There’s no one way to build a house. Actually, there are about a million ways to build a house (give or take). But when it comes to the design process, there are three popular ways to get it done. Guess which way is my favorite…
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After two years of design & construction, the Sugarloaf remodel "after" photos have arrived! We turned this home away from home into a functional mountain retreat for THREE generations of family members.
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A tour of Meldrum Design HQ in Kingfield, Maine! Check out before & after photos and a video!
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Ever heard of sick building syndrome? It started with tightly sealed buildings. It's a good idea to seal buildings but how do we do it without sending people to the hospital?
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IAQ. Indoor Air Quality.
It used to be that homes were built to “breathe", but it's very expensive to heat or cool a house that “breathes”.
Now we focus on sealing tight the walls, roof, and foundation. Much better for energy efficiency but it introduces a new problem; now we’re inside with all the fumes and humidity trapped within our home. Sealed homes can have bad IAQ. (If you're designing a new house with me, this won't happen because we'll ventilate properly and use the right materials. But if you're living in an existing house already, it could be an issue.)
Bad indoor air causes allergies, headaches, and respiratory issues like asthma. But there are ways to maintain healthy indoor air in your home. Check out my recent blog post for a few suggestions. [Read time: 5 minutes]
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Right about now, you may be wondering how to make more money. Whether you’ve been laid off or are concerned about the impending recession, most of us are reassessing our finances.
Well, here’s an idea for you, spend a little money to make a lot more money on a property you already own… build an ADU!
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I have clients who come to me VERY prepared and others who, well, not so much. If you approach your project with the right information, you can save time, money, and headaches. Here are a few ways to prepare…
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Here’s a (very) quick breakdown of Contractors and Builders. I also threw in a little bit about Subcontractors. Read time: 5 min. Enjoy!
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Running Meldrum Design is one of the highlights of my life. I love it. In the last six years I’ve researched the heck out of running a remote, very small business. I’ve experimented with different methods, systems, software, and hardware. It took lots of energy, money, and time. So I thought I'd save you some of that and share what I've learned.
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The transformation of a 200 year-old brick building into seven tiny, modern apartments.
My friend Ben bought a big brick building in very rough shape. He wanted me to be the architect on a massive renovation and I jumped at the opportunity. Despite its deteriorating condition, the bones of this place were spectacular, the potential was enormous. Huge windows. Fancy, hand carved exterior molding. It was built circa 1830 for a wealthy merchant family. 1830! After 2.5 years, I finally “after” photos. YIPPEE! Here’s the full story and LOTS of photos…
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Sometimes people are curious about what an architect actually does. The people who think they know are surprised when they hear the truth.
And, while this profession can come in MANY different forms, there are an increasing number of one-person architecture companies like Meldrum Design. So here’s a quick (and aesthetically pleasing) breakdown of what I (and many other architects) do all day. INCLUDING an exclusive and very real photo of me and Sunny in my office!…
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You may be thinking… “It costs a fortune to build a sustainable house! I can’t afford that!” Fear not, there are relatively affordable solutions to this problem. And thankfully, some really smart people put it all together and gave it an awesome name… the PRETTY GOOD HOUSE.
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Behind the Scenes! A series of posts to help you understand what I’m doing back here. You know, behind the scenes. Up next, Interiors!
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Behind the Scenes! A series of posts to help you understand what I’m doing back here. You know, behind the scenes. Up next, Build Your Team!
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Behind the Scenes! A series of posts to help you understand what I’m doing back here. You know, behind the scenes. Up next, Designing A House!
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A unique and stunningly beautiful home for this San Diego couple.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally publish this project: my parents house!
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Behind the Scenes! A series of posts to help you understand what I’m doing back here. You know, behind the scenes. Up next, Researching Your Property
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Behind the Scenes! A series of posts to help you understand what I’m doing back here. You know, behind the scenes. Introducing the first post in my Behind the Scenes series: Finding a Designer!
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A whole house interior remodel finds space for this energetic family.
This remodel was centered around this Texan family’s minimalist priorities and athletic lifestyle. Right up my alley! Read on for more details and photos…
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IPD is the simple, common sense way to build.
I’ve written a couple articles about project delivery methods. But there’s one method I haven’t written about yet, which is crazy because it’s my favorite. It’s called Integrated Project Delivery.
Most homeowners don’t even know IPD exists but it’s quickly gaining popularity with building industry pros.
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