b+co featured on houzz: choose the right doorknob

posted on April 30, 2012 by carri beer

"Sliding doors don't need knobs that turn. This number-two pull is pretty clever."

   

b+co at the Restoration & Renovation Fair in Baltimore, April 28th

posted on April 24, 2012 by carri beer

Visit us at the Restoration & Renovation Fair in Baltimore, this Saturday, April 28th at Maryland Historical Society, 201 West Monument Street.  The R & R Fair will feature many create resources and services specializing in historic preservation for your home. The day will be filled with great seminars and discussions answering all your questions about how to properly restore your home. Hope to see you there!

   

AIA Baltimore’s Committee on the Environment monthly presentation: Introduction to the Living Building Challenge

posted on April 16, 2012 by carri beer

   

b+co featured in houzz: Interior Materials

posted on April 16, 2012 by carri beer

"Corrugated metal on the inside? Yes, indeed. Brennan + Company Architects created an interior "street" in this renovation of an old alley house. The corrugated metal is juxtaposed with other materials to let each room off the hallway stand out."

   

b+co featured in houzz: put a narrow hallway to work

posted on April 13, 2012 by carri beer

"Your senses are so engaged by the texture of this wall, you barely notice the narrow proportions of the hallway."

   

b+co featured in houzz: countertop installations start to finish

posted on March 27, 2012 by carri beer

   

brennan+company named on Houzz: Best of Remodeling 2012 DC Metro!!

posted on March 23, 2012 by carri beer

   

UMDs WaterShed presentation, March 27th

posted on March 20, 2012 by carri beer

   

25 Tips for Homeowners to Improve their House

posted on March 12, 2012 by carri beer

image from better homes + gardens magazine

1. Hire an architect – its your best investment.
2. Love your house – it fosters good family time.
3. It is your house, don't focus more on whose house it might be in 15 years.
4. Consult an architect when buying and selling a house.
5. Invest in durable, healthy materials.
6. Go for energy + historic tax credits.
7. Not all windows are created equal.
8. A lot of insulation + air sealing goes a long way.
9. If doing #8, install a mechanical whole-house ventillation system to keep your air fresh.
10. When planning a kitchen, think about what it willl be like to clean it.
11. Less is less. More is more. Find the balance.
12. Don't be afraid of color.
13. Make sure your faucets are metal. Avoid plastic fittings. You get what you pay for.
14. Don't feel obligated to remove walls.
15. Your house details are a part of the house facade, the neighborhood design, the town architecture: what you put on their defines much more than your personal style.
16. Vinyl is boring, unattractive, and toxic.
17. Declutter before you even think of an addition.
18. Use the space you have, just rearrange and reallocate. Who says your dining room has to be a dining room.
19. Purchase high efficiency appliences and + low flow fixtures.
20. Invest in your home's envelope, decrease your mechanical system sizes + save money.
21. Hire an architect – its your best investment. Ooops! We already said that!
22. Find the sunny spot in your house and live there.
23. Reduce indoor allergies by purchasing furniture + textiles that are made without petroleum based, fire-retardent chemicals.
24. Capture rain in your rain barrels and release into your vegetable garden.
25. Invest in an outdoor room.

   

Brennan+Company Architects Celebrates its 25th Year in March!

posted on March 12, 2012 by carri beer

In 1987, Robert P. Brennan, AIA, established Brennan+Company Architects, a residential and small commercial architecture firm. Mr. Brennan dedicated himself to creating a firm based on his values, commitment and of course, beautiful design. Over the years, Rob and his staff have maintained a high level of client service, appropriate design and have pushed the envelope of small business architecture. Brennan+architect has been the architect on several schools, community projects and a multitude of residential rennovations, additions, and new homes. Robs passion is for historic preservation and a desire to maintain our region's architectural heritage. Brennan+Company has also been a leader in the area's sustainable "green" architectural movement. In 2003, Rob founded alter-ego,  and eco-friendly kitchen and bath design showroom and retailer.

As Brennan+Company heads in to the 25th year, they do so in their recently restored, sustainably renovated building in Ellicott City, Maryland's Main Street Historic District. Brennan+Company designed the renovation to the 17-year old structure, following the guidelines of the Historic Preservation review board and did so in an environmentally friendly way. For more information on this exciting project, please visit the company's website.

In today's tenuous economic climate, it has been challenging to sustain a small architectural firm. However, the stablility and legacy of Brennan+Company has endured. Please join us in celebrating 25 years of business and glorious design by giving Rob a handshake, pat on the back, email, social media well-wish, or small coffee.