Fall is a time when many homeowners consider new windows–the inevitable season of cold drafts gets them motivated. I almost always install wood windows in my homes, clad with aluminum or vinyl on the exterior. Why cladded? Moisture from the elements or a sprinkler system wreaks havoc on wood windows, and while the cladding costs a little extra, you’ll save it many times over if you repaint, which you will. Today’s choices of cladded windows have moved into the high-end market, making them both a good aesthetic choice as well as practical. In my own home, I installed wood windows and doors imported from France made by Janneau. They are beautiful, heavy and luxurious, but not cladded and thus require maintenance. Also, I primarily specify casement windows that hinge out for ease of use. For a different look, steel windows, while expensive, are making a comeback in many areas. Window installation is another key factor to consider. To ensure a proper install, I urge all homeowners to make sure the installation and weather stripping be done by the window supplier, not a builder or other contractor. I also often see the inside glass scratched by painters during clean up. By masking off each windowpane, the painter avoids needing to razor the glass. To be sure, today’s wide range of window companies (and window prices) can be confusing and overwhelming. Talk to reputable architects and remodelers in your area for referrals.

Master suites are growing in importance in the homes I design today. They not only provide a restful retreat for harried parents or empty nesters–the master is like a home within the home, including spa-like bath amenities, libraries or sitting rooms and breakfast bars to serve the morning coffee. In my own home, I arranged the master suite in a way that often surprises my clients: I spaced the master bath a good 15 feet away from the bedroom. Many clients want the bathroom right off the bedroom, but I encourage them to consider adding a passageway that might contain a breakfast bar or sitting area between the two. Why? I have found that the added space provides much needed privacy and quiet for the spouse who might not rise as early as the other. My morning wake times no longer disturb Susan as our dressing room and bath area are well separated from the bedroom. It’s an arrangement we’ve come to appreciate, and so have many of my clients. If you’re considering building a new home or undertaking a master suite renovation, adding some breathing room to this important area might be more than a home improvement, it could be a major quality of life improvement.

Because my design focus for the past 20 years has been on European design, I have developed a sense of what works best for this particular look. Homeowners who desire this style of home often make the mistake of, in my opinion, overdoing it. Good design, including good European design, stays within the rule of keeping it simple. I apply this philosophy to everything–furniture (never go too ornate or too much pattern), monochromatic rugs, wood finishes, (always a matte finish) and paint colors (one creamy neutral throughout, like Pratt & Lambert’s Ceylon Ivory, allows artwork, rugs and furnishings provide the visual punch and opens up the space.) Let quality building materials speak for themselves and choose decorative accents that have a history or personal meaning. With this guiding principle, you’ll achieve the right European look for an elegant home you and your guests both will find inviting.

Frequently I work with clients who are focused on a certain square footage for the home they envision. Often, in their minds, 4,000, 6,000 square feet or more is what they need to live comfortably and with the right amenities. While this approach might be used by real estate agents or builders looking to promote a certain size home, as an architect, I know it’s not the place to start. I begin by learning how my clients will use their space. Lifestyles and consumer knowledge have changed dramatically over the last 25-30 years, and today I find few clients really using formal dining rooms or living rooms, for example. In fact, they may use them only 10 percent of the time! Today’s homeowners have more uses for home offices, exercise rooms or spa-like master baths. With building costs on the rise, it’s more cost effective to plan wisely and focus on creating spaces that are high quality and enjoyable rather than simply on the measurements.

My own landscape architect, Diane Cagle, always incorporates creative use of hardscape materials into her landscape designs. She uses some simple treatments of concrete (i.e., rock salt, scoring, staining, textured and colored concrete) on some properties, and on others she chooses natural stone. If she wants a softer look that also protects trees that she wants to preserve, she might choose a dry-lay stone application. If she wants to hide a hard surface, she might call out the use of Grasspave and gravel pave, two other great solutions that offer a more authentic European look. Fortunately for inventive landscape architects like Diane, paving options are almost unlimited today.