Idea Blog

People move to the DMV area from all over the world, and its residents travel near and far for career and vacations. So, it’s little wonder that people are inspired by the lifestyle and architecture that they encounter in other...

While reading the new issue of Home & Design you will find several new ideas for your home and a featured article about us! Yes, we were both fortunate and honored to be featured in this issue of Home &...

Home Design and Quality of Life Ever wonder if home design has an affect on the quality of your life? Or how to express the value of design to your clients?  Or how to handle clients that want “cheaper” less...

People often think of outdoor living as a lifestyle activity better suited to the beach, in tropical or Mediterranean climates. In fact, an EPA study revealed that, between home, work and automobiles, the average American spends 93% of their life...

Multigenerational living is a major trend. According to the Pew Research Institute, as of 2018, a record 64 Million (20%) of Americans live in multigenerational households. A multigenerational household generally presents as two adult generations and one generation under the...

Does your real estate client seek a unique property? Is finding a good match proving to be a challenge? If you do a little research on DMV real estate, you will find that there is low inventory and high demand....

Earlier this week, our very own CEO, Francisca Alonso, joined Mark J. Silverman on his podcast, “Mastering Midlife”. Together, they discuss how one should contemplate building their newest home. Alonso herself comments on how the concept of ‘retirement’ has changed...

For AV Architects and Builders, Smart Home features are an integral part of the design process. While Smart Home solutions can be added after the house has been constructed, cost savings and ease of incorporation is best accomplished during the...

AV Architects + Builders is yet again showcasing their newly built custom modern home in the Parade of Homes presented by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association. Last year AV Architects + Builders brought home the award for the best...

With their latest creation at 6333 Old Chesterbrook Road, McLean, AV Architects and Builders has once again delivered a unique, thoughtful dream custom home that will, in their words, “feel like you are on vacation year-round.” I had the opportunity...

This week AV Architects + Builders were featured in the Real Estate section of The Washington Post! The article revolved around our custom home design in Falls Church on the topic of what happens when you love the location of...

As an Northern Virginia architecture firm, we have established ourselves over time by working together with clients to design the dream home they’ve always imagined.  From our years of experience, we’ve come to find a growing trend among clients and...

One of the best things about January is that our New Year’s resolutions are holding strong. Since our health is on our minds (and our waistlines shrinking everyday) I thought this might be a perfect time to share a blog...

The article is called "The Philosophy of Design", and WOW is it good!

On May 5th and 6th, the doors to our latest spec home opened for the 2018 Parade of Homes. The turnout was great, the sun was shining and we heard a lot of oohs and aahs… but do you know...

Have a look inside!

Have a look inside!

Close your eyes for a minute and picture a beautiful French Country Home. What do you see? A large, stone fireplace warming the family room, rustic wood beams and hanging antique lanterns? Do you envision a colorful mix of raw...

Don't miss this one!

Are you wondering which neighborhoods would be best for building that dream home you’ve always wanted? You’ve come to the right place. We design and build custom homes in the Washington D.C. Area. As someone who grew up overseas – my...

It's Important To Get This Part Right... Before you hire a custom home builder, be sure to ask them these three questions: Question #1: Can you provide me with examples of recent projects you completed ON TIME and ON BUDGET?...

How to renovate your existing space and stay within budget Getting everything you want in your renovation project isn’t always easy, especially when you’re looking to stay within budget.  There are so many factors that go into a home renovation...

How to transform your home into your own personal vacation retreat Understanding the client’s needs and focusing on how they want to live is the essence of a successful custom home design.  Over the years, how has your home transformed? ...

Common mistakes all homeowners should avoid. Transitional Bedroom Photo – Sausalito Architects & Building Designers IF building your dream home is a part of your plans for this year, you want to consider this year’s design/build trends.  Most importantly, you...

Get the home, and the location, that you want Northern Virginia is a hub of activity and opportunity. To many it offers a home outside of the city, but allows a short commute to work and a vast business network....

Taking the mystery out of the process. Most people get overwhelmed by the thought of a remodel or redesign to improve the flow and feel of their house because they buy into three myths about really having the home they...

How design affects quality of life I always find myself asking these questions and sometimes it keeps me up at night.  How do you express the value of design to your clients?  How do you handle clients that want “cheaper”...

Honored to be featured as a Top Custom Builder in Home and Design!

So proud to have been selected!