According to the Resilient Design Institute, resilient design is defined as “the intentional design of buildings, landscapes, communities, and regions in response to vulnerabilities to disaster and disruption of normal life”. In general, building in conformity to code is good but sometimes not enough, so understanding micro climates and environments of communities in which we live...Read More

With a new year come new opportunities, new possibilities and new decisions to be made. One very important decision you’re probably either facing, or will face in the near future is what real estate option is best for you. Whether you buy an existing home, have your home built or rent a property is a...Read More

$2,324.07 with Drawings Only $3,515.90 with Drawings and Cost Estimate Floor Area 1,140.50 sqft Stories 1 (on pillars) | Bedrooms 2 | Bathrooms 2 Exterior Dimensions 42′-6″ x 29′-4″   Ideally designed for a sloping lot and an economical budget. The entrance of this home is through a wooden framed glass double door which leads...Read More

Proper interior ventilation is essential to your family’s health, comfort and overall well-being. It helps your home rid itself of moisture, smoke, cooking odors, and indoor pollutants. When it comes to keeping our homes well-ventilated there are many options we can implement. Today we share with you 6 natural methods that you can use to...Read More

An extraordinary ceiling style has the potential to transform an ordinary space into an elegant and extraordinary setting. The design of a ceiling is a very integral part of the overall design of a home, thus it should not be overlooked. Here are four magnificent ceiling styles and designs that will give your home a...Read More

One of the most exciting milestones in an individual’s life is building their own home! Choosing the right home design that both suits your personal taste, and meets your functional needs can seem difficult, however when you know what to look for, you realize that it is not as hard as you thought.  The size...Read More

This week, we continue where we left off last week with excellent ideas for uses for the basement.  While the rooms shared last week possess practical aspects to the home and family life the basement can also be converted to rooms you may rarely find, but that can make a wonderful addition to your home...Read More

Here in Dominica a basement is one of the least likely rooms you will find in a home. Many individuals view the room as merely for storage and that it is not essential. While storing items that take up needed space in the rooms above is the main use for a basement, it has potential...Read More

The following smart and easy ideas are useful to make your home more comfortable and safe for your golden years, and are also great remodels for current homeowners who have seniors/elders living at home:-   Be easy to find – A home address sign should be erected at the front of the house which is...Read More

Post Tropical Storm Erika, one of the serious issues that our engineers have identified as a contributor to flooding and failed infrastructure, such as walls, is poor or no drainage. Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to...Read More

Every construction job is different, and from our previous article we discussed the different variables that can affect the construction timeline. However, there are some steps in the process that are standard when it comes to building a home. A construction timeline tailored to the house you are building should be provided before the project...Read More

Anyone looking to buy a home knows that it is all about compromise. You may find a good home, but the kitchen is smaller than you want. Or the price is within your budget, but the layout is nowhere close to what you are looking for. If you have searched tirelessly and simply cannot find...Read More

With the effects of climate change and global warming around us increasing, it is important to be environmentally friendly and aware of the impact our domestic activities have on the environment. It is also highly beneficial when you consider how much money can be saved by building or making your home energy efficient. In order...Read More

The decision of whether to buy a home or to build a home is one faced by many individuals.  Being involved in the real estate component of our businesses, we come across many people looking to buy a home, most with the justification that it will be much more convenient to buy the house and...Read More

A contractor awarded a construction project may hire another person or company who will report directly to him, to perform some aspects of the work listed in the construction specification.  This is similar to outsourcing, where a business hires an external party (company or individual) to perform general tasks like typing. On many projects, particularly...Read More

Is your business in a tug of war with the struggling economy?  Are you yearning for an increase in business traffic?  What about your plans to expand the business; is that on hold? Maybe it’s time to move on to the next best alternative – remodel your store/office?   Remodeling efforts are increasing as business...Read More

DO YOU HAVE CRACKS IN YOUR WALLS, SAGGING ROOF LINES, FOUNDATIONAL CRACKING AND UNEVEN OR TILTING FLOORS? The cracked walls and foundations, sagging roof lines and uneven or tilting floors can be symptoms of major structural problems. Two common causes for structural problem are Differential Settlement (when the building foundation settles unequally) and Poor Renovations...Read More

Browsing through the web in search of a house plan?  What features are you looking for? Here are a few tips on how to choose the right plan for your new home.   Your land topography will affect your building plans in a big way.  It will save you time and money if you choose...Read More

Do you know what an Environmental Impact Assessment is?  This is a formal process used to predict the consequences of a plan, program, policy or project (which we will refer to as projects in this article) prior to making final decisions and execution.   What is the purpose of performing an Environmental Impact Assessment?  The...Read More

Kitchens, family rooms, and dedicated dining rooms all offer opportunities for comfortable, attractive eating spaces. Consider these options for creating practical eating areas in your home. Dining area: For a more formal dining experience, opt for a dedicated dining space separate from the kitchen. A dining area might also be part of a family room,...Read More

Does your family disagree on how to design the family room? Some members might enjoy a quiet, peaceful space while others like to play music and movies in here. Turn your family room into a place where both kids and adults are welcome. After all, it’s called the “family” room for a reason. Try these...Read More

We learned at school that one of our basic needs is shelter.  When we reach adulthood, it becomes important to have a home we can call our own or necessary to provide shelter to our own family.  At some point in our lives, each of us gets to choose the type of home we live...Read More

Architects are specifically trained and licensed to work on planning and designing buildings. If you are drawing near to the building phase and are thinking of hiring an architect, we highly recommend that you at least meet with an Architect to discuss how they can help you. Hiring an Architect could prove quite beneficial to...Read More

Renovations and additions can improve the comfort and functionality of your home as well as increase its value.  Renovation may be very simple in the sense that the only activity it involves is replacing existing materials like windows, doors, cupboards etc.  Larger renovation projects may need a great deal of consideration and planning especially if...Read More

Details – Consider the bigger details such as the size of the house, the number of floors, the kind and number of rooms and bathrooms before deciding the smaller details.   Establish your budget – You’re going to have to do some math if you want this process to be successful. There are a number...Read More