Custom Home articles from April 2003

Custom Home archives from April 2003

Uncertainty. (Editor's Page).(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... While we've always had to deal with the unknown, ever since Sept. 11, 2001, uncertainty has been more than a constant companion. It's been, as they say, in our face. We confront a litany of questions that has largely gone unanswered. While...