texas911

I thought Disney wasn't coming to Houston?

Thanks Flipper!

Mold, the new radon and asbestos rip off masterminded by lawyers.

You don't see garage apartments anymore because our culture has changed. Back then it was cool to rent out a garage apartments, but now there are so many apartment buildings, its no longer needed. Its time has passed. Anyway, anyone who can afford to build a new house with a garage apartment probably doesn't need to rent it out.

Jay Baker has done some "Prairie Style" homes. At least some with design aesthetics based on FLW. There was an actual firm in Houston that had guys that worked with FLW but don't know what happened to them. They had offices on Ferndale and Westheimer. Last time I drove by their offices though, it was a cosmetic surgery place.

3 x your income? Wow, that doesn't buy a lot of house. I think also that saving for a down payment helps. Or flipping your house!

I vote that they should tear it down but only so that Exxon, one of the largest companies in the freaking world, can build a replacement tower to properly represent itself in our skyline. Come on Exxon, have some panache with all that cash we're giving you.

No what I meant was banks won't loan you money to be your own GC. They'll lend you money to have someone else build it for you though.

How did Tulsa snag a Cesar Pelli designed arena? All we could do was a boring Toyota Center?

Its not advised to build your own home, in fact most banks won't lend you money to let you build it yourself. I know mine won't.

Gwilson is correct. Not all architects are equal in ability. But at least they had a thorough background. At least at UH, we had to take many many engineering classes, environmental classes, history classes, along with a very rigorous design path. I'm sure there are plenty of talented non architects designing stuff, but why not splurge since the cost of design is the cheapest component of building a house?

Starbucks just south of the BW on the north bound feeder after Murphy Road.

That house on Main is his parent's house and its featured in this month's Metropolitan Home. He worked/interned at Renzo Piano's studio, impressive. Glad he's in Houston now, hopefully he'll do more inspired work around town.

I'm in ssullivan's boat, I still use credit cards, just for connivence, but don't have any debt. I pay it off every month. I hardly buy anything with cash as my cc bill itemizes everything and it really shows where you're money is going.

A good architect usually charges $2/square foot for a totally custom design. What I don't understand is getting plans from a book or the internet. How do you design a building when you don't even know where its being built? That's crazy! You might end up with lots of windows facing west, or have an orientation toward a busy street. Hire an Architect to design your house, you'll be happier in the long run.

That's what I'm striving for, to live way way within my means.

Draftsmen don't have stamps do they?

On Gramercy....

I couldn't believe it myself. Damn! Here are some nice pics of it...

Hey Red, that's a good formula, but does that take into account the tax break from a mortgage? I'm trying my darnd-est to be debt free, except for my mortgage. I'm already credit card debt free, but still have some other things.

I have always said I love the Fed Bank. Some people in Houston has such tacky taste. I'm sure the people who hate it would probably love a spanish colonial with fake arches and a red tile roof. Here Houston gets a bona-fide piece of Architecture and they don't like it? Maybe they should have hired a draftsman to design it!

Here's one for Braes Heights. http://www.braeswoodplace.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/208.htm

Would you go to a nurse for health advice or go to a doctor? Same thing with Architects. You just can't substitute the training they get. Just my opinion. But you guys already know that I hate the blight of Mcmansions that have not been designed by architects.

Love Mai's, been going there since the 80's when it was a scary smoke filled restaurant, but was open after the clubs all closed. Still go there, with my kids, but that place sure has changed.

It was actually a blessing in disguise that the Killions didn't sell to Landry's. Much more interesting architecture happens when you have limited area to do things in. Architecture likes limits. Plus it makes for a more compact Boardwalk so its more pedestrian friendly. I love Kemah and Houston needs more places like it. Unfortunately, with no zoning, its up to individual corporations to create "districts" in Houston with a wonderful cohesive look and feel.