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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.

January 14, 2012

I'm already two weeks into 2012 and I still feel like the New Year just happened. This year promises to be pretty exciting with some great residential projects (modern, traditional, and transitional), some nifty retail projects, and a bunch of major items going on personally. It is fair to say that I've never been more excited for a year in my life! My passion for single-family residential architecture and retail is something that sustains me and keeps me a happy man.

One of the things I have done for years, like many other people, is sit down and prioritize my goals for the year. I've already spoken about the benefits of planning, but one of the other things that is fun to do is sit down and list the topics I want to write about.

When I started this I didn't fully know what it was going to become. I knew that I wanted to write a blog that was written by an architect but not for architects. There are tons of blogs for architects talking to other architects, but that just isn't where my passion is. (If I had the inkling I would make one of those "Sh*t that Architects Say" videos which would pretty much capture the essence of every blog written by and for architects out there.) I'm an architect, and I want to do cool stuff for people who aren't architects. There's probably some part of me deep down who really wants praise from my peers, but really, I just want awesome clients to have awesome spaces that I get to design that make them happy. Simple enough.

And to do that, writing a blog that is actually useful, helpful, and entertaining to them, is something I love doing.

Here were some of my favorite posts from 2011:

How Not To Look Like a Zombie in a Changing Room

Paint Your House Like Cyndi Lauper Dresses

Why Smaller Retail Rocks

How to Pick the Color of Your Appliances

One Person's Castle is Another Person's... Um, Castle?

My Lego Addiction

This year, I will have a few projects under construction (including a remodel of my own house which will provide plenty of entertaining posts) with plenty of photographs of construction details to discuss. I'm hoping that everyone gets a little out of each post and gets to think a little more about the kind of space they live in and how it really does influence a person's mood and well-being.

And if you can't stop staring at your wood base shoe next to your painted base because of something I wrote, then, so be it. (Sorry Richard...)

Happy New Year, everyone!

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