Articles
Experience in Written Form
What makes beautiful & comfortable homes
Filter by category
Sort by
How Much Space Does a Golf Simulator Room Need? Designing One Into a Custom Home
A comfortable golf simulator room needs about 10 feet of ceiling height, 14 to 16 feet of width and 18 to 20 feet of depth. In a custom home, the ceiling is the dimension to lock in first, because it cannot be raised later.
READ ARTICLE →
Inspiration
A 1984 Steeplechase One-Story in Houston, Reimagined: Kitchen, Fireplace Room and Front Exterior
A 1984 one-story in Houston's Steeplechase with a narrow kitchen, a vaulted fireplace room and a brick front. Three remodel concepts, each with a drag-to-compare slider.
Design 101
Are Heated Floors Worth It in a Custom Home? Where Radiant Floor Heating Earns Its Place
Heated floors are worth it in a custom home when they go where bare feet meet cold tile: primary baths, mudrooms, and stone-floored kitchens. Whole-house radiant heat only pays off in a tight, well-insulated house, and it has to be planned before the slab is poured.
Inspiration
A 1984 Cochran's Crossing Two-Story in The Woodlands, Reimagined: Front Exterior, Entry Stair and Glass-Walled Breakfast Room
A 1984 two-story in The Woodlands, Texas, with a gabled brick front, a two-story entry and a glass-walled breakfast room. Three remodel concepts, each with a drag-to-compare slider.
Design 101
How to Design a Built-In Banquette: Seat Height, Depth, Table Size, and Storage
A comfortable built-in banquette needs an 18-inch seat height, 18 to 20 inches of seat depth, a slight back angle, and a pedestal table that leaves room for knees. Here is how to size, place, and detail a breakfast nook that gets used every day.
Inspiration
A 1976 Rivershire Brick Two-Story in Conroe, Reimagined: Kitchen, Balcony and Front Exterior
A 1976 brick two-story in Conroe, Texas, with a wood-cabinet kitchen, a covered upstairs balcony and a front that blends into the trees. Three remodel concepts, each with a drag-to-compare slider.
Sustainability
How Deep Should Roof Overhangs Be? Designing Exterior Shade Into a Custom Home
Roof overhangs should usually run 24 to 36 inches on a hot-climate custom home, deeper over big south glass and replaced by porches or vertical fins on east and west walls. Here is how to size eaves and exterior shade so the sun stays off your windows.
Inspiration
A 1980 Bridgestone Two-Story in Spring, Reimagined: Primary Bath, Laundry Room and a Vaulted Fireplace Room
A 1980 two-story in Spring, Texas, with a vaulted living room, a dated primary bath and a plain laundry room. Three remodel concepts, each with a drag-to-compare slider, plus what to check before you buy.
Process
Permit Drawings and Plan Review: What the City Needs, and Why Plans Get Rejected
Most Texas cities need a site plan, floor plans, elevations, foundation and framing plans, wall sections and an energy report to permit a new house. What each sheet shows, who must seal it, how long review takes, why plans get rejected, and how Houston, Austin and the counties differ.
Materials
Pivot Front Doors: Size, Hardware, and What It Takes to Seal One
A pivot front door swings on a hinge point set in from the edge, so it can be far wider and heavier than a hinged door. It works well when the opening, the pivot hardware, the threshold, and the overhang are designed together from the start.
Inspiration
A 1977 Richmond Patio Home, Reimagined: Curb Appeal, a Vaulted Living Room and a Kitchen
A 1977 brick patio home in Richmond, TX, with a new roof per the listing. See concept redesigns of its front exterior, vaulted living room and kitchen, plus what to check before you buy.
Design 101
What Is a Morning Kitchen? Designing a Coffee Station Into the Primary Suite
A morning kitchen is a small beverage station inside or beside the primary suite: a sink, an undercounter fridge, a coffee machine and a few drawers. Placed well, it saves the walk to the kitchen at 6am. Placed badly, it brings noise, plumbing and clutter into the bedroom.
Inspiration
A 1992 Pearland Two-Story, Reimagined: Family Room, Kitchen and Covered Patio
A 1992 Pearland two-story with a new roof and A/C but dated finishes. See the family room, kitchen and covered patio reimagined with drag-to-compare sliders.
Every Article
The full journal, oldest thinking to newest — 147 pieces.
