Inspiration

Inspiration

Throughout this blog I've highlighted and created links to exceptional individuals and organizations who design thoughtful homes, environmentally responsible communities and historically based building products. Some of them are local to me, while others I've yet to meet. They are exceptional because at some point in their careers, be it a moment in time or countless hours spent around a conference room table, they decided to do what was right...even though their wallets might be fatter if they just followed the crowd. Their hard work and dedication to their chosen craft is now paying dividends in the form of homes and communities that will age gracefully and be admired for generations to come...and maybe even be an inspiration to others, like they were to me.

Thomas J. Ryan, Jr. - Architect

Like most of the internet, blogs read from newest to oldest entry...this one works best by reading the first three posts in chronological order, starting with the Welcome! post. Just scroll down on the right side of this page until you see the Blog Archive list...click on 2011, then scroll down to the bottom after the new page appears. Please email me with any comments and thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Porches




Porches have lots of parts and it's important, and relatively easy, to get them right. Starting at the top...a low slope roof (preferably hipped) supported by a visible (on both sides of the porch) porch beam supported on columns sitting directly over a visible concrete, brick or stone pier with skirting (preferably not lattice) spanning from pier to pier. It also doesn't hurt to have a dark stained, mirror-like beadboard ceiling! This home, an addition to a 1907 Prairie Foursquare located in the Historic District of Naperville, Illinois, designed by yours truly, was built by P & M Renovations.


More information on porches to come in future posts...
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Bay / Box Windows


I took this photograph of a beautiful historic home in San Antonio, Texas to show what a properly detailed cantilevered box bay window looks like. If an angled bay or box bay window does not sit directly on a foundation wall and is supported internally by a cantilevered structural system it should be detailed to look as though brackets, reflecting the style of the house, are doing the heavy lifting.


More information on bay windows to come in future posts...
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