Blog
Windows 101: Window Frame Materials and Glass Options
In our previous blog post we reviewed many of the most common window types, but what about the options for window frames and glass? We will delve into some of those details here. Window Frames Windows frames come in a variety of materials. They can be fabricated from...
Windows 101: Understanding Window Types
Windows are a very impactful design feature of a building. They have the ability to greatly affect its appearance, they provide openings for natural daylight and air to enter a building, and moreover, they improve building occupants' health and wellbeing by providing...
Tales of A Garden Goddess: What’s Going in Val’s Garden This Year
By Valerie Boudreaux Good design should encompass both interior and exterior spaces, and to me the relationship between the built environment and the landscape is extremely important. In addition to my passion for architecture and interior design, I am a huge plant...
Achieving A More Energy Efficient Home
As people become more aware of climate change and other environmental issues, homeowner demand for resilient, sustainable, and energy-efficient design is growing. The benefits of a lower energy home include saving money on utility bills, reducing greenhouse gas...
Loudoun’s Winery Architecture Gems According to Claire
By Claire Dickey Anyone who knows me knows I love wine. In graduate school I designed an urban winery for my thesis project, and one day I hope HESTIA will develop an extensive portfolio of amazing winery projects. Given my love of all things fermented grape, it’s an...
Five of HESTIA’s Favorite Design Trends for 2023
Happy New Year! It’s January, which means designers everywhere have been busy predicting which trends will be hot—or not—in 2023. At HESTIA, we also thought we’d highlight five of the design trends we expect to see a lot of this year. 1. Elevated Shaker Style...
Feeling Excited for Autumn at HESTIA
By Claire Dickey There is a good-sized tree directly outside my office window, and as I watch the leaves turn brown and begin to fall it’s obvious that summer is coming to an end. School is back in session, autumn is nearly here, and life is finally reverting...
Want to Design with Color? Just Go for It!
By Claire Dickey Recent interior design trends have heavily favored muted colors like gray, beige and white, as well as natural wood tones. When executed well, this palette creates a calming and casual aesthetic, but it is also very easy for neutral rooms to veer into...
Thinking About Mixing Metals? Here Are Three Tips.
By Valerie Boudreaux You’ve probably seen successful (and maybe not so successful) uses of mixed metals. Brass, copper, steel, bronze — there are design styles that incorporate all these and others, sometimes more than one in the same space. If you’re starting a...
Five Steps for Planning a Home Improvement Project
By HESTIA Design Collective Do you ever find yourself looking around your home, knowing you want it to be different but not exactly sure where you should start? When you get online to look for inspiration or do research, do you end up feeling overwhelmed by too much...