2026
- How Much Space Does a Golf Simulator Room Need? Designing One Into a Custom Home
- A 1984 Steeplechase One-Story in Houston, Reimagined: Kitchen, Fireplace Room and Front Exterior
- Are Heated Floors Worth It in a Custom Home? Where Radiant Floor Heating Earns Its Place
- A 1984 Cochran's Crossing Two-Story in The Woodlands, Reimagined: Front Exterior, Entry Stair and Glass-Walled Breakfast Room
- How to Design a Built-In Banquette: Seat Height, Depth, Table Size, and Storage
- A 1976 Rivershire Brick Two-Story in Conroe, Reimagined: Kitchen, Balcony and Front Exterior
- How Deep Should Roof Overhangs Be? Designing Exterior Shade Into a Custom Home
- A 1980 Bridgestone Two-Story in Spring, Reimagined: Primary Bath, Laundry Room and a Vaulted Fireplace Room
- Permit Drawings and Plan Review: What the City Needs, and Why Plans Get Rejected
- Pivot Front Doors: Size, Hardware, and What It Takes to Seal One
- A 1977 Richmond Patio Home, Reimagined: Curb Appeal, a Vaulted Living Room and a Kitchen
- What Is a Morning Kitchen? Designing a Coffee Station Into the Primary Suite
- A 1992 Pearland Two-Story, Reimagined: Family Room, Kitchen and Covered Patio
- What Is a Modern Dogtrot House? Designing a Breezeway Home for the Texas Heat
- A 1984 Cypress Meadows Two-Story in Katy: Curb Appeal, Entry and Primary Bath Reimagined
- Easements, Plats and Deed Restrictions: The Private Rules That Outrank the City
- Conditioned Attic or Vented Attic? How to Decide, and Whether the Space Above Should Be a Bonus Room
- A 1983 First Colony Two-Story, Reimagined: Three Rooms Worth Redoing
- Should You Build a Safe Room Into Your Custom Home? Size, Placement, and What It Takes
- A 1988 South Shore Harbour Two-Story, Reimagined: Three Rooms Worth Redoing
- Sunken Living Rooms and Conversation Pits: How to Design One That Works
- A 1978 Quail Glen Two-Story, Reimagined: Three Rooms Worth Redoing
- Luxury Barndominium Design: What Turns a Metal Building Into a Real Custom Home
- Lot Coverage and Impervious Cover: The Two Limits That Decide How Big You Can Build
- Can You Fit a Pickleball Court in Your Backyard? Size, Noise, Siting, and Lighting
- What Does a Craft Room Need? Designing a Hobby Studio Into a Custom Home
- How Big Should the Garage Be? Bay Count, Depth, and Door Height in a Custom Home
- Finished Floor Elevation: What It Means, How It Is Calculated, and Why It Decides Your Slab Height
- Quartz, Quartzite, Marble, or Porcelain? How to Choose Kitchen Countertops
- Exterior Lighting Design for a Custom Home: How to Light the Facade, Paths, and Landscape
- Rooftop Deck Design for a Custom Home: Structure, Waterproofing, Access, and Shade
- Do You Need a Whole-House Water Filter? Designing Water Treatment Into a Custom Home
- Building Setbacks: How to Read Them, Measure Them, and Find Your Buildable Area
- Grading and Drainage: How to Design a Houston Custom Home That Sheds Water
- Freestanding or Built-In? How to Choose and Place a Soaking Tub
- Solar-Ready by Design: Roof Planes, Battery Space, and Conduit in a Custom Home
- Range Hood Design for a Custom Kitchen: Power, Makeup Air, and Where the Duct Goes
- Wainscoting, Board and Batten, or Full Paneling? How to Choose Wall Paneling for a Custom Home
- How to Design a Walk-In Closet: Size, Layout, Lighting, and the Island Question
- Bathroom Vanity Design: Wall-Mounted Faucets, Height, Lighting, and Storage
- Pet-Friendly Custom Homes: Dog Wash Stations, Tough Floors, and Where the Crate Goes
- Music Room Design: How to Plan a Room for a Piano and Practice
- Architect or Design-Build? Who Should Design Your Custom Home
- What Is a Keeping Room? Designing a Den Off the Kitchen
- Spray Foam, Batts, or Mineral Wool? How to Choose Insulation for a Custom Home
