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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.
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Events
Seattle Home Show and Stone Hot Tubs
Jeff pops down to the Seattle Home Show to take a look at a slew of products all at once, and, of course, crack a few jokes about some of the odder offerings.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Interior Design
Plywood As an Interior Finish Material
It's always a big debate among designers whether or not plywood looks great as an interior finish material. So what's that debate all about? And, what questions should you ask yourself (and your designer should ask) when you're considering it for your project?
Read more.Ask an Architect
Why 45-Degree-Angled Walls in Floor Plans Are Bad
Angles in a floor plan are not inherently bad, however, they should be there for a reason, to solve a problem creatively. They should be beautiful, functional, and helpful. I can respect a good angle in the right situation. Here's why the random angle walls you see everywhere in the suburbs are just plain scary.
Read more.
Ask an Architect
Appropriate Siding Material for Urban Environments
Just as you need to wear different clothing for different weather or climates, buildings need different exterior siding to suit their environment. (And we don't mean in terms of the building envelope in this case.) We mean, if you're in a city, plan for graffiti.
Read more.Historic & Traditional
Adaptive Reuse of Churches
Churches are some of the world's most iconic and everlasting forms of architecture. They're also in declining use and in need of a new use in life. Here are some fun examples of churches being adapted to a new use in life.
Read more.News
Architecture Advice to Non-Architects
Jeff reflects on why he loves writing for non-architects, looks back to a few posts he particularly enjoyed writing over the past year, and looks excitedly to this new year and all that's happening ahead.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
How Much Time to Plan for a Remodel or House Project
When you just are dying to update one particular thing in your house, it's a good idea to just slow down for a sec, and make sure you have a master plan. You'll be kicking yourself if you end up redoing something you've already put money into. Here are some planning tips.
Read more.Custom Residential
Christmas Lights for Architects
Christmas lights are far too much work to take seriously. Here are some thoughts on how to blow apart convention and have a great time with crazy Christmas lights on your house or apartment building.
Read more.
Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
What Kind of Cabinets Should I Select?
Custom cabinets are pretty freaking amazing. There's a lot to choose from (style, hardware, color, finish...), but one of the most basic decisions is what kind of style cabinet door construction you want, or is right for your space. Here are summaries of the three kinds of styles with some easy-to-follow diagrams.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
How to Live with Carrara Marble
Carrara marble is a classic material that holds timeless appeal. Unfortunately, it has some challenges that require careful consideration. Read on for some thoughts on this beautiful stone.
Read more.Other Tangents
Adventures in Strange Toilets
Whether you talk about it or not, toilets play a really big role in our daily lives. And sometimes, we come across some truly bizarre choices... not always bad. Here are a few that Jeff came across in his travels.
Read more.Other Tangents
Designing in 3D with SketchUp
Dreaming of your perfect floor plan and sketching in a notebook is a fine tradition that I fully support. But, if you're tech savvy enough, I suggest taking it to the next level, downloading SketchUp, and having fun with your ideas. Take your dreams and use them as inspiration in communicating with your architect.
Read more.Other Tangents
Steve Jobs as an Inspiration to Architects and Design
Steve Jobs, you'll be missed. You've inspired not only legions of software and hardware engineers, but architects around the world with your clear and focused passion for design. Here are some reasons why architecture and architects are better off for what he has done for the world.
Read more.Ask an Architect
Bad Corners and Where to Transition Finishes
It doesn't seem like rocket science, but figuring out how to transition two different materials is something that is often done horribly wrong. Here's how to properly transition materials at corners and make your building vastly better looking.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Do the Shoes Match the Boards?
Do the shoes match the boards? As in, should the shoe on your baseboard match the baseboard or the floor? The baseboard! Here's how to ensure that you have nice, consistent baseboards and shoes that don't fight with your floors.
Read more.Other Tangents
An Architect’s Thoughts on Hospital Rooms
When an architect ends up in the hospital, even then they keep on observing and judging the spaces they occupy there.
Read more.Commercial, Custom Residential, Interior Design
How to Create Great Outdoor Rooms
Creating an outdoor room isn't hard, but creating a GREAT outdoor room in the Northwest has some unique challenges. Here's what to look for.
Read more.Firm Culture
Strategic Planning: Charting the Course
Strategic planning is a process in which you identify your goals and how you're going to get there. Here is a list of the values and the vision that keep Board & Vellum humming, as of 2011.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
How Big Should a Bedroom Be?
Planning a bedroom is a fun exercise of managing dimensions, rules of thumb, and practical advice. Here are our tips and guides for how to size a bedroom.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
How to Match Heights of Doors and Windows
Everyone has their little issues; mine has to do with disparate casing heights around windows and doors in the same rooms. (You know, when the trim on the top of a window doesn't perfectly line up with the door it's near.) This is how to solve that annoyance.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Top 10 Things to Think About When Planning a Bathroom
Bathrooms are some of the most remodeled spaces in anyone's house. It is easy to see why: we spend a bunch of time in there every day. Coupled with the fact that styles come and go, and the square footage of most bathrooms is pretty small, they're an easy target. Here's what to think about.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Let’s Talk Dirty: The Wonder of Small Laundry Closets
Do you really want to haul all that laundry down to the dank basement all the time? If you're bothering to remodel, it's just not that hard to find space for a small laundry closet closer to where the dirty laundry piles up. Here's how.
Read more.Other Tangents
Smashing Glass Blocks
Glass block is horrible. Don't use it. Please don't use it. Did I mention that it is pretty horrific? It is. Don't use it. That is all.
