7 for 7

For those of you who follow our blog, you might have seen my post explaining the process of licensure for an architect.  Or the one where I passed Site Planning and Design.  Well those were about 3 years ago and there is a 5 year limit on the exams. So if I didn't pass all of the exams by the 5 year mark, I would have to retake any that were over 5 years old.  If any of you know me, you know that that is not an option for me.  Ideally I would have picked one exam off after another.  But with teaching on the side, rowing, and just wanting to have a life, meant the 5 year limit was approaching and I still had (6) exams to go!

Luckily I came across a program through the AIA San Francisco called the ARE Pact.  It is where you register for the program with a fee of $1,000.  With the enrollment, you are placed within a study group of 10 and you gain access to free ARE lectures and study materials.  If you take all the exams within 1 year you are refunded your $1,000.  I know myself enough that if I was able to round up $1,000 to partake in this program, I would make sure I would get that thousand bucks back!

Well that is what I have been doing this last year.  I didn’t row, cut back on my teaching, and barely had a life!  But with perseverance and determination I did complete all the exams and am happy to report that I passed all of them as well.  I went 7 for 7 and am officially done with the ARE (Architectural Registration Exams)!  Thank you ARE Pact & Michelle Railsback for making this program happen!

But I can’t call myself an architect yet…I still have to take the CSE (California Supplemental Exam)…And the process continues : )

This App Really Measures Up!

Do you use a tape measure on a daily basis? Are you a homeowner working with an architect, designer or contractor on a project? Are you purchasing new furniture and space planning a room? If so, this is an excellent time and money saving tool for documenting dimensions without having to dip into the budget to hire someone to handle. While field verifying or completing as-built drawings, one of our main tools for the job is the My Measures App. This tool for storing and sharing object dimensions will take the guessing game out of those quick, rough, sketches or lack thereof. Here at DM+A, multiple team members work on the same job, so anyone can understand the dimensioned images and run with them. Simply take a picture, take a physical measurement and add the dimension to the image. Easily calculate area and volume, save it for review later or share it via email or text. This quick My Measures How to Video will demonstrate just how easy this app is to use.

Hooray for My Measures App!

Doors & Windows Are Being Blurred By Opening

Traditionally a door was used as a passage from one space to another, while a window was used to allow light and fresh air to enter the space.  Today doors can be windows and windows can be doors.  The opportunities are endless, which make one wonder where one stops and another starts. Check out some of these manufacturers of great door & window solutions.  Make sure to check out their websites, because this is just a small selection of what they have to offer!

Fleetwood

Weiland

Nanawall

La Cantina

Invisible Wall System

Knoll body throws a party like...

It has been a while since Gregg, Lisa, and I could go out together and we had the opportunity to attend Knoll’s new showroom opening reception. It seems fitting that a company like Knoll, rich with history would move to a building also rich with history.  The new showroom is located in 140 New Montgomery, which some of you may know that it also houses the headquarters for Yelp.  The building has recently been remodeled and you can check out a great article on the history and renovation here.

While at the reception, we snacked on Hog Island Oysters, sushi, and cupcakes.  Also while admiring the new showroom you couldn’t help but notice the views. Since the showroom is on the 25^th floor, you can see some notable buildings under construction like the Transbay Terminal and SFMOMA’s expansion.

We want to finish by giving a big thank you to Katheryn Domin-Danish for inviting us and allowing us to view contemporary works while in a historic setting.

Every designer is a little OCD. Do these bother you too?

Rachel stumbled upon this fun, yet disturbing post from Vivas. Take a quick coffee/tea break and tell us which one makes you the craziest. Click here to let the madness begin!

Product Love - Wardrobe for Windows

Flexibility, low commitment, variety and we’re not talking about the qualities of the ideal mate. We're praising Gecko from Studio by 3form. In a dense city like San Francisco where many rent, walls are shared and window views can mean no privacy, Gecko from Studio by 3form is a cool design solution. This is an adhesive backed textile system; an alternative to traditional window coverings; a window film that can be reused, won’t leave a residue when removed and can then be reapplied over and over again. All that’s needed is soapy water and a squeegee as demonstrated in the Gecko Installation video. I like to think of Gecko as a sort of wardrobe for windows.

Gecko is offered in a 54" wide roll for all patterns. Standard roll length is 25 ft. Custom lengths longer than 25' are also possible.

For more information and to view the many patterns available, click here.

Happiness is Leave No Paws Behind

In honor of International Day of Happiness today we wanted to share a touching story about a senior dog and the love and compassion we as humans have for our beloved pets. A few weeks ago, a senior Dachshund, was lovingly left at a shelter in a basket with a note from his elderly owners. They could no longer afford to care for him, so Rescue group Leave No Paws Behind took him and reunited him with his owners.

