“I remember sitting at my desk at work.  The colleague that worked next to me listened to a silly morning talk show and they begin to making fun of some nutcase that had “accidentally” ran his plane into one of the towers.  I remember thinking, “how can you accidentally run your plane into one of the towers?”  Shortly thereafter, they announced that  a second plane had crashed into the other tower.  I knew then that it was not an accident at all.

We got on the internet and started watching real time and the posted videos.  Like everyone else in the room I was stunned and couldn’t believe this could happen here in the USA.  The videos kept showing the second plan ramming into the building.  The tower just swallowed the airplane whole and just stood tall like it always had.  It didn’t shudder, sway or rock – just swallowed.  Then. . . they were gone. They just dropped in on themselves.  I couldn’t believe the towers were gone.

Our country had been attacked, people had died right before our eyes, innocent people.  I knew things would never be the same.

I wanted to be with my family.  I called my daughter and heard myself say “Our country has come under attack and I wanted her to meet me at home”.  It was as if someone else was talking.

I picked up my two sons from elementary school and we went home.  We sit that afternoon and watched the television as the remaining horrors came to life.”
~Rhonda Hammond

“I was at work at the office of the then newly formed Hammond Design Group.  I heard about the attack on NPR radio first and a few minutes later another office from inside the building came in and indicated that they were watching it on TV.  It was shortly after that that I phoned Rhonda and we were in communication at about 11:30. After the towers fell we picked up our children, one from preschool and one from Kindergarten and went home. From home we watched the continuing coverage.”
~Bret Hammond

We are steadily learning our way around Twitter and have   discovered some really great resources. The first Wednesday of each month The American Institute of Architects hosts a Twitter Chat.

You simply log in to Twitter and search the designated hastag – #AIAchat. You can participate by replying to comments, retweeting insterting information, or simply by using #AIAchat on your own tweets. (AIA Directions for joining the chat)

This Wednesday’s topic is about Learning Environments.

Past chats include women in architecture, mentorship, etc.

So, mark your calendars for 8/3/11 at 2pm EST and we hope to see you jumping in the chat!  You can find @HDGArchitects on Twitter, too!

1. What is the First Impression for Customers?

When a customer/client enters your office space does it match your brand? Are you an innovative company with a great public image? Fantastic. Then why do you have office chairs from your neighbor who went out of business in 1992? While you and your staff may walk by the same furniture and dimly lit conference room everyday, what do your customers think? We think your office space should be an extension of your brand and the values of your organization. Think about what your clients expect when they enter your office space.

2. How Comfortable are Your Employees?

This is incredibly important. Your entire team needs to feel comfortable and relaxed in their workspace. After all, they spend 40 hours per week in the office! Have you thought about how the design of the office space can alter the mood and efficiency of your team? Color choice, furniture choice, lighting choice, and more are of the utmost importance when designing your space. And, will you be expanding in the future and need your space to be adaptable?Are you implementing a stay healthy program and need to incorporate an outdoor space or gym space? What are the needs of your team?

3. What is Your Budget?

Don’t think about knocking down all the walls until you know you can rebuild them! Have you thought of a comfortable range for your project? This can change how and what you do in the space as you plan for the remodel. And will your design save you money? Are you incorporating green, cost saving products into the design?

4. Have You Visited Other Offices?

This is such a fantastic way to get ideas. Are you friendly with your competitors or similar companies? If so, visit their offices. Ask them what works and what doesn’t. Pay attention to any business you visit. How does their office space function? Does it make you change the way you feel about that company? Does it reflect your image of their brand and their services?

5. Call Hammond Design Group

Now that you have had time to think about what you need to change and have some preliminary ideas in your mind, give us a call. We can sit down and discuss options, products, costs, etc that are all important to the bottom line and the final outcome!

That is what we are here for. We help you not only make the most cost effective and design efficient choices, but we make sure that the remodel is a smooth process. While we can’t guarantee that you won’t stress out about cabinet colors or tile choices, we can guarantee that the final outcome is everything you imagined and more!

1. Architects are Design Pros

We have been thoroughly trained and have years of experience working to create useful spaces that are stylish. We think about where plugs should go, where you will put the tv, where your kids will gather with friends after school,  how your bedroom can become a sanctuary, etc.

2. Architects Manage the Project

Throughout the entire process we are coordinating with contractors and ensuring your home is built properly, with quality products and with attention to detail. From start to finish we eliminate the stress and the questioning and allow you to focus on what you really want.

3. Architects Consider Long Term Value

We think about the whole picture. Did you know that strategically designing your home – inside and out – can save you money in the long run? A small cost savings now could lead to a major issue later on – using the right products in the right applications is imperative.