- Where Does the Hot Water Come From? Designing Plumbing and Water Heaters Into a Custom Home
- Where Do the Outlets Go? Planning the Electrical System of a Custom Home
- Where Do the Ducts Go? Designing HVAC Into a Custom Home Before the Walls Are Drawn
- Should You Put an Elevator in a Custom Home? Types, Space, and Where It Goes
- What Makes a Modern Tudor House? Steep Gables, Brick, and Timber, Rethought
- Designing a Home Gym: Floor, Ceiling Height, Air, and Sound
- Brick, Stucco, or Fiber Cement? How to Choose Exterior Cladding for a Custom Home
- Stained Wood or Painted Cabinets? How to Choose Cabinetry for a Warmer Kitchen
- Skylights, Clerestories, or Light Tubes: How to Daylight the Middle of a House
- Sliding, Bifold, or Pocketing: How to Choose Big Glass Doors for Indoor-Outdoor Living
- The Home Library: How to Design a Room for Books and Reading
- Handmade Tile: Where Zellige, Terracotta, and Glazed Ceramic Earn Their Place
- Where to Splurge and Where to Save in a Custom Home
- Where Should the Laundry Room Go? One Laundry, Two, or One in the Closet
- Taller Doors, Thinner Trim: Designing the Interior Doors of a Custom Home
- Shade Pockets and Drapery Tracks: Designing Window Treatments Into the House
- Kids' Rooms That Grow Up: Designing Bedrooms, Bunk Rooms, and Shared Baths
- How to Mix Metal Finishes in a House Without It Looking Accidental
- Work Zones or the Work Triangle? How to Lay Out a Custom Kitchen
- The Powder Room: Why the Smallest Room Deserves the Boldest Design
- What Drawings Do You Actually Get? A Custom Home Design Set, Phase by Phase
- Curbless Showers and Wet Rooms: What It Takes to Build One Right
- The Design Brief: What to Bring to Your First Meeting With an Architect
- Slab or Pier and Beam? Choosing a Foundation for a Houston Custom Home
- How to Build a Color Palette for the Whole House
- One Story or Two? How to Choose the Shape of a Custom Home
- Outdoor Kitchen Design: Placement, Cover, and Smoke
- Standing Seam, Clay Tile, or Slate: Choosing a Roof for a Custom Home
- Screened Porch, Covered Patio, or Sunroom: Choosing the Right Outdoor Room
- Island, Table, or Both? Designing Where a Family Actually Eats
- Where the Fireplace Goes: Designing a Hearth Into a Custom Home
- Designing a House You Can Grow Old In
- Storm-Ready by Design: Power, Water, and Envelope in a Texas Custom Home
- Wood, Tile, or Stone: How to Choose Flooring for a Whole House
- What to Look for in a Lot Before You Buy It
- The Arrival Sequence: Designing the Driveway, Motor Court, and Front Door
- Where Should the Windows Go? Designing a House Around Daylight
- Designing the House Around the Pool, Not After It
- Casita, Guest Wing, or Second Suite: Where Extended Family Actually Fits
- Designing a Home Office That Actually Works: Light, Sound, and Sightlines
- Is Custom Millwork Worth It? Where Built-Ins Pay Off in a Custom Home
- Gable, Hip, Shed, or Flat: How Roof Form Shapes a House
- Designing the Primary Suite: How the Bedroom, Bath, and Closet Should Connect
- Designing for Houston Humidity: Envelope, Air, and Materials
- How to Plan Lighting for a Custom Home (Before the Ceilings Are Framed)
- Arches and Soft Corners: How to Use Curves Without Dating Your House
- The Working Core: Designing the Scullery, Mudroom, and Utility Rooms
- Biophilic Design: What It Actually Means in a Custom Home
- Floating, Curved, or Closed: How to Design a Staircase for a Custom Home
- Ceiling Height and Room Proportion: Why Some Rooms Just Feel Right
- Media Lounge vs. Home Theater: Which One Actually Gets Used?
- Mixed-Material Facades: How to Layer Wood, Stone, and Metal Without It Looking Busy
- Circulation: How Hallways, Doorways, and Sightlines Shape a Floor Plan
- How Long Does It Take to Design a Custom Home?
