We’re eight weeks into the pandemic, and what used to feel strange is starting to feel a little normal, which is even stranger. At TPD, we’ve been working remotely, visiting construction sites after hours, and coming up with new strategies to help us work effectively with clients, vendors, and contractors. This transition has been made easier because part of the intent of this firm is to allow for flexibility: we’ve been working from home when we needed to for years. But we still miss seeing folks. We miss having coffee or a glass of wine with each other, being able to work together with the amazing contractors who build what our clients dream, and being able to sit around a table together with a big roll of trace and just sketch out what we are thinking. In short, we miss the conversations.
For us, conversations are learning opportunities that help us do our work better. In that spirit, we’ve launched a short survey on the website, accessible here. The goal is to talk to as many people as possible, all over the country, and find out how their houses are holding up with the extra demands placed on them right now. We want to know what’s not working, but we also want to know what is working, and how you will think differently about your home in the future. There are a lot of opinions out there as to how residential design will be impacted by the #stayathome initiatives, and while I think these are fascinating and helpful, I also know that I learn more about how people are actually living by talking to them. So please join the conversation and let us know how it’s going. The answers are anonymous unless you choose to share your email. We’ll be letting you know what we learn.
And, since I love baking (and cooking), I thought I’d share the new favorite recipes in the Davis house:
- Alison Roman’s Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake, from the Nothing Fancy cookbook
- Jim Lahey’s Pan co’Santi (Raisin Walnut Bread) from the My Bread cookbook
- Rachel Roddy’s Sauteed Beef with Arugula, from the My Kitchen in Rome cookbook