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Learn more about architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture from the B&V Team.
Our blog is a friendly resource for anyone wondering how to approach their project, seeking answers for their design questions, or simply eager for a peek inside our world.
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Ada’s Receives a Citation in the 2014 Residential Architect Design Awards
We are very excited to announce that our work at Ada's Technical Books & Café has been nationally recognized with a citation in the category of "light commercial" for the 2014 Residential Architect Design Awards!
Learn more.Ask a Designer
What to Expect at the First Design Meeting with an Architect
So, you've decided to hire an architect. Are you curious about what that first design meeting will be like? It can certainly vary greatly depending on who you've decided to work with, but at Board & Vellum, we shelve our egos and work with you to create the design that works best for your project.
Learn more.Commercial
Ada’s: A Burst Of Light and a Custom Mobile
Ada’s Technical Books & Café is a project that will always be near and dear to us. And, one of our favorite details (both to design and to make) is the custom mobile of book pages. This is the story of how it came to be.
Learn more.
Ask a Designer
What do Architects’ Acronyms Mean?
While our policy at Board & Vellum is to avoid using acronyms whenever we can, sometimes it's just unavoidable in architectural drawings. While contractors typically know what they all stand for, clients often do not. So, here is a handy (if limited) guide to some of the acronyms you'll see the most frequently.
Learn more.News
Celebrating Three Years of Board & Vellum
It's been an amazing three years at Board & Vellum. We've grown from just Jeff working hard in his attic, to a team of seven working hard together in the (now) expanded Board & Vellum offices. Here, Jeff looks back at the last three years, and ahead to the next three.
Learn more.Ask a Designer, Sustainable Practice
To Certify or Not to Certify: Is It a Question?
There are enough green certifications out there to make your head spin: LEED, Passive House, Living Building Challenge, Earth Advantage, Built Green, Energy Star, Built Smart... the list goes on. What does it mean when a project is certified? And why would you want to certify your project, or purchase a building that is certified?
Learn more.Ask a Designer, Custom Residential, Sustainable Practice
Home Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is really important for you and your family's health. So, what can you do to make sure that your home stays healthy? Here are a few warning signs to watch for, and some tips and rules to adopt to improve your home's indoor air quality.
Learn more.Ask a Designer
The Stages of Architectural Design
The biggest question we get when meeting with new clients who haven’t worked with an architect before (aside from, “How much does it cost?”) is always about how the process works. What are the stages of architectural design, and what happens at each phase? So, let's explore the phases from Pre-Design through Construction Observation!
Learn more.Other Tangents
Single Design Moves That Make All the Difference
Sometimes, there is a single move that just makes all the difference in the world to a project's success. Houzz wrote an article about this and featured our Seattle Box Remodel. Check it out!
Learn 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!
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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.