So HAPPY to hear, Leave No Paws Behind will pay for the dog's expenses for the rest of his life, and will be reunited with his family at the end of this month.

For more details on this story, click here .

Thumbs up for Thumbtack

We wanted to give a big thanks to Thumbtack for the quality clients we've gained from having a profile on their site. When you are in need of a local professional for services, Thumbtack is a smart platform for making those connections. Thumbtack takes Yelp a step further and allows consumers to receive quotes directly from service providers of their choice.

Product Love - Affordable Modern Panels and Door Fronts

Thanks to Northern Contours our clients have an affordable alternative to the traditional wood frame cabinetry with Level Doors and Drawer Fronts.  This quick ship, pre-laminated product is available in a textured melamine as shown here, an ultra high gloss or linear and matte thermofoils to transform your kitchen or bath design. This is a perfect solution in wet rooms where expansion and shrinkage associated with hardwood panels no longer is a concern. Click here for product information and finishes.

2014 Resolution Time!

It’s that time of year when we all make resolutions; some stick while most don’t.  I am not going to suggest any resolutions to you, but instead would like to recommend a book for you to read.  It is “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miquel Ruiz.  It is an easy read which you can relate to and be inspired to make changes in your life.  Hopefully, ones which will stick.

Christmas Lunch

San Francisco's Central Market Street is changing.  New businesses are emerging as well as new condominiums.  We had an opportunity to experience some of the changes by visiting a few local businesses for our annual Christmas lunch.  This year we went to Alta CA for lunch. We had items such as devil eggs, oysters, smoked pork trotter, and oxtail fritters.  It was delicious.  Then we decided to top it all off with caramels and toffee from Littlejohn’s Candies, which was right next door.  If you are ever in this part of the city, check out the changes and possibly stop in for some deviled eggs at Alta or some toffee at Littlejohn’s.  You won’t be disappointed.

It's a Boy!

On December 11^th 2013, Lisa Woo our wonderful Interior Designer was working hard for her last day before going on Maternity leave.  She was excited  about have a couple weeks to prepare and plan for her baby's arrival.   Well the baby had other plans and decided to come the very next day!  Lisa Woo and Mark Sessler had a beautiful baby boy named Greyson Sage Sessler, who was born on 12.12.13.  What a cutie pie!

Remodeling? Be Prepared for New Lighting Requirements in 2014

I had the opportunity to attend a California Title 24: Building Energy Efficiency Standards Seminar at Acuity Brands Center for Light & Space in Berkeley.  This seminar focused on the upcoming changes to the CA Title 24 lighting requirements which will take effect in 2014.  Essentially the standards will be adding layers of control to the lighting systems.  So that when a space is unoccupied, energy isn’t being wasted.  This isn’t just the use of adding occupancy sensors.  It is also adding multi-level lighting controls so lights have different settings and light levels for different activities.  To get more specialized you could do automatic day lighting controls or demand response controls.  This allows lighting to be adjusted during the peak hours of a day or having a central hub where you can control light settings.  There is a lot of information and a professional would be able to help navigate you through the requirements.  This may seem like a nuisance which costs more money, but when you see the figures, in the long run you end up saving money.

For more information and specifics on the changes, review What's New in the 2013 Code from California Lighting Technology Center.

To Render or Not?

When working with a designer it may be helpful to have a rendered model of the proposed space. Here is an example of a rendering for our client's roof top deck and the final project. In this rendered model, the client wanted to better understand the relationship of the volume within the space along with a few of the finishes. Renderings and models are excellent ways to communicate the design intent. They can be very basic to show volume or get super detailed to give a more realistic image, it's up to you as the client to decide how much time and money it is worth.

For more information on this amazing San Francisco project check out the Jackson St. Penthouse.

5 YRS in the Making

5 years ago, I quit my architecture job with no prospects in place.  I knew I needed out.  The job felt more like AutoCAD boot camp than a place where I could grow as a promising architect.  I flew home for a few weeks to be with family and returned ready to take the open architectural positions by storm.  I have always been a go getter and this time I knew I wouldn’t settle for a place which pushed you so hard beyond your capacity, you forget why you even got into this profession.  I knew I wanted to be somewhere that I could learn and enjoy working.  During my search I came across an ad on Craigslist that, I have to say seemed bogus at first, because it was a hiring agency, which I wasn’t used to.  Through my discussions with the agency they explained the open position and the firm De Meza + Architecture.  I interviewed and liked the people I met, plus the firm was expanding and had just moved into a new office and were excited about the possibilities.  This mimicked my own life, as I had just moved to a different neighborhood and wanted my life in the Bay Area to become what I envisioned it could be.  I accepted the position as architectural designer/drafter and was invited to their open house party for their new office.  That was definitely a change to my last job.  A friend and I went and we enjoyed margaritas and tacos on the roof of the office space.  How cool was that! Needless to say, I started work and learned the ropes.  Over the 5 years I have seen co-workers come and go.  I saw changes in clientele and in the office setting. Over that time I grew into a role of managing projects.  I always try to find ways to be more efficient or strategic.  No matter the scale of the project, I always wanted it to be perfect.  One thing I have learned over these years is that being perfect is impossible, and that I will be more focused on doing the best job I can and ask that of anyone I am in charge of.  This has allowed me to become a more rounded designer and manager.  If I was at another firm, I don’t think I could have gained as much experience as I have at DM+A.

