A wide variety of wood species are available for use in construction projects. Friends and clients often ask us about wood species and the best ones for their projects. We recommend using wood for flooring, trim, furnishings and building structures. We like the look of wood for its warmth and natural appearance – don’t you agree? […]
Fabric durability is a key consideration when choosing upholstered pieces for your business, office or home. When choosing fabrics, we look at many factors including color and pattern, content, manufacturer, warrantee, fire resistance rating, and durability. Fabric durability has a strong impact on our decision. How long should a fabric last? How can we predict […]
Happy Labor Day to our clients and friends! Every building project is a team effort. Builders, trades people, designers, consultants, furnishings and materials suppliers, engineers, local officials, and building owners all make important contributions to the success of our projects. We particularly want to acknowledge the trades people and laborers – you are key partners […]
Decking materials are available in a variety of natural and man-made choices. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore the most common decking material choices so you can decide which one is best for your next deck project. Treated Wood Lowest initial cost Fairly long lasting Readily available Must wait 6 months for […]
Architectural designs are best developed from hand-made visual aids. Even in this time of advanced technology, art created by hand is still an important skill used in architectural designs. We employ artistic techniques to design spaces, develop details and even create portions of unique projects. Hand drawing, model making and painting are all important artistic […]
Father’s Day is special for us dads. We are glad for an excuse to do whatever we want for a day. Our families make a big deal over us, if only for one day each year. Here at Bleck Architects, the dads are making plans for their big day. Bob takes advantage of the usual […]
During the month of May, the League of American Bicyclists celebrates the bicycle. And on Friday, May 17 we are cycling to the office in celebration of National Bike to Work Day. Just for fun, I may wear my Colavita Chicagoland team jersey. Bleck & Bleck Architects is the local sponsor for the team of […]
As a child, Frank Lloyd Wright received a gift of Froebel blocks from his mother Anna Lloyd Jones Wright. The polished maple blocks were invented by Friedrich Froebel, who created the concept of Kindergarten. Frank enjoyed playing with the cubes, rectangles, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres and he used them to build simple structures. We’re […]
Earth Day is today. But what can we do to make a difference to protect the environment? Well, it turns out there’s a lot we can do! In our first annual Earth Day blog post, we highlight a few of our favorite green building products that you can purchase, manufactured by companies that inspire us […]
A lot of attention has been focused on the CNN feature about so called “turn-around” towns, including our hometown Libertyville. Libertyville was also the topic of the follow-up article by the Chicago Sun-Times’ Libertyville Review. So what’s all the fuss? In the Review article, the town’s businesses, schools, volunteers, and civic leaders share the credit […]
When it comes to managing construction costs, don’t be penny wise and dollar foolish. Get value for your construction dollar and manage construction costs by using the following tips. 1. Get Professional Advice Work with your architect to set the project goals, scope, and budget. Make design decisions early in the process to incorporate them […]
Craft breweries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style. Small, independent, and traditional, craft breweries and brewpubs are often welcoming, cozy places to share a brew and a story or two. Because craft brewers are very connected to their customers and local communities through philanthropy and volunteerism, each brewery uniquely reflects the community and expresses the […]
The benefits of LED lighting can be better understood in the context of the origins of Daylight Savings Time (DST). DST is the practice of changing clocks by one hour so that there is more daylight in the evenings. DST was first implemented during World War I. Since then, we adjust our clocks forward one […]
Thomas Jefferson – President, Author of the Declaration of Independence, Founder of the University of Virginia. But Thomas Jefferson, the Architect? “Architecture is my delight, and putting up, and pulling down, one of my favorite amusements.” – Thomas Jefferson Jefferson was the only president who was also an architect. Jefferson’s architectural knowledge was well known during […]
Improving the Customer Car Buying Experience The 2013 Chicago Auto Show is coming to McCormick Place on February 9th thru the 18th. The show is in its 105th season and it is the largest North American auto show. In total, nearly 1,000 vehicles will be on display along with auto accessories and other auto-related exhibits. […]
