Frederick + Frederick Architects
Residential architects who specialize in the hot, humid, southern climate
The AIA 2011 convention expo was full of cool products. I had never heard of fiberglass pilings but were quickly sold on their superior qualities. I think I surprised the salesman when I walked up and immediately recognized the material as fiberglass. I didn’t tell him that my dad once had a fiberglass boat business!… [Continue Reading]
Let’s Blog Off’s question this week is “What is your favorite color?” If I had to pick one color that influences me the most it would be green because I live in a lush, verdant landscape. The marsh grass in the early summer is an electric green that inspired me to paint my office Celery… [Continue Reading]
I saw the Sherwin William’s display on their different finishes at the AIA convention a few weeks ago and had to come home and try it out. This is me applying a glaze on a freshly painted wall in our office. Our office was originally a pump house that had been added onto many times.… [Continue Reading]
Wall clutter is one of my biggest challenges as a custom residential architect. There are controls for electric shades, light switches, thermostats, and sound systems. Since they are supplied by different manufacturers, they never match in either design or colors… very frustrating! One of the most exciting products that I saw at the AIA… [Continue Reading]
I was wrong about architect Barbie – I thought that she was just a dilettante, an understandable perception of someone who has had over 150 careers in 52 years. I never thought of Barbie as a serious doll – The American Girls were the dolls of choice for my two daughters; nine year old girl… [Continue Reading]
When interviewing and selecting a residential architect you should ask about the level of service that they provide. There are typically three types of service; custom design with full services including bidding, negotiating and construction administration, custom design with permit documents, and plan book plans with modifications. As expected, the professional fees are different for… [Continue Reading]
We have been fortunate to work with some excellent contractors over the past 25 years. A few have risen to the level of exceptional, both in their business practices and finished buildings. There are five practices that are common to all the exceptional contractors. 1. Exceptional contractors work as team with the architect and owner.… [Continue Reading]
Our phone has started ringing again, hooray! During the past three years we would occasionally call ourselves to make sure that the darn thing was still working. In the initial conversation with potential clients a common question is “I have never worked with an architect or built a house; where do I start?” The American… [Continue Reading]
Do you know what your local stone yards policy is about remnants left over from your countertops? At my local stone yard, you purchase the entire slab and any remnants have to be claimed by you within 30 days or the remnant reverts back into the stone yard’s stock. Since our clients have already paid… [Continue Reading]
Hot, Humid Architecture In vernacular architecture there is a strong relationship between site, climate, and the elements of building in the generation of the building form.- Richard Hyde Prior to the advent of air conditioning, an understanding of local environments enabled southerners to build in ways that buffered the harsh climatic realities. As… [Continue Reading]
