
91 episodes

The Architecture Happy Hour hpd architecture + interiors
-
- Home & Garden
-
-
4.4 • 35 Ratings
-
hpd architecture + interiors principals Laura Davis and Holly Hall share their thoughts and tips on architecture, from helping home owners select the right architect to never being too late to begin a career in architecture.
-
Podcast: How will Coronavirus Change Home Design in the Future?
Life at home has certainly changed in 2020. Working from home and managing kids in the same space has created new challenges. Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you changed the way you purchase groceries and bring take-out food into your home? In Episode 91 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about the many areas of home design that will undoubtedly be changed by all that we have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode
How will design change in these areas?
Front entry porch: providing a protected area for receiving deliveries
Entry to home for family: including a disinfection station in mudrooms or near entryway.
Kitchens: will you be stocking up more and needing extra storage space?
Kids spaces: fun and safe places for kids, especially when mom and dad may be working from home and needing to have online Zoom meetings.
Grown-up spaces: space to explore and organize new hobbies
Home office: consider light source, home sounds and how much space you need as well as comfortable seating
Bedrooms: having a plan in case a family member gets sick.
-
Needs, Wants, and Budget for Your Home Design
A good start to any home design project includes defining your goals which means figuring out your needs, your wants, and how to pay for it. In Episode 90 and the 2nd installment of the Home Design Series on The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about what happens at the beginning of each home design project. Much time is spent helping their clients define their needs, wants, and budget.
In this episode:
Goals – why are we doing this?
Your stage in life, desired lifestyle, and occupants will determine the types of rooms and size of space you need.
Is your motivation driven by pleasure or pain?
How will you enjoy the room after the remodel? What annoyance are you trying to eliminate?
If you are designing around a large family with children you may want casual, open spaces with plenty of rooms that can close and hide messes.
A focus on accessibility and aging-in-place may be important if grandparents will be living with you.
Formal entertaining, art collections, and fine furnishings require a different approach to the design and architecture.
What does your home say about you and what should it look like?
Architectural style will influence on how rooms get laid out
Contemporary vs. Colonial
Open floor plan vs. more formal and separate rooms
The difference between NEEDS and WANTS
Make your wish list – divide it into two columns – NEEDS and WANTS.
A Need is a requirement to meet your goals.
A Want is an extra thing that would be really nice to have, but is not absolutely necessary.
Architectural features can be considered a need or a want depending on the lifestyle you want to live:
High vaulted ceilings, wood beams
Arched openings
Large porch, pool cabana, she shed, man cave
Extra trim and details in wood work - beadboard wainscoting, crown moulding
Think about the amenities you need or want in your home design:
Plumbing - double vanities in your Master, His and Hers toilets, steam shower, Insta-hot water dispenser in the kitchen
Appliances - gourmet Kitchen with extra freezer, 4’ wide commercial gas range, glass front refrigerator, double dishwashers, double laundry upstairs/downstairs
Storage - large walk-in closets, stockpile room/pantry, specialty storage for silver, jewelry, shoes, hats, collections, holidays
Technology - smart house controlled on your phone, video security, surround sound, powerful WiFi, extra outlets at specific heights (sewing/workshop) or for Christmas lights (eaves), built-in reading lights by your bed, universal remotes
Room for hobbies, interests - wine cellar, dog bathing room, sewing or art studio, movie theater room, golf swing simulator
How to pay for it: developing a home design budget
Start a spreadsheet and list all the rooms and features that will be in the new house or involved in your remodel.
