OUR BLOG

Rachel Waldron Rachel Waldron

Case Study: Uptown Renewal - Revitalizing a Bungalow for Modern Living with Aging in Place Considerations

Uptown Renewal transformed a 1996 bungalow in Vashon, Washington, into a modern and functional living space specifically designed for a couple planning to live in place. This project demonstrates how a thoughtful interior renovation can significantly improve a home's livability, aesthetics, and functionality while staying within a realistic budget.

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Rachel Waldron Rachel Waldron

Beyond Beige: Designing Gender-Neutral Spaces That Shine

Gone are the days when design dictated a room's purpose based on pink for girls and blue for boys. Today, we're embracing a more inclusive approach to interior design, creating spaces that celebrate individuality and cater to a broader range of personalities. But how do we move beyond the default "greige" (gray-beige) palette and create gender-neutral havens that are still bursting with style?

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Renovations, New Construction, Additions Rachel Waldron Renovations, New Construction, Additions Rachel Waldron

Designing on a Dime: Avoiding Budget Blowout When Working with Professionals

Homeownership comes with its own set of challenges, especially when embarking on renovations or building projects. While we dream of stunning transformations, reality often hits harder than anticipated, particularly when budgets go bust. This happened to a close friend recently, and their experience offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating the world of design professionals and consultants.

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Biophilic Design

The term “biophilic design” may be somewhat new, but the idea of creating healthier spaces with nature’s influence is far from new. But, what is biophilic design? We’ve heard people describe it as “bringing any element of nature into a space”, which is pretty surprising that this would be seen as some new breakthrough idea. 

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Freestanding tubs - What To Consider

Freestanding bathtubs are stunning. We see them on the covers of magazines and posted all over Instagram (with low-hanging pendants and chandeliers - another topic of concern), and we are seeing so many homes pull out those tried and true alcove tubs to replace them with the lovely freestanding tub for the experience of soaking.

Let’s be honest though, how much are we thinking about that bathing experience and what surrounds this experience? There are many reasons people get freestanding tubs, and many reasons why maybe it's just not worth it.

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Renovations Rachel Waldron Renovations Rachel Waldron

Renovating Women: Being A Woman in Design and Construction

As a female designer, I found that I had to suppress my experience and knowledge when communicating with contractors. It was much more productive to plead ignorance, bat my lashes, and go along with the playful teasing often found on construction sites. I grew accustomed to being called “honey” and “kiddo” and playing up my lack of knowledge of how things were actually built to utilize their expertise.

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Additions, New Construction, Renovations Rachel Waldron Additions, New Construction, Renovations Rachel Waldron

How long does it take to design & build?

The burning question is often, “how long will it take”, and understandably so! A home renovation can mean displacement or incredible discomfort. Most of our clients come to us hoping the design will take a week or two and we can jump right into construction. What we forget is that it takes time to work through all those details and thoroughly consider each goal and need to tailor your home specifically to you!

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