Log with Ice Crystals

From Nature Photography

I hiked up into Easter Creek and found this log covered in fine ice crystals. Cold air was trapped down in the bottom of the canyon creating rime on the surface of the log. I like how the curve of the log helps to develop the composition of the photo. I also like how delicate the rime crystals are.

~Tad

Landscape of Wood

From Nature Photography

This is a photo that I took of an old stump that has been eroded by the elements. It resembles an aerial photograph of a landscape far below. I love how the different grains of wood almost look like taffy being swirled together.

~Tad

Nest Egg

From Nature Photography

I hiked up near Thorn Creek and found these pockets in the dirt that were collecting pine needles next to an old mine. There were also a lot of small round rocks that had been left over from the mining days. To me the pockets resembled a little nest so I built up one of the pockets with more pine needles and placed three of the round rocks into the nest. I photographed it just as the sun was setting and casting a low orange light onto the nest.

Enjoy!

~Tad

Family Lake Cabin Remodel | McCall, Idaho

We renovated an old family cabin on the shore of Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho. We reconfigured the floor plan to provide more open space and accentuate the view across the lake. We also updated all the finishes throughout the cabin.

Check out the slideshow below:



Enjoy!
~Tad

Rabbit Brush in Snow

I hiked up five mile creek after the first snow of the year and photographed these small balls of snow that had formed around the dried flowers of the rabbit brush in the early morning. They were very delicate and didn’t last long. As soon as the sun began to warm the snow crystals the “cottontails” began to disappear.

From Nature Photography

It was such an interesting sight that I was inspired to write a haiku. Haiku is a fun way to express images through words. The haiku originated in Japan. They typically describe seasons or the changing of seasons. The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables, and the third line is five syllables. There is also a version that goes 3-5-3 instead of 5-7-5, but I chose the longer format for this haiku. There are a lot of different rules for haiku and as with any art form there are multiple variations. Below are a few simple rules I use when starting to write a haiku:

1) Use words that describe nature and a season of the year.
2) The first two lines should evoke images in the reader’s mind.
3) The third line should connect the first two lines in a surprising way.

Below is the haiku I wrote after taking the photo above:

snowy rabbit brush
cold crystals cling in bunches
sun melts cottontails

Try writing your own haiku! It is a fun way to express your ideas. Find a photograph that evokes a feeling to you and write about it or think of a memory from your past that has a strong mental image. Most of all have fun with it!

Enjoy!
~Tad Jones

Drawing Elephants

I have been thinking about elephants lately after my Mom told me of an elephant that she met in Singapore. The elephant was given a paint brush with buckets of paint and a canvas was placed in front of the elephant. The elephant would then paint on the canvas. My Mom has one of these paintings hanging above her fireplace. I found a photograph of a baby elephant and its Mom and I thought it would be fun to illustrate the two elephants using ink and marker. I took time lapsed photography of the process in the short film below.

Enjoy!
~Tad

2205 North 19th Street Remodel

We received approval from the Historic Preservation Commission for a remodel to this small Bungalow in Boise’s North End Historic District. We will be removing many of the existing interior walls and replacing them with load bearing beams to transform the existing compartmentalized spaces into a more open floor plan.

From 2205 North 19th Street

Existing Floor Plan

In addition to the renovations to the existing floor plan we are also adding an addition to the back of the home that will almost double the square footage and make the home more liveable.

From 2205 North 19th Street

Proposed Floor Plan

The addition respects the historic nature of the home by utilizing the same materials and details found in the original construction.

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

From 2205 North 19th Street

The Design of Flight

When I was in architecture school I worked at the airport to help supplement my tuition and pay for flight time. Often I was allowed to help the A&P mechanics work on the airplanes and perform menial tasks for them. When the mechanics would rebuild or repair portions of the planes they would throw the old pieces into scrap piles and sorting bins   I always thought that many of those pieces were art forms in their own right. The forms and curves of airplane parts are absolutely beautiful to me. When I am performing the pre-flight before I fly, the feeling of running your hands across the airfoils and propeller blades somehow makes you feel closer to nature. You can feel the principles and theories developed over the years that we now know as aerodynamics run from the tips of your fingers throughout your body. As we are embarking on this new company that will integrate architecture and aviation I have been researching other companies that incorporate design with aviation and came across this one.

I believe that this company shares the same passion for design and aviation that has shaped my life and career as an architect and a pilot.

interflight studios

I would like to finish today’s blog with a quote from Antoine de Saint Exupery – the famous French Aviator and author.

"Have you ever thought, not only about the airplane but whatever man builds, that all of man’s industrial efforts, all his computations and calculations, all the nights spent working over draughts and blueprints, invariably culminate in the production of a thing whose sole and guiding principle is the ultimate principle of simplicity? It is as if there were a natural law which ordained that to achieve this end, to refine the curve of a piece of furniture, or a ship’s keel, or the fuselage of an airplane, until gradually it partakes of the elementary purity of the curve of the human breast or shoulder, there must be experimentation of several generations of craftsmen. In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away, when a body has been stripped down to its nakedness.”

Antoine de Saint Exupery

Replacing Windows in Older Homes

Many of our clients as the question, "Should we replace our old windows with newer and more efficient windows." While I am an advocate for upgrading the efficiency of homes, I also believe that any remodel project should not be undertaken without careful consideration of other factors.

Many of the homes that we work on are historic homes, and often we are ask to evaluate the condition of windows and make suggestions on whether or not the windows should be replaced.

Below are some questions I usually ask myself before making a recommendation:

1. Do the windows contribute to the historical character of the home?




• If the answer is “yes” then I take a look at the condition of the windows. If the condition of the existing windows are in poor shape, then you may want to look at replacement options. When looking at replacement options I try to find a manufacturer that is able to manufacture new windows that will most closely match the configuration and mullion pattern of the existing windows.










2. Have the windows been painted shut?




• Often times the windows are still in good condition, but they have been painted shut by a past owner. It takes some work, but the paint can typically be cut along the operable areas and the windows can be refurbished to original working condition with much less cost than replacing the windows. Often in older homes we will find a true double hung window with the top panel painted shut and the bottom panel still operable. The original idea behind a double hung window is that in warmer months of the year the top panel can be lowered to allow air flow high in the room. Since heat rises, the operable top panel allows hot air to escape which reduces the need for mechanical cooling.  Due to this same theory we sometimes see transom windows in kitchen areas of old homes to allow heat to escape from the hot kitchen to cooler areas of the home.




3. Do the windows have single pane glass?









• It is definitely true that old single pane glass windows are not as efficient as newer double pane or even triple pane glazing systems, but the glass may be adding character to your home and that is sometimes overlooked by some homeowners and remodelers.


• Glass is actually a liquid that is being pulled slowly in the direction of gravity. Many of the older homes that I work on have glass that over the years has become thicker at the bottom of the pane than at the top. This gives a “wavy” illusion to objects on the other side of the window when looking through the glazing sometimes called the “bottled glass” effect.


• If your single pane glass adds a character to your home that is irreplaceable you might consider adding storm windows to the home. My own home has custom storm windows that we can easily remove and replace with screens during the summer months. The screens allow for cross-ventilation while keeping insects out of the home during the hot summer months.  During the winter months, the extra layer of glass provided by the storm windows keeps the windows from "sweating" and building up condensation. It also helps seal the house and makes it easier for the heating system to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home. It is a bit more maintenance to change out the screens and storm windows each spring and fall, but in my mind it is worth it to be able to keep the original glass. If you are thinking of installing storm windows, there are a few companies such as Van Dykes Restorers that have some nice looking hardware to attach the storm windows to your home.

Wind-It | Harvesting the Wind

A team of young architects and an engineer from France have developed a concept of modifying existing electrical towers to harvest wind power.

Photo by Elioth + Encore Heureux

The idea is still in its infancy, but I love the fact that they are thinking of ways to produce sustainable power for our society while attempting to utilize existing infrastructure. The team won the 2009 “Next Generation” competition organized by Metropolis Magazine. More information can be found at the following link:

Metropolis Magazine | Harvesting the wind

City Park Restroom Design

We recently finished construction documents for these park restrooms to be used in the City parks system. We used cost effective materials with a shape and building form that is easily constructed and low maintenance. Below are some drawings of the restroom design.

From City Park Restrooms

From City Park Restrooms

From City Park Restrooms

From City Park Restrooms

From City Park Restrooms

From City Park Restrooms

To see more on this design please visit the following link:
City Park Restroom Design by Tad Jones, Architect

The Elm Grove ~ Plan #185A

In keeping with our theme of designing small garages that comply with the requirements of the Boise City Historic Districts we introduce the “Elm Grove”. Named after Elm Grove park in Boise’s North End, this small two car detached garage was designed specifically for smaller lots in Boise City’s Historic Districts. The garage is under 500 square feet which is the current maximum square footage for utilizing reduced lot line setbacks in Boise City. The design of this building utilizes clipped gables.

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

From The Elm Grove ~ Garage ~ Plan #185A

For more information on this plan please visit:

The Elm Grove ~ Plan #185A

The Heron ~ Plan #182B

We are developing a series of garage plans that lend themselves to use in the Historic Districts of Boise, Idaho. Our first design has just rolled off the shelf today and is named the “Heron” after one of the prominent streets in Boise’s Historic North End. In addition to providing plans for these little buildings we also offer historic submittal services as well as our ability to oversee the project through completion of construction.

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

From The Heron ~ Garage & Workshop ~ Plan #182B

For more information or to purchase this set of plans please visit our website

jones & jones design studio, inc. - The Heron - Plan #182B