The one thing that hasn’t changed is the unique office culture DM+A has to offer.  Where else would the boss take us out for ice cream because a power outage?  Or where we would do pot lucks for lunches or happy hour at the office. Or get to see slideshows of trips anyone went on.  For my 5 year anniversary, Gregg treated us to dinner, drinks and yes, of course dessert at Bix in San Francisco - a must try. There is never a dull moment at DM+A and they have become my family away from home.   This job has introduced me to some of my favorite people to be around.

So what’s in store for the next 5 years?  I will obtain my architectural license, there will probably be some changes of clientele, new projects, experiences…and of course more of the unconventional office culture I have come to cherish while at DM+A.

Cheers!

Product Love - Bolon

We love Bolon, a vinyl product made from renewable raw materials, for it's look and durability. This product is available as a sheet good and most recently as triangular tiles. Here at the DM+A office, we use the exact collection pictured here - Bolon's Botanic collection in Lotus, in our conference room as an area rug. Pedra Silva Architects blanketed the walls, floors and ceilings with the product creating continuity and flow throughout the conference room of the Fraunhofer office in Porto, Portugal. So cool! The product is so durable that Airstream Travel Trailers offer Bolon as a high-end flooring option in their International Sterling edition - way to upgrade any camping experience.

For more information on this amazing product, contact our local San Francisco representative Sayo Seelenbacher of The Patton Group!

Healing Hues

I recently read an inspiring article about Chicago's new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in Sherwin Williams Stir Special Issue 2013. The article reminds the designer in you how important your design choices have on those using the space. ZGF Architects designed with color to distract from the fact that the space was a hospital for children and they did so with much success.

In determining the color palette, the design team took cues from the hospital's Kid's Advisory Board - a committee of children ages 12-18 years of age; most were born with chronic conditions so they are familiar with hospital settings. Interestingly one of the main points from the kids was to keep the pastels to a minimum. They were interested in saturated and vibrant colors, so hurray!

The end result was a 20-hue color list divided into five palettes as pictured. For more details on this amazing project check out ZGF Architects Projects.

Happy Belated Birthday Gregg!

Another year has passed for our fearless Architect, Gregg De Meza and in usual fashion, we celebrated with food and drink. This year we lunched at Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern and boy did we feast. For starters, we were feeling devilish, so we of course had to try the much talked about Deviled Eggs with english peas, salt cured ham and truffled pea salt. The yolks were airy and light - whipped into submission as Julie so swiftly commented in the movie Julie and Julia. We also had the Devil's on Horseback - Medjool dates, bacon, blue cheese, shiso hazelnut pesto. A sweet and smokey delight.

Now to the main event, Gregg happily had the tender Butcher's Filet as pictured - yum! Rachel had the Seared Ahi Tuna paired with a Carrot Margarita! How interesting. I strategically enjoyed a classic Dungeness Crab Louie to allow room for the final act - dessert.

Not just any dessert either, but Homemade Donuts, piping hot and served with dipping sauce. Please, please Wayfare Tavern, never part with the Earl Grey sauce, this is a must try. Great way to end a happy birthday luncheon! Until next year, happy eating.

p.s. also worth mentioning, instead of a bread basket, Wayfare Tavern starts with Popovers!

Product Love

We love 3form's 100 percent - an architectural resin panel. Each panel contains more than 1,000 bottles; an excellent way projects can earn up to 2 LEED credits for recycled content, how cool is that? We can't wait to use it on our next project. The panels are available in 2 pattern directions: latitude or longitude. What's your preference?

Check out their site for more details: http://www.3-form.com/materials/100_percent/

Ok, we're just gonna ask - please nominate us!

We're so proud of our work, here at DM+A and Room Reveal is having The Spring 2013 Reveal Awards to recognize distinguished residential and commercial design professionals. It's super simple and we would be oh so pleased if you'd hit the nominate button on our profile at Room Reveal. Deadline is May 10th! Many Thanks!

The DM+A Team