What other questions do you have about the remodel process? What have you been thinking about as you begin the process of changing your home into your “dream home?”  Ask us by commenting below and we will be happy to help!

There is that saying that “home is where the heart is”…and we think that is true. Your home is where you entertain your friends, raise your family, and find solitude from your busy work days. To help you make your home as best as it can possibly be we have created a series of blog posts to guide you through the home remodeling process – from the idea stage to the “this is actually happening” stage!

So first things first in our series is what you should think about before you begin any remodeling in your home.

1. What do you want to change in your home?

What is bothering you when you come home from work? Is the space not functional? Does your space need to be enlarged as your family grows? Is your home older and out of date? Do you now work from home instead of from an office?

2. What will the new space be used for?

Is this new space changing functions completely? For example, does your attic need to be closed in to serve as a home theater room? Does your unused formal dining room need to function as a home office?
3. What does your dream home look like?

When thinking about the remodel are you changing the style of the home? Will the new space you envision “match” the rest of your home or do you need to think about the project on a larger scale?
4. Do you know anyone who has been through a remodel process?

Asking someone who has remodeled their home about their first hand experiences is a must. While you can read articles and posts about what to expect it is nice to hear from a close friend or relative what the process is like. Most importantly, ask them what they would do different next time. Maybe they didn’t hire an architect or had to manage the process themselves and wish they would have. Maybe they did a lot of the work themselves to save money and really enjoyed the process of working with a flexible contractor.
5. Will you be able to live in your home through the remodel?

What rooms are you thinking of changing? If you are changing the kitchen are you ready for a few weeks of takeout? Are you prepared for your family to share one bathroom for a week while the other is renovated? What time frame or time of year is best for you and your family?
6. How will you fund the remodel?

Is this a project you have been dreaming of and saving for for years? Do you have funds available from a home equity line of credit? Will you need to approach your lender for funds for this project?
7. Do I need permission for this remodel?

Depending upon the structural changes you may need to not only apply for permits, you may also need to ask for permission from your home owner’s association (HOA). Are you aware of the rules and regulations of your HOA? Make sure to read through your HOA guidelines at the beginning of this process!
8. Who will manage the process of the remodel?

Will you have the time available to manage the contractor, plumber, tile installer, etc? More than likely even if you have the time you won’t want to handle ALL of the ins and outs that go into a remodel. Start thinking about who you will hire to manage the process and think back to suggestion #4 – who would your friends and family recommend? Hopefully they say Hammond Design Group!

Among the “surprises” of working with students – other than the incredible amounts of technology intertwined into their daily lives – is their dedication to their community. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with my students outside of the classroom with Habitat for Humanity. This build is very special to me personally because it was a female only build. While the males in the class were quite jealous, the female students and I were able to work with incredible people this past Saturday, June 25th. (Don’t worry, men, our next build will be with ALL of the students!)

For me it’s truly gratifying to be able to take my profession – what I do for a living – and put it to use for the community. Meeting a very basic need of building a roof over someone’s head who truly deserves the help is completely gratifying. For the students it is essential that they see and have hands-on experience of the work product that their education is teaching them.

Here are a few pics of the experience…and yes, that is me on the roof!

1. Change Your Air Filter – this makes your air cleaner and it circulates easier meaning smaller power bill and cooler temps.

2. Close the Blinds or Tint the Windows – It is beautiful to look outside but the sun’s rays raise the temp in your home or office – so opt out of the view or tint your windows! And if you have older windows, you may want to think about replacing them…energy efficient windows are very helpful to the bottom line on your power bill.

3. Turn on the Fans – there is always much debate if a fan actually costs more to run than it saves you in lowering the temp -but after many google searches we have determined it is worth it…so turn those fans on and get cooler faster!

4. Cook with a Solar Oven – yeah, it is as cool as it sounds – no need to sweat over the stove – they aren’t beautiful but your kids will probably love it!

5. Invest in an Irrigation System – sprinkler systems are incredibly advanced these days and can actually measure temperature, rainfall, and a soil moisture level and decide when and if it needs to turn on…this will save you so much money in the long run…and you won’t have to chase the hose around the yard in your bathrobe…And if you don’t have landscape designed to save you money on energy it may be time to redo the yard!

6. Cover Your Pool – you usually on do this in the winter but believe it or not you will save money because less water will evaporate…very smart!

…or you can escape it all and head down to Angelo & Son’s for delicious fresh seafood and oysters…oh yeah, we built it so check out this nifty video about the architecture!

Give us a call or email us today if you have questions about building a new, sustainable home or want to learn more about remodeling your home to save you money!