The entry window for the American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) is closing soon, but there is still a fast, low-friction way to get your work in front of the judges: enter the Working Drawings category. If you already have a solid set of construction documents, you’re closer to “ARDA-ready” than you think. In fact, this is the one category where you don’t have to chase down new photography or create marketing copy from scratch—you can submit the drawings you’re already using in the field....
2 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, Congrats on surviving Monday and crushing Tuesday. Now, Wednesday beckons you to take a break and step into a pattern of discovery. Welcome to the Midweek Meander. Did someone forward this to you? Please consider subscribing. I’m writing to you this week from the front porch of the Southernmost House in Key West, Florida. The Atlantic Ocean is providing my background audio, the breeze is warm, and if I look closely enough, I can see Cuba from where I'm sitting. Not really. That...
3 days ago • 6 min read
05_Full width Entry Door Upgrade Offers Functionality and Fresh Air Vented sidelites with removable mull posts are an innovative option for ProVia® Signet® fiberglass entry doors with FrameSaver® frames.To create a temporary wider opening for large objects, the mull post between the entry door and sidelite can be removed, clearing the way for transporting bulky items. The post inserts back into position and latches securely when the task is complete.Homeowners who frequently transfer...
4 days ago • 1 min read
European residential designers are turning strict energy codes, tight footprints, and historic preservation rules into premium, high‑profit selling points. Meanwhile, many American custom homes are still playing catch‑up. Join us for this month’s Coffee With Bernie, “European Residential Design Trends America Is Missing,” and see how your peers are translating cutting‑edge European ideas into practical, buildable solutions for their clients. In this interactive session, we’ll explore:...
4 days ago • 1 min read
June 8, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive 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. Email servers may truncate this newsletter because...
5 days ago • 5 min read
If you ask AIBD members why they keep coming back to the Annual Conference (Design+Build Cleveland), they’ll tell you the same thing: it’s the one time each year they’re truly surrounded by people who “get” what they do. From the Compass Club kickoff at Progressive Field to the D+B Expo Happy Hour and Friday’s “Dine Around Cleveland,” every moment is designed to help you reconnect with old friends, meet new collaborators, and plug into a national community of residential designers and...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Every first Friday, AIBD members get something you don’t. They log in, drop their toughest project problems on the table, and walk away with real answers — from real AEC professionals who’ve been exactly where they are. No Google rabbit holes. No expensive consultants. No guesswork. You? You’re still figuring it out alone. That gap between where you are and where AIBD members are? It widens every single month. While you’re grinding through code interpretations, client disputes, and business...
11 days ago • 1 min read
You know how it feels when the phones are not ringing as much. Projects wrap up, new leads slow down, and suddenly every client is looking harder at who they bring onto the team. In those moments, it is not just about who does good work. It is about who has visible proof. When the market tightens, the designers with clear, third‑party credentials float to the top of the shortlist. They are the ones who can say “award winning,” point to national recognition, and show that their work has been...
12 days ago • 1 min read
June 1, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive 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. Email servers may truncate this newsletter because...
12 days ago • 5 min read
