jkeppersMar 30, 20191 minKeppers Design DowntownKeppers Design is moving Downtown! Our new office at 301 West Superior Street will be an exciting design showcase, with upgraded conference facilities and ha...
jkeppersMar 30, 20191 minHome CentralFor many, the kitchen is the true center of home life. A place to cook, to congregate, to socialize, to organize. But sometimes this can lead to trouble: clu...
jkeppersJan 28, 20191 minLearning Opportunity: Plan Before you Build!Check out this link to learn about a Community Education class I'm teaching on March 12 and 19, 2019.
jkeppersDec 10, 20181 minStair CraftsmanshipA grand staircase can't be beat for making a statement. It's even better when it's framed by openings from other rooms in the home. In this case, an arched o...
jkeppersNov 29, 20181 minWindow Basics Interested in learning about windows? Check out this excellent introduction to the basics of window design from Domino. Thanks to Erick Filby from Marvin Win...
jkeppersNov 19, 20181 minA Sculptural IslandDesign challenges are opportunities, not problems. In this case, the owners wanted to open an existing kitchen island to the adjacent breakfast/living area a...
jkeppersNov 5, 20181 minHome Costs - PodcastHere's an excellent podcast (https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/009-the-low-cost-modern-house/) about the factors affecting the cost of your new home. The pod...
jkeppersNov 3, 20181 minMediterranean StyleThis home harkens back to an earlier time in Duluth's history, when many of the affluent built homes inspired by the architecture of Mediterranean Italy and ...
jkeppersOct 25, 20182 minThe Poured Slab and Start of the Basement WallHere's step 2 in this foundation installation. The perimeter walls are up to the level of the basement slab, and the basement slab has been poured. Plumbing w...
jkeppersOct 18, 20181 minPracticalitySome projects are an exercise in good planning and code compliance rather than aesthetics. Here, we reconfigured part of a church basement to improve access ...
jkeppersOct 18, 20181 minFrost WallsHere we see the footings and frost walls of the new home installed to the level of the basement floor. The frost walls are created with Insulated Concrete Fo...
jkeppersOct 15, 20181 min3d Design - See it before it's built!It's important to understand your house addition (or new home or office project, for that matter) before it's built. Three-dimensional sketches and videos ca...
jkeppersOct 13, 20181 minDesign Step One - Getting to Know YouThe first thing we do is set up a meeting where we discuss the project and gather basic information. This is a promotional meeting for Keppers Design, so the...
jkeppersOct 13, 20181 minWorking with Keppers DesignTo many people, working with an architect is something of a mystery - especially if this is their first building project. This series of posts explains how t...
jkeppersOct 12, 20181 minSiding Trends in Motion!For you Building Science nerds out there, here's an animation about the history of home siding materials that was recently published by Fixr. Click on the pi...
jkeppersOct 10, 20181 minIt Doesn't Have to be BigThis sun room/entry porch addition fits seamlessly into the original home and provides a much needed entry vestibule and enclosed porch for the owners. Even ...
jkeppersOct 8, 20181 minArchitects and BuildersArchitects know design. Builders know how to build. They are two very different skills. I know this because I worked for sixteen years at a design-build firm...
jkeppersOct 5, 20181 minThe difference a trained eye makesAs an architect, I'm trained to consider aesthetics when designing a home or remodel. By paying for good design upfront, you can avoid design mistakes that c...
jkeppersOct 4, 20181 minA Great DeckSome great photos of one of my projects as well as info about one of my favorite products. The earthy colors and textures blend perfectly with the stucco pie...