Cost per square foot room comparisons - In Dallas, Texas these spaces can range from $300 (and up) per square foot for the expensive rooms like Kitchens and Master Bathrooms, and as low as $75 per square foot for the more simple spaces like a Garage. Your average pricing will vary depending on where you live.
$$$$ - Kitchens, Bathrooms
$$$ - Family/Living Rooms Rooms, Master Bedrooms, Laundry/Mudrooms (lots of cabinetry), custom Closets
$$ - Bedrooms, Breakfast Rooms, Offices, Playrooms
$ - Garages, Covered porches (be careful of expensive doors, lighting, or finishes)
If you are not familiar with construction costs in your community, you might need to contact a few general contractors to ask what's... -
7 Essentials for Starting Your Home Renovation or New Home Design Project
What to Think About Before You Design Your Own Home
You're thinking of starting a new home design project, but you're not quite sure where to start. Are you wondering, "How long does it take to build a house?" or curious about "How much does it cost to build a house?"? In Episode 89 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall roll out the first episode in their new Home Design Series, talking about the 7 Essentials for Starting Your Home Renovation or New Home Design Project. Join Laura and Holly as they talk about the 7 things you absolutely need and the questions you need to ask when you're starting a new home design project.
In this Episode:
The 7 Essentials for Starting Your Home Renovation or New Home Design Project
WHAT would be included in your ideal home?
Click on image to get your pdf download
What's on your wish list?
What will your dream home look like?
What types of rooms do you need?
What kind of home style you prefer? Traditional, modern, farmhouse?
WHERE is the location for your ideal home?
Where are you wanting to do this renovation?
What do you need to know about local zoning regulations?
Does your home owner's association have restrictions or design guidelines?
WHEN is the best time to remodel your house?
How long does it take to build a house?
What is a typical design and construction timeline?
Do you have life or family events we need to work around?
WHY do you want to do this home design project?
What is the goal of the project?
How can your home support your lifestyle?
Is this a short term investment or your forever home?
WHO will be living in the home?
Who is involved in building a house?
Who will live in the house?
Will you be doing much entertaining?
Do you have kids or grandkids that need a playroom or space to run around?
Do any of the residents have mobility issues; do you need to plan for aging-in-place?
Who are the decision makers?
HOW will your dream home become a reality?
How will this project be managed?
How much does it cost to build a house?
Do you have a home building budget?
How do I know if I'm going to overbuild for my neighborhood?
TEAM members to make the project a success?
Do I have a good realtor to advise me on home values and neighborhoods?
Should I be my own general contractor?
Do I need an architect or an interior designer to create floor plans?
What other consultants will I need for my home build project?
Download the Checklist Here!
Have questions you'd like us to answer? Contact us here!
Stay tuned for the next podcasts in the series and in the meantime, you might want to look at these related posts:
building a new home
10 questions to ask before designing your new home
-
88: Best Time of Year to Buy Things for Your Home
Planning big purchases for your home this year? Knowing the best time to buy and planning ahead can save you big bucks on things for your home. In Episode 88 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall share the best times of the year to buy things for your home.
In this episode
A month by month guide on the best time of year to buy things for your home
Linens, bedding
Carpet, flooring
Home decor, furniture
Televisions, electronics
China, flatware
Cookware, kitchen accessories
Paint
Patio Furniture
Appliances
Holiday and seasonal items
Home Design Tips
Our favorite apps/websites that make shopping and saving faster and easier
Rakuten.com
Flipp.com
Wikibuy.com
Camelcamelcamel.com
Smile.amazon.com
Store apps price scan
What is the Best Time of Year to Buy...?
Large Appliances: September, October, and January
This is when manufacturers roll out new home appliance models, and retailers are eager to move last year's inventory. (Refrigerators are the exception. New models come out in the spring.)
Also, Thursdays are a good day because it’s before the weekend and the weekend rush when aisles are less crowded. The last days of the month are also good because stores are desperate to meet quotas and are more likely to dicker over prices.
air conditioners & gas grills: Fall & winter because few buyers think about warm-weather appliances when leaves and snow cover the ground.
dishwashers: December because they are much cheaper at the end of the year.
Indoor Furniture: July
While January is also a great month to buy furniture (post-Christmas sales, new styles are released in February, etc.), July wins out over January because: Bringing your furniture home in snowy weather conditions is difficult. Overall furniture sales are down in the summer making the discounts go up.
