Model Homes through History
Homeownership has long been a key part of the American Dream and, as such, is integral to our identity as Americans. With this consideration, what do our homes say about us as...
Impact of Technology
The typical life of an American today is drastically different than it was just a generation ago. The primary source of this difference has been the growing access to high-speed...
McMansionization of America
Over the last few decades, few homes have garnered more attention than the McMansion. First appearing in the 1980s, the term “McMansion” has evolved over the years to generally refer to...
Five Reasons to Pick a Contractor
Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with some great contractors. Through this process we’ve developed solid relationships built upon a foundation of mutual professional respect. We’ve also come to realize that…
A Better Way to Build
We believe there is a better way to deliver a project – one that is built on trust and communication from the start. We call it the Project Team Approach, and it helps to create a strong relationship among the entire team while better…
Slivers of Rome
Every couple of years, Gabriela and I attempt to journey a bit further afield. These adventures help to recharge our creative reservoir, and give us the opportunity to experience the...
Building in Bethesda / Chevy Chase
The team at CARIB DANIEL MARTIN Architecture + Design has created a special, free guide focused on residential building in Bethesda / Chevy Chase. If you live in the Bethesda or Chevy Chase areas, our new download is for you! This new…
Surveying Salk
Great buildings are hard to read at first. They have an order and rhythm distinctly their own. The Salk Institute of Biological Studies, designed by Louis Kahn, is such a building. ...
When is the best time to start the design process?
As the temperatures begin to fall, most of us are consumed by the upcoming holidays, various school activities, and winter weather plans. The thought of tackling that new home renovation or construction project drops down the list…
Fitting In
How should a modernist live in a traditional town? In an area abundant with beautiful older homes, a more modern residence can often look out of place. Even though they may wish to express their inner modernist, many homeowners are…
Allowances: Pricing the Unknown
While working through a project, it is important to keep your budget front and center. A great way to do this is by requesting construction estimates from contractors early in the process. With that said, reviewing construction estimates…
Beautiful Ruins
There is something about the remnants of a decaying structure struggling to hang onto the thread of modern life that attracts my avid interest. In this, I am not alone. Tourists the world over...
Modern-V-Traditional
I have come to believe that everyone has their own personal style. For me, I realized long ago that I was a modernist at heart. There is something about the volumetric treatment of a building’s form...
The Keys to Starting a Project
Are you ready to get going? If so, the next few months hold both excitement and plenty of tasks to keep you busy. To assist, we’ve put our experience in residential design and project management to good use for you. The Keys is our…
The Value of Time
Over the years we have learned that the lifespan of a project is a black box to most people. While they may have a basic understanding of what it takes to build a house, they are unaware of all the steps and details required for…
The True Cost of Construction
When planning a project it’s important to be aware that there is more to a comprehensive budget than simply the final construction costs. A Construction Budget, the cost of labor and materials required for constructing the project…
Small Towns / Hidden Gems
I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois. With a population of only 1,800 residents, everyone seemed to know everyone else. There existed a local pride and few people journeyed beyond the...
Through a Different Lens
During a holiday in Costa Rica, through pure accident, I got swept up with the notion of documenting my vacation in a way different than I normally would. Using what I coined micro-photographing, I...
Variation on a Theme
Each year, Gabriela and I try to escape for a long weekend in Cape May, a beach town at the southern tip of New Jersey. For a change, one year we thought we would see what an autumn visit would be...