(photos of AMD Architecture projects)

Like much of the country, local home prices have stopped appreciating, and even dropped lately. The prices had appreciated so much over the last couple years here that it seems impossible for us to ever build the home that we’d like to live in the rest of our lives.

My husband and I are always on the lookout for homes. Living in a small town with older homes is fun because there are so many character rich homes out there. The problem is that they just haven’t met our needs. I have such problems with my already osteoporosis bones and surgery-happy legs, that stairs are just not an option for me. As difficult as this past pregnancy was, being on one level sure made a difference. Most of the cute older homes have stairs, and sometimes bizarre ones at that with odd tread sizes, triangle shapes, etc. We adore the dramatic ceilings in many of these homes, but when my 6’3″ husband can’t stand up in a basement or attic room, we have another problem.

So with that and our desire for a more green/efficient home, we feel that our best option is to design and build our own home. Of course we will have help, but i hope to do most of the designing ourselves. I chose our architects a while ago: AMD Architecture.

Founded by principal, Angela Deanin ’97, AMD Architects have been designing green in the residential, corporate, second home, and remodeling realms. Angela has also written Green by Design: Creating a Home for Sustainable Living, where she “shares the environmentally responsible design principles she holds dear. Her goal, in the book and professionally, is to make green building and healthy living accessible for everyone. Emphasizing the notion that green is not a menu of add-on options, but a design philosophy that integrates aesthetics, budget, function, health, and enjoyment.”