New Year, New Trends, and New Inspiration [Monday Minute]


January 5, 2026, Edition

Ignite your mind and improve the way you are #CreatingWherePeopleLive

Happy New Year!

This weekly newsletter

is created by and for those designing homes in North America.

Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.

Here's what you get:

  • Field Notes
  • Nuts & Bolts
  • Highlights
  • Workshops & Gatherings
  • What We're Up To
  • Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry.

Let's dive in.

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Field Notes

The Most Shocking Before & After Home Renovations of 2025

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What happens when "beige" and "bland" get a world-class architectural makeover? From a 1930s Maryland cottage that’s now twice its size to a surreal garage-turned-home in Los Angeles, we’ve rounded up the most jaw-dropping home renovations of the year.

Source: Dwell

Inspiration

Villa Udaondo, Argentina

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Discover how a compact 50 square meters rehearsal room in Argentina's Parque Leloir transformed into a stunning minimalist family home. This Forest Shelter by architect Sol Galliano seamlessly blends into its lush environment with a warm, all-wood design featuring pine and plywood.

Source: archdaily

Tall, small, 3D-printed, underground: 2025's best architecture

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From the next world's tallest building in Saudi Arabia to humble bamboo huts that can survive a major earthquake, these projects are redefining how we live, work, and protect our planet.

Source: New Atlas

More Inspiration

Tneib House • Amman, Jordan

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Step inside the Tneib House, a stunning modern residence in Jordan that redefines the concept of an "introverted sanctuary". Designed by Abdel Qader Tarabieh Architecture, this home uses solid stone walls to shield its interior world from the street, creating a private realm of measured silence.

Source: archdaily

Price Cuts on New Construction Mount as Homebuilder Sentiment Remains Low

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Understanding the shifting landscape of homebuilding is crucial for advising clients and managing project expectations. Our latest feature examines why price cuts on new homes are mounting even as homebuilder sentiment remains at a post-COVID low.

Source: Realtor.com

Nuts & Bolts

Rule of Thumb for Sizing Headers

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Is there a truly reliable shortcut for sizing headers on the jobsite? Many contractors rely on a simple "span plus two" formula, but professional engineer Darren Tracy explains why that might not always be the safest bet.

Source: JLC - The Journal of Light Construction

Highlights

Welcome New Members

And those returning

Dennis Stevens, Stevens Signature Homes Inc (SC), Professional Member

Bill Ellison, Caddworks, Inc. (MD), Professional Member

Lindsey Arthur, Play House (MD), Student Member

Member Anniversaries

Congratulations to those celebrating the anniversary of their membership this month.

A special congratulations to...

  • Axel Adalsteinsson, CPBD | Professional (WA), and Michael R Klement AIA, CPHC, NCARB, AIBD, CPBD, CGP, GCP, CAPS | Professional (MI), for celebrating 20 years!
  • Dennis Fletcher | Professional (MD) and Harper Eugene Hug | Professional (FL), for reaching the five-year mark! 🎉🎊

Congrats! New CPBDs

Mariana Gutierrez, CPBD #44-860, Studio Sin Fin, , SC (11/17)

Certification demonstrates a professional's mastery of industry-specific experience and knowledge.

Please support our sponsor:

Murus high-performance building enclosures simplify designing sustainable, energy-efficient, and net-zero residential and light commercial buildings. For more information, call 570-549-2100 or visit www.murus.com.

Workshops & Gatherings

AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.

January 7 - Board of Directors (Virtual) 4:00 pm ET

January 13 - North East Ohio Chapter (in person) - Lunch & Learn - 11:00 am ET - North Jackson, Ohio

January 19 - Central Colorado Chapter (in person) - Walter S White Home Tour - 12:30 pm MT - Colorado Springs, Colorado

January 21 - Eastern Shore Chapter (virtual) - 3:30 pm ET

February 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (Virtual) 11:00 am ET.

AIBD Webinars

January 8 - Members Helping Members Roundtable - 3:00 pm ET (1.0 Elective CE)

January 9 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Cost-Effective Build and Design Ideas (1.0 P3 -CE)

January 20 - High-Performance Homes Team - The underlying principles of multi-layered, ventilated walls. - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

January 27 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET - SoftPlan: What's New in Version 2026 | Part 1s (1.0 P3 CE)

Editable business documents and more, found at AIBD.org/Designer-Docs and by logging into your AIBD member account

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

AEC Daily - Look for in-person and virtual events.

AirVent Attic Ventilation: Ask the Expert™ Seminar Schedule - In-person events - Schedule & Registration

AIBD Connect - Colorado - May 1, Castle Rock, CO. Schedule & Registration.

AIBD Connect - Florida - January 16, Sanford, FL. Schedule & Registration.

Chief Architect Virtual Training- January 7-16, 2025

AIBD Annual Conference - July 29-August 1, 2026 - Reserve your hotel room

Green Home Institute - Look for in-person and virtual events.

SoftPlan - Virtual training dates

SBCA - Components Craft - February 24-25, 2026 - Austin, TX. - Information

Traditional Building Conference - March 24-25, 2026 - Salem, MA - Registration opens January 6

Have a triumphant week.


Thank you to our AIBD Corporate Partners. Their generous support champions our profession, and we encourage you to support them in return. Atlas Roofing, Chief Architect, Cogram, GreenHome Institute, JDS Consulting, National Association of Home Builders, RL Mace Universal Design Institute, Shelter, and SoftPlan Systems,


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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.

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