Office Furniture: January, after tax season & July
Furniture styles are updated twice a year usually between February and August. This is a great time to take advantage of price cuts as stores make room for new inventory. Also look into any discounts on floor models.
office supplies: august
computers: july
July is typically a slow month for computer sales—before the back-to-school rush—so you can often find some great deals!
Outdoor Furniture: august to october
Stores begin clearing out their summer items in July & August to make room for their fall inventory. Generally, the further from summer, the higher the savings on patio furniture. In early August, sales are approximately 20 percent off.
gardening tools: february to april
Save up to 50 percent on shovels, hoes, rakes and other gardening tools during these months.
lawnmowers: april, may, august, september & october (per Consumer Reports).
One popular school of thought is that it’s best to buy a mower right after mowing season ends.
picnic & barbecue supplies: mid-may & june
In anticipation of the summer grilling and picnic season, retailers want to sell their stuff, so you’ll find deep discounts on these types of items.
swing sets: august
Since swing sets take up a lot of floor space and lose their popularity after kids go back to school, August is a popular month for sales.
above ground swimming pools: december to february
The off season is the best time to buy. Some retailers will offer incentives to “early planners’ who purchase their pools in December/January/February.
Carpets, -
87: New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
If your home could make New Year’s resolutions, what would they be? Does your home dream of exquisitely appointed closets or cozy, inviting rooms for family gatherings? In Episode 87 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about ways you can help your home be more healthy, better organized, and budget-smart in the new year!
In this episode
Sorting, purging, and organizing
Donate to local charities, recycle, pay it forward
Areas of the house that need attention, replacing, cleaning, and maintenance
Air filters
Clothes dryer lint exhaust
Exhaust fans in bathrooms
Batteries in smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
Lead paint
Popcorn ceiling texture and asbestos
Carpet cleaning
Mold/mildew in bathrooms
Weather stripping
Low-flow shower heads and toilets
LED light bulbs
Water filter in refrigerator
Home Design Tips
How to make your New Year Home To-Do List
Get organized to tackle projects each month
Links
AHH podcast episode 80: tidying up with marie kondo: expectations vs. reality
Kidde recall on fire extinguishers
Lead paint info from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Asbestos info from the EPA
Products and Resources
Links below contain Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Air filters for furnace
Carbon monoxide detectors
Steam cleaners for floors
Weather stripping
Low-flow shower heads
LED light bulbs 2700K color temperature
Sponsor
Are you interested in sponsoring The Architecture Happy Hour podcast? We want to connect with companies that are a good match with the interests of our listeners. Please call 214.751.2304 or contact us here to receive a media kit and learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
-
Front Porch Design: Outdated to Updated
Front porch design is more important that you might think. A well-designed front porch delivers style, hospitality, and security to the front of your home. In Episode 86 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about the many facets of front porch design and what steps you can take to turn your porch from outdated to updated.
In this episode
Front porch nostalgia - why Hollywood loves a good front porch
Porch functions - shelter, leisure, social, aesthetics, safety
Considerations when designing a new porch
New technology for porch design
Home Design Tips - Easy ways to update an outdated porch
Sponsor
Are you interested in sponsoring The Architecture Happy Hour podcast? We want to connect with companies that are a good match with the interests of our listeners. Please call 214.751.2304 or contact us here to receive a media kit and learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Customer Reviews
Lovely
What a lovely show! Great hosts who sound very experienced and intelligent
Thank you Laura!
My first ep. was 62, Never Too Old To Be An Architect. I am 25, separating from the military and eager to start my education even though it may mean I will be a student until I am 32. I am so eager I just had to ask Laura a few questions and she was very encouraging in her replies. Will continue listening and enjoying this podcast while I start my journey!
Love it
I started listening because we are about two years out from building a home. Ended up binge listening through just about all episodes b/c they are so easy and pleasant to listen to. My favorite episode to date should have been titled “so what’s the deal with college softball players’ hair.”
Top Podcasts In Home & Garden






Listeners Also Subscribed To