Read more.Custom Residential
Oh, Gosh, You Must Love It Here!
I'm often asked for my opinion on people's homes when they show them to me. Please stop. You're torturing architects. All we know, is that you love it and think it is wonderful. Can't that be enough? And besides, I know that you must love it there. Isn't that all that needs to be said?
Read more.Commercial
Downsize Your Retail: 15th Avenue East
There is something particularly special about very small retail spaces. The shops on 15th Avenue East on Capitol Hill in Seattle, especially on the northwest end, are an especially good example of this.
Read more.Other Tangents
Nantucket Architecture
Architects can learn so much from visiting other places and seeing what works well there. Jeff recently returned from a trip to Nantucket, and reports back here.
Read more.Ask an Architect
Construction Observation: What the Heck Is It?
There are a bunch of typical phases in a typical architectural design process, but all projects don't include all of the phases, though they are available. Basically, it is like a menu of services. Construction Observation is one of the the best things on the menu, and too often overlooked.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Commercial, Interior Design
Zombie Lighting
What is with dressing rooms that have horrible top lighting? Isn't the point to make you feel like you look really good, and should, therefore, buy the clothes you're trying on? It's so easy to avoid. Don't make this mistake in your shop!
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
Painting Your House Cyndi-Lauper-Style
As Cyndi Lauper once said, "On my darkest days, I wear my brightest colors." What a great piece of advice, especially for a city that can be as gray as Seattle. Living in the Northwest brings enough dark days. Why not think about brightening up your house and helping improve your mood along the way?
Read more.Other Tangents
Great Street Life in Europe
Every place in the world has something to teach us and if we can be open to learning the lessons from each place we visit, we'll all take home valuable lessons to use in the built environment we add to every day. Here are some favorite examples.
Read more.Other Tangents
What Not to Build, But What to Love
Sometimes you don't know what you want, but at least knowing what you don't want is a step in the right direction. This bold example of, let's call it, a single-family castle, helps teach us all a little lesson.
Read more.Custom Residential
The Great Book of Your House
Books are awesome. Home Repair is NOT awesome. Combine them, though, into a great home manual and your home repairs become a bit less of something that is too dreadful to think about. Here's what you need to know to organize your home maintenance.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Avocado or Harvest Gold
Be careful in selecting your appliance colors. Remeber "Harvest Gold" and "Avocado Green"? Let's all promise to never let that happen again.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential
How to Pick a Window
When you start looking into what windows to pick, it can be very overwhelming. Here's what to focus on: great materials, real muntins, and appropriate measurements. Going in with the right knowledge will help you save money, and protect you from the pitfalls of poor-quality windows.
Read more.Custom Residential
Going Down Under: Basement Remodels Done Right
Basement remodels are one of the easiest ways to get extra square footage in your house. That's no revelation and we've all seen numerous basement remodels, but unfortunately what we've probably also seen are a lot of really bad basement remodels. Here's how to plan for a great one that's worth the investment.
Read more.Custom Residential, Landscape Architecture
Footloose and Fency Free
Fences and retaining walls are more than just simple demising lines: they're our walls in our outdoor living rooms. And sadly, so many of the fences that get put up end up being bland, boring, and basic boards. I'm sure that the people who live in these homes AREN'T boring, of course, so what options do they have instead? Plenty. Take a look at a few personalized options.
Read more.Advice for Young Architects
The Beautiful Critic
A friend of a friend recently sent me a link to a project (which will go nameless) with a comment about how interesting it was and all of the new technologies used in construction. It was also really ugly. "Beautiful" doesn't have to be a taboo word in architecture, let's not forget that.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Stop Super-Sizing Your Furniture Please
Americans are big people, we all know that. But as big as we are, our furniture is even bigger. I hesitate to call it a national epidemic but it is pretty close. Stop abusing your furniture and put it on a diet! Your home will be more comfortable for it!
Read more.Custom Residential, Interior Design
IKEA Kitchen Cabinets
While we love a good custom cabinet, sometimes, IKEA cabinets are the perfect choice for your budget. Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of this product.
Read more.Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Painted Trim
When should you paint the trim in your house, and when should you leave it as natural wood? And, if you paint it, what color should it be. Here are some simple guidelines to help you out.
Read more.Custom Residential
Small Spaces Are Opportunities
Don't shy away from small spaces: often these can become some of the greatest opportunities in your home. You have to put some effort into making a small space work, but you end up with a much more designed space that adds a ton of value.
Read more.Other Tangents
Life of an Architect
Shout out to another blogging architect: check out "Life of an Architect" for a good read.
Read more.Firm Culture
Vellum
What is vellum, and why is it in our name? Here is a little backstory for you, if you've just been too shy to ask.
Read more.Ask an Architect
This Is Probably a Project Too Small for an Architect, Isn’t It?
Whether or not your project is too small for an architect is a very common, yet tricky, question. Most projects (of all sizes) would be better with an architect involved, but it's true that it doesn't always suit to budget to hire a professional. Here are a couple of things to consider.
Read more.Other Tangents
Jeff’s LEGO Addiction
It's no secret: Jeff is obsessed with LEGO. In fact, he's now brought it all back from his parents' home, and set up a LEGO room in his own house that would make any LEGO lover swoon.
Read more.Firm Culture
Into the Breach
After 11 years of working in the architecture and interior design industry in some fantastic firms, I have made the crazy decision (in a down economy no less!) to head off and start my own firm. What am I hoping to get out of this?
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.