial to their health and to the safety of the people enjoying them. The relationship between trees, people, and the structures we build requires a managed balance. Certified Arborists play a key role in all this; explore how in this conversation with our in-house certified arborist, Hailey Mackay.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
How To Pay For, Or Finance, a New Custom Home
Whether modern or traditional, a custom home can be designed to meet your family’s needs. You’ve just got to find a way to pay for it! Here is a look at a few of the options available for paying for — or financing — the construction of a new custom home.
Read more.
Building Green, Interior Design
Sustainable Bedding Options for Your Home
Many of us are making an effort to live our lives with a critical eye on our environmental impact. Building homes following sustainable practices is incredibly important, but don’t forget to also give that attention to the materials and products you put inside it. This primer on sustainable bedding options can get you started.
Read more.
Arts & Culture, Civic, Events, Seattle Design Community
DIY Urbanism
Every year, communities come together to take back parking-spot-sized parcels of the street, transforming them into pedestrian-centric installations. Though PARK(ing) Day lasts mere hours, other forms of tactical urbanism exist globally in various degrees of permanence, engaging and influencing the evolution of communities, public space, and informing the relationship between an urban environment its inhabitants.
Read more.
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Why Corridors in Multifamily Buildings Are Worth It
Corridors in multifamily buildings are often overlooked, considered areas to pinch the budget to save money for ”more glamorous” amenities, but it’s actually well worth it to invest in the design of a building’s corridors, not only from the perspective of the residents but from the perspective of the developer.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Should I Dig Out My Basement?
Digging out your basement seems like an attractive solution to gaining more useable space in your home, but it’s complicated to do and can be quite expensive. These are a series of questions you should consider when weighing whether or not to excavate the basement in your home.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
Creating Vibrant Layers in Your Garden
Layered planting doesn’t have to be complex and, if done correctly, layering can reduce your garden maintenance and increase the time you spend actually enjoying your garden. From the ground plane to the backdrop, you can create your own luscious, layered garden by following these simple concepts.
Read more.
Commercial
Branding Through Storytelling in Commercial Design
Storytelling is an integral part of humanity: our individual and communal lives are built on stories. When it comes to a brand, a well-told, authentic story reflected in a physical space is incredibly impactful. But, what does that mean and where do you start in the design process?
Read more.
Interior Design
Great Reasons to Add a Built-In Bench to Your Project
When we say, “built-ins“ — do you think cabinets and bookshelves? A lot of people do, but one of our favorite types of built-ins is a built-in bench — here’s why, in the words of a few of Board & Vellum’s interior designers.
Read more.
Building Green, Custom Residential
Designing a Sustainable Remodel
Designing a high-performance new home is straight-forward and time-tested. Designing a high-performance remodel can be a bit more complex and nuanced. Here are areas in which to focus your efforts so you can maximize the sustainable impact of your project, remodeling your space into a beautiful and high-performing home.
Read more.
Arts & Culture
Architects in the Music World
The general public may know more about musicians than about architects; after all, it’s a lot easier to share a song far and wide than a building. But, both are both creative fields, so it may come as no surprise how much crossover there is between them.
Read more.
Ask an Architect
How To Know If Your Contractor is Doing a Good Job
As much as we may want it to be, nothing is perfect. Whether remodeling or building new, and regardless of how well-recommended your contractor is, unknown challenges will arise with your project. But, this is a navigable process, especially if you keep these tips in mind.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Do I Have Space for a Kitchen Island? (And Other Kitchen Island Questions)
Contrary to what you might read elsewhere, you can actually fit a kitchen island into a tighter space — you just have to design for it. Here are the details to keep in mind, as well as questions you’ll need to answer whether or not you have a small space to work with.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
What’s Blooming Now: Golden Summer, Rain or Shine
What do Golden Rain Tree, Cone Flower, and Thyme have in common? They can all bring lovely golden colors to your landscape. Learn more about the virtues of these three plants and why you may find them to be the perfect addition in your garden.
Read more.
Building Green
Questions To Ask About Sustainability
Board & Vellum’s first employee is starting off on a new adventure. As a farewell blog post, he asked people around the office about something really important to him: what questions they ask themselves — and think others should ask — about sustainability in terms of homes, landscapes, and workplaces.
Read more.
Custom Residential
Spec Home vs. Semi-Custom Home vs. Custom Home
When designing a new home, it’s important to understand the level of service you’ll need to get the particular quality of new home you’re hoping for. From a spec home, to a semi-custom home, to a fully custom home — here are the differences between the levels of service and the quality of the end result.
Read more.
Custom Residential
The Benefits of Building a New Home vs. Remodeling an Old One
Remodeling a home is not always the right call — there are a lot of complicated factors at play (and we’re here to help). If you are wondering about the advantages of building a new home instead of remodeling an old one, here is a quick primer on the advantages of new construction.
Read more.
Interior Design
To Buy, or Not to Buy, Knock-Off Furniture
Not everyone can afford to buy a house full of designer furniture. So, do you turn to knock-off pieces instead? (No. Or, not 100% no.) Here’s our philosophy for stretching your furniture budget, planning for longterm, and, all the while, still having somewhere to sit down at the end of the day.
Read more.
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Why Amenity Spaces in Multifamily Buildings Are Worth It
If an apartment building’s amenity spaces are an afterthought during the design process, they’re going to feel like afterthoughts in someone’s life, too. Uninspired settings are not what today’s city dwellers are looking for. In a competitive market, without well-designed common spaces, your whole building may end up an afterthought to a potential renter.
Read more.
Commercial, Interior Design
How to Design a Sense of “Home” into your Retail Space
Evoking a sense of “home” in a retail space can be a key factor in getting your customers to not only linger long enough to make a purchase, but to keep them coming back. But creating this type of experience takes more nuance than simply adding a couch — here’s what to consider when planning your space.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Common Bathroom Floor Plans: Rules of Thumb for Layout
There are a few typical floor plans to consider when designing the layout for a bathroom in your house. These eight lessons illustrate the common plan options and describes the advantages and disadvantages of each. Of course, there are always exceptions, and a good designer can find a solution that meets your needs.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Commercial
What Is a Tenant Improvement Allowance?
As a business owner, understanding what a tenant improvement (or TI) allowance is, is essential to inform the choices you’ll make when selecting a new commercial space and negotiating your commercial lease. The TI allowance will also define how much of the cost of your commercial build-out will come out of your pocket.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
What’s Blooming Now: Adding a Little Drama to Your Shade Garden
Three of our favorite plants for giving your shade garden some extra pop are Stewartia, Bear’s Breeches, and Cranesbill. Here’s a little on why we love them, how to help them thrive in your garden, and some ideas for pairing them with other plants.
Read more.
Commercial, Interior Design
How Biophillic Design Can Help Your Commercial Space
As humans, we love nature, and studies show that access to nature or natural elements is actually beneficial to our health. As a design theory, this is called biophilic design. Here are a few reasons why it’s worth it to incorporate nature into the design of your commercial spaces.
Read more.
Commercial, Interior Design, Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Creative Cost-Saving Tips for Your Commercial Space
Often, design budgets for commercial tenant improvements can be tight. But giving your space that little something extra to excite your clientele is super helpful for bringing in business, and getting your customers to linger. Here are a few creative tips for stretching that dollar further in your commercial space.
Read more.
Commercial
How Your Neighborhood Can Inform the Design of Your Commercial Space
Neighborhood and community context is important to the success of a retail — or other commercial — space. Here’s how being site-specific can be beneficial to your commercial project and help you make the impact you need to win and retain customers.
Read more.
Custom Residential
What to Think About When Designing a Cabin
When designing a cabin, what should you think about? What happens behind-the-scenes during the design process that results in a cabin that simply “feels right”? Read on for a bit of a peek at what guides us when collaborating with clients on a cabin project.
Read more.
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Are Condos in Seattle Coming Back?
It’s no secret that Seattle has an affordable housing problem — and the lack of condos on the market is one (of many) contributing factors. So, why are there so few condo buildings in Seattle? Read on for some backstory about how we got here, and, hopefully, a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
Read more.
Interior Design
Our (Current) Favorite Kitchen Details
This time around on our “B&V Designer Spotlight” series, we asked our interior design team to share their (current) favorite details for kitchens. So, from lighting to cabinets, with a bit about ideas for materials and finishes, read on to learn what’s exciting the team these days.
Read more.
Custom Residential
Bold & Colorful Exterior Paint for Your Craftsman House
Thinking about painting your house? Considering going with something other than a neutral shade? There are a ton of great colors out there for you to choose from, but it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some ideas to get you thinking about different families of colors you might choose.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
What’s Blooming Now: Spring Comes to Pacific Northwest Forests
Spring in Pacific Northwest forests brings new growth, lush in the damp, misty woods. Among the seemingly endless shades green, there are also a few lovely, subtle blossoms to enjoy. Learn about three of our favorites, found during a walk in the woods: Pacific dogwood, trumpet honeysuckle, and false lily of the valley.
Read more.
Multifamily & Mixed-Use
Why Lobbies in Multifamily Buildings Are Worth It
Do you remember the so-so lobbies you’ve passed through? Probably not. But do you have pleasant memories of the ones where you really spent some time? Of course! Great lobbies make a big impression. When they are well-designed, they impact our lives in ways that stick with us — the backdrop for important moments in our lives.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Why Custom Construction Details are Worth It
When you find yourself in a space that really feels amazing, take a moment and study how the details come together. These custom details take time and skill to produce, typically done during the construction documents phase, and the details are what take a project to the next level.
Read more.
Advice for Young Architects
Advice for Starting a Design Firm
Starting a design firm isn’t easy. It takes a lot of luck, it can exciting, but also stressful. You’ll need to take some calculated risks. It worked out at B&V, and we’ve grown to about 40 people in 8 years. Here are some tips learned along the journey of starting a design firm.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Should You Remodel, or Tear Down Your House and Build New?
So, your house isn’t meeting your needs. How do you decide what to do? Should you remodel or tear it down and build your dream house? Or, should you leave the house alone and move instead? Here are six areas you need to consider to help you make this complicated and delicate decision.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Do I Need to Permit My Remodel?
More than likely, if you’re remodeling a home in the Seattle area and wondering if you need a permit, the answer is, “Yes.” The real question is, “What type of permit do you need?” Of course, we can help you figure that out, but here’s a quick preview to get you started.
Read more.
Interior Design
Why Should You Have a Foyer in Your Home?
It seems like foyers are disappearing from the floor plans of newer homes. We know people think they want to use that square footage elsewhere, but we feel strongly that you should have a foyer in your house, even a tiny one. Here’s a little about why, from each of our designers on our interiors team.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Enclosing Your Patio: Is It Feasible?
Is your patio feeling a little neglected? Have you day-dreamed about enclosing your patio? Sometimes, it’s the perfect solution and relatively simple to pull off; but, other times, depending on your context, it can be quite a bit more complicated. Here‘s what you need to keep in mind so you can make the right call.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
What’s Blooming Now: April Showers Bring May Flowers
After the spring rains, who doesn’t love some May flowers? There are plenty of them out there heralding the growing season, and here we’ll highlight some of our favorites: Magnolia, Sweet Olive, and Fairy Wings. Learn not only to recognize them, but what they like, and if they’d be a good fit for your yard.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Commercial
When Should I Hire an Architect for My Tenant Improvement?
Commercial clients sometimes think they need a signed lease before hiring an architect, but it’s much better to bring an architect on before you sign that lease, locking you into a space that might not meet your business's needs as well as you hope it will. Read on for more about how we can help.
Read more.
Building Green, Landscape Architecture
Planting for Bees: Sustainable & Bee-utiful Landscapes
In honor of Earth Day, let’s talk about a crucial part of our global ecosystem that needs our help: bees. How can you help? Lots of ways! Read on for a few to get you started, including how you can support bees in your garden, or even from a tiny balcony.
Read more.
Landscape Architecture
Landscape Details in an Urban Yard
Just like interior spaces, beautiful details are what help exterior spaces shine. To help illustrate, this post is a narrated tour of a project near and dear to us — just imagine it as if you are over for a summer party, and getting your first tour of this urban yard.
Read more.
Custom Residential, Interior Design
Clever Ways to Increase the Storage Space in Your Home
Not everyone can Marie Kondo all their extra stuff away — sometimes, you just need a little extra storage space, and we don’t mean you should go rent a storage unit. Here are ten ways to maximize the space you already have in your home to find additional (or previously under-utilized) space for storage.
Read more.
Interior Design
How To Feng Shui Your Bedroom
We spend a third of our lives asleep in our bedrooms, and that time is incredibly important to our health and wellbeing. To make sure you are getting the most out of your bedroom, here are some Feng Shui practices you can implement to improve the energy in your bedroom.
Read more.Or, if chronology isn’t your thing…
Here are a couple of posts to get you started. Of course, it’s hard to choose, so feel free to poke around; we hope to have a little something for everyone. And, if you have a burning question you’d like us to cover in a future post, please let us know!
Considering a project? Or, just curious about something?
Send us your questions about design, architecture, interiors, landscape, LEGO rooms… Anything, really. We’re always eager to meet new people, and we’d love to get to know you, your project, and your goals.
Achieved a Just label from the International Living Future Institute in 2023.
Honored as a finalist for residential landscape design.
Our team includes LEED-accredited professionals.
Our team includes certified Passive House consultants.
A Certified LGBT Business Enterprise Since 2016.
Honoring companies that lead in promoting equality.