live-work-play thanks a great project team on a newly completed bathroom renovation.  The owners Ellen and Sacha, contractor Skyline Construction  and energy auditor Habitat Audits were fantastic to work with.  This renovation also includes multiple energy upgrades for the mid-century 60s home, making it more comfortable and energy efficient.

Besides increasing the energy efficiency, we sourced recycled content materials–Fireclay tile, Ecotech tile, Environite countertop (Available at Greenhome Solutions).  The dual-flush WC saves water, and the locally made cabinets have NAUF plywood boxes.  Most of the lighting is energy saving fluorescent fixtures by Forecast.

Earth Day was yesterday, and this weekend I attended the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s Green Home Tour. I presented a project on the tour last year so I wasn’t able to go out that time.

This year it was so inspiring to go out and see some colleagues’ work.  If you missed it, you can still get a virtual tour on the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s website.  Cheers!

For everyone planning a veggie or fruit garden, the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant sale is tomorrow March 17 at Magnuson Park.

Have a great time!

If you’ve ever wondered what might be great low maintenance plants for your garden, here are a few links:

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/

http://green.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Index.aspx

Are you thinking about rainwater management? Rainwise is a great place to start:

http://www.seattle.gov/util/About_SPU/Drainage_&_Sewer_System/
GreenStormwaterInfrastructure/ResidentialRainwiseProgram/index.htm

Live-work-play likes to help people with their design conundrums, no matter how big or small. Do you have a lot of little projects that you would like some design help and opinions on? You are perhaps thinking that an architect or designer is out of reach for your scope? Look no further—–we offer an affordable three hour design brainstorming consultation that can help!!!!!

First, make a list of your ideas and questions, and put it in priority order. Then give us a call, and we’ll chat a few minutes to make sure this is the right scope for an afternoon consultation. If it is, we’ll set up a time to meet and away we go!

Topics of previous afternoon consultations: tile choices and design; paint color suggestions; ideas for future projects; making sure work now won’t interfere with work later; cabinet and storage ideas; whether to use a skylight or solatube; lighting ideas…..just to name a few.

Give us a call, we’re glad to talk with you. Just mention that you are interested in brainstorming.

Often people think of these cottages as carriage houses or converted garages. And, they just might be that. Or they might be built from scratch. As parents age or adult children need a place to live nearby, we look for more and more innovative housing. Rental income to supplement the house payment also helps. The city of Seattle just passed the Backyard Cottage ordinance which allows these second dwellings throughout Seattle. They are also allowed in many places in the greater Seattle-Bellevue area.

One possibility is to change the garage so someone can live there. It is a matter of researching the land use code to make sure it meets those requirements, and then adding plumbing and electricity plus insulation, wall board, new floor surfaces and a cozy kitchen. Here’s another example–building a living space above the existing garage. Then storage is maintained while creating a second place to live. A third is to build an entirely new cottage in the backyard. How do you know if you can create a backyard cottage?

Each property is different, so it needs to be analyzed for your needs and desires; the land use code; daylight access; open space and so forth. In Seattle, lots that are larger than 4000 square feet are eligible for backyard cottages. You may want to make a list of the reasons you are considering a cottage, and a list of your priorities for it. Everyone wins with backyard cottages. There is plenty of togetherness and privacy, while living in community with extended family and friends.

Live work play promotes housing options and variety, and we would be glad to talk with you further about the possibilities for your backyard cottage in the Puget Sound Area. Please give us a call.