Networking 101
Networking. Almost nothing scares a recent graduate or a young professional more than the concept of networking, of breaking into or starting a conversation with a complete stranger “with an agenda”. Professors don’t explain this in college, but there’s almost nothing more important to a budding (or practicing) design professional than networking. Looking back on […]
Color Scheme 101: When to Select Paint Colors by Kimberly Reuther
One of the first thing most of my clients ask for is help in selecting paint colors for their home. As anyone who has painted the same room several times over can attest, finding the right color is tricky! It makes sense to call in a professional and we’re happy to jump in! However, choosing […]
ST. LOUIS “GREEN” – PART ONE; WHAT SHADE OF “GREEN” ARE YOU?
by Derek Maschek (MASCHEK design and fabrication, LLC) MASCHEKd@MASCHEKdf.com The problem; how to create a cost effective “green” home (or any other building) in the St. Louis area, and this includes renovating an existing building as well. This is ground that has been tread aplenty in recent years, and yet remains ambiguous to many home […]
great clients = great projects by derek maschek
As I get ready to do something I’ve never done before (to “blog”), I’ve been pondering what exactly I will be talking about. Let’s face it, blogging is just editorializing, talking about stuff that could be anything from pure opinion to well researched short topics. It’s conversational, topical, ideally informative, and preferably entertaining. One topic […]
it’s time to “speak” up!
Whether you are building your retirement portfolio or training for your first marathon, you may search for advice online but ultimately you covet a face-to-face experience with a professional. When it comes to tackling a home remodeling project, however, homeowners often don’t know where to get the information needed to ensure their project’s success. Searching […]
how to prepare for your home design or renovation project by paige gilbertson
Define your environment Spend some quality time assessing how you live in your home, not just the space you are looking to renovate. Good designers weigh how the layout, traffic patterns and needs of your lifestyle balance with the functionality of your home. How does the layout of your space psychologically affect your emotional well-being […]
how do designers charge? by paige gilbertson
Designers’ fee schedules work in all sorts of manners and many designers use different pricing schematics based on what type of design work they will be doing on a particular project. Here are the most common ways in which designers bill for their services: Retainer Retainers are usually employed for any type of design project […]
Guest Post: 5 Things You Won’t Learn From Cable TV by Cary Baumann
A&E and HGTV still haven’t called, nor have their cameras ever appeared at one of the many properties I “flipped” or rehabbed. I’ve been at it longer than these stations have existed: buying foreclosed and distressed properties fixing them up, staging them and selling the property for a profit. It did surprise me that someone […]