- Limewash, Roman Clay, or Venetian Plaster: Choosing a Mineral Wall Finish
- Where the Stuff Goes: Designing Storage Into a Custom Home
- Designing a Quiet House: Acoustic Planning for Custom Homes
- Aluminum, Fiberglass, or Wood-Clad: How to Choose Custom Home Windows
- Materials That Age Well: Designing a House for Patina, Not Perfection
- Broken-Plan Living: The Semi-Open Floor Plan Replacing the Great Room
- Designing a Home Wellness Suite: Sauna, Steam, and Cold Plunge
- Siting a House: How Orientation Shapes Light, Heat, and Privacy
- The Fifth Wall: How Ceiling Design Changes the Way a Room Feels
- Courtyard House Plans: Designing a Home Around Private Outdoor Space
- Gallery Garages and Collection Rooms: Designing a Home Around What You Own
- Layered Lighting Design: How to Light a Custom Home Room by Room
- Invisible Smart Home Tech: Designing Quiet Automation Into 2026 Houston Luxury Homes
- Scullery vs. Butler's Pantry: The Hidden Second Kitchen Houston Luxury Homes Are Adding in 2026
- Midimalism: The Design Style Balancing Minimalism and Maximalism in 2026 Houston Custom Homes
- Sculptural Staircases: The Architectural Centerpiece Defining Houston Luxury Homes in 2026
- Flex Rooms: Designing Movable-Wall Luxury Homes in Houston for 2026
- Soft Brutalism: Raw Concrete, Charred Timber & Black Limestone in 2026 Houston Luxury Homes
- Quartzite & Marble Waterfall Islands: The 2026 Stone Trend Defining Houston's Luxury Kitchens
- Greywater Recycling for Luxury Homes: The 2026 Guide to Water-Wise Custom Design in Houston
- Sensory Architecture: Acoustic Zoning, Texture & Material Layering in 2026 Houston Luxury Homes
- Biophilic Design for Luxury Homes: Bringing the Outdoors In Across Houston in 2026
- Japandi & Quiet Luxury: The Warm-Modern Look Replacing All-Gray Interiors in 2026 Houston Custom Homes
- Bioclimatic Pergolas: The Motorized Louvered Roof Turning Houston Patios Into Four-Season Rooms
- Mixed-Material Facades: Combining Wood, Stone & Metal in 2026 Houston Luxury Homes
- Designing a Home Wellness Wing: Saunas, Cold Plunges & Recovery Rooms in Houston Custom Homes
- What Does It Cost to Design a Custom Home in Houston in 2026?
- Why Curved Architecture Is Defining Luxury Custom Homes in 2026
- Designing with AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing Houston Interior Design in 2026
- Beat the Texas Heat: Designing Net-Zero Ready Homes in Houston for Optimal Energy Savings
- Beat the Heat: Innovative Passive Cooling Strategies for Houston Homes
- Houston's Guide to Hurricane-Resilient Home Design: Preparing for the 2026 Season
- Elevating Everyday Living: Top Kitchen and Bath Remodel Trends for Houston Homes in 2026
- Designing the Ultimate Shaded Oasis: Beat the Houston Summer Heat with Smart Outdoor Living
- Designing Your Dream Outdoor Oasis: A Houstonian's Guide to Year-Round Patio & Kitchen Spaces
- Smart & Sustainable: 2026 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends for Houston's Eco-Conscious Homeowners
- Designing Your Dream Home Faster: How AI is Revolutionizing Residential Architecture in Houston
- Luxury Remodel: Elevated Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for Houston Homes in 2026
- Navigating Houston's Permitting Maze: A 2026 Guide for Seamless Residential Renovations and New Builds
- Designing Multi-Gen Homes: Casitas & In-Law Suites in Brazoria County
- Modern Hill Country vs. Industrial Modern: Fulshear & Richmond Architecture
- Boutique vs Large Architecture Firms in Houston: Which Is Better for Your Project?
- The Future of Houston Housing: Construction Trends & Regulatory Shifts
2025
- Custom Home Design vs. Stock Plans: What Every Homeowner Should Know
- Why Hiring an Architect as Your Construction Supervisor Is the Smartest Investment for Your Project
- How to Find the Right Permitting Authority for Your Construction or Renovation Project
- Why You Should Hire an Architect for Your Custom Home
Subscribe, to stay updated with best home designsLuxury design thinking straight to your inbox. No noise.