After months of construction, the anticipation and preparation of moving in to your new house is finally here! You've been looking forward to this for so long, so a simple and easy move, whether across town or cross country, might be just what you need to put the stress of building behind you. Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Lisa, owner of Move Mama Move, an expert on movement, and a master of keeping a busy life organized. Below she shares stellar advice for moving, her exper…

It's Earth Day! As an architect, it makes me think about sustainability and how much building our dream homes affect our environment. I mean, how many people choose to build with healthy, eco-friendly materials versus those thinking "it's not worth the extra expense"? I think a lot of people fall into the latter. So here's my take on it...

Sustainability, in terms of construction, is all about conserving energy and resources, meaning "to protect the planet and ensure the needs of the present ar…

I hope this list of selections helps you with your custom build. It's easy to become overwhelmed with so many questions only you can answer, but hopefully, reviewing this list early in the process will help you feel prepared and stress-free, knowing what lies ahead.

Follow this link for your copy of my Preliminary Material and Finishes Checklist, to use on your new home build.

Below I'm breaking down the major materials and finishes that must be selected for any new build. This, by no means, i…

One aspect of construction that gets more attention than anything else is always the budget. It's front and center with every choice you make, from the initial planning phase to punch list items before move-in day. And if you're thinking of building anytime soon, you're probably well aware of the rising costs of material and labor. For example, a lumber package that once cost $30,000, can easily be more than double now. And before you know it, a 5% increase here and a 2% increase there, can easi…

Do you want to have fun and enjoy the process of creating your dream home? Start with WHY. 

Hi, my name is Jenn and I’m your pocket architect.

You might be thinking, what is your pocket architect? Well, it’s a term I use to describe my niche in the architecture world and the name of my new e-book.

As a little girl, I would draw house plans for fun. Once I got to college and began my education, it was nothing like I thought it would be. I realized I didn’t really know anything about what it me…

Every custom build is different, they're like snowflakes, no two are exactly the same. But just as snowflakes have one thing in common, so do all custom home builds. 

Connections.

Building your dream home cannot happen in a vacuum.

Land and civics, building elements and systems, tradesmen and professionals, budgets and timelines... they're all important and they're all intertwined.

Have you ever been grocery shopping, hungry and without a list. It's impossible to think straight, it's frustra…

As a child, my favorite pastime was drawing up floor plans for my future ‘dream home’. Needless to say, I’ve been giving this a lot of thought for a very long time, so when my boyfriend, now husband, Tyler, and I began looking for our first house, I wasn’t sure we would ever find something that suited both of our tastes. However, we fell in love with a fixer-upper in a hip downtown neighborhood on the North Shore of Chattanooga. The charming 1920’s home had plaster and lath walls along with all …

Selecting exterior paint colors is very exciting because it means your home is almost done. This is the first impression your home makes to future guests, it's a huge part of your home's curb appeal, and it sets your home apart from it's surroundings (or makes it blend in, depending on your goals).

Below I've gathered up some of my favorite projects to hopefully inspire you when you're making your paint selections and to prepare you for this big decision, remember the following tips. 

1- Test …

One of the biggest concerns I hear from client is about not-blowing the budget. Below are a few tips to keep in mind, so you can stay in-control of your spending, while also staying sane, and getting exactly what you want without sacrificing what's most important to you.

#1 - BE UP FRONT & HONEST

• Do know your budget and stick with it
• Don't constantly change the budget number depending on who you're talking to, or who is / isn't around
• Do share your budget with your team
• Don't be afraid yo…