Skip to content
design it forwarddesign it forward
  • get to knowExpand
    • Meet Alla
    • Testimonials
    • Accolades
    • legacy
  • Get startedExpand
    • DIY like an Architect
  • Get InspiredExpand
    • Kid-focused design
    • ideabooks
    • Blog
let's get in touch
design it forward
  • turning house into home, alla diy ally, architect on demand, advice without strings

    Turning a House Into a Home: 5 ways to mix old and new

    Imagine turning a house into a home. House vs home. What is the difference? I conjure up an image of an apparatus programmed to cooperate, even anticipate and inspire. It’s a sophisticated contraption attending to all of my whims — ascertaining that my emotional and physical wellbeing is taken care of. It’s designed with efficiency…

    Read More Turning a House Into a Home: 5 ways to mix old and newContinue

  • above-ground pool, architect on demand, advice without strings

    Above-ground Pool in the Front Yard: 5 Ways I Used Constraints to My Advantage

    My kids, my students, and my fellow DIYers (those home improvement enthusiasts I consult online as Alla DIY Ally) have all heard me exclaim time and time again: “That’s a blessing in disguise!” I love when perceived design problems (like the ones I’ve encountered while designing an above-ground pool) are turned around and emerge as…

    Read More Above-ground Pool in the Front Yard: 5 Ways I Used Constraints to My AdvantageContinue

  • masterplan, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Learning How to Masterplan

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: last week. My creative teens have practically learned everything about how to think like an architect. We’ve come full-circle and are practicing how to masterplan through mind mapping and collaging. It’s the final step in DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Learning How to MasterplanContinue

  • uniting parts, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Uniting Parts with the Whole

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week seven. My creative teens are mastering the concept of uniting parts with a whole as they learn how to think like an architect while we work our way through the steps of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Uniting Parts with the WholeContinue

  • architect on demand, advice without strings

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Scaled Drawings and Models Simultaneously

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week six. My creative teens are practicing how to think like an architect while working on steps  8 and 9 of the DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Scaled Drawings and Models SimultaneouslyContinue

  • models, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Models

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week five. Last week my creative teens started scaled drawings — step 8 in the DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method. Some of the kids are eager to build already; they are moving right along to step 9, a scaled model.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Designing with ModelsContinue

  • floor plan, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with a Floor Plan

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week four. My creative teens are practicing how to think like an architect — ready to tackle step 8 of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method — zeroing in on a floor plan.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Designing with a Floor PlanContinue

  • understanding scale, proportion, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Understanding Scale and Proportion

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week three. We are working on understanding scale and proportion. First two sessions were devoted to initial brainstorming steps of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method. Today my creative teens are sharing the insights — building presentation skills is one of the objectives.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Understanding Scale and ProportionContinue

  • parti diagramming, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Parti Diagramming

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week two. In the first workshop we learned how to approach a project by means of mind mapping and collaging — steps 1& 2 of DIY Like an Architect method.  Today my creative teens are parti diagramming.

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Parti DiagrammingContinue

  • mind mapping, collaging, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Mind Mapping and Collaging

    Even in my wildest dreams, I had never considered becoming an architect until someone asked: “Why don’t you study architecture?” He was a stranger — my jaw dropped: “But I don’t even know how to draw!”

    Read More DIY Like an Architect: Mind Mapping and CollagingContinue

Page navigation

Previous PagePrevious 1 … 15 16 17 18 19 Next PageNext

Get to know

  • Meet Alla
  • Testimonials
  • Accolades
  • Get in touch

Get inspired

  • DIY like an architect
  • Kid-Focused Design
  • Idea books
  • Blog
Facebook Instagram
  • get to know
    • meet Alla
    • testimonials
    • accolades
    • legacy
  • get started
    • DIY like an Architect
  • get inspired
    • kid-focused design
    • ideabooks
    • blog
  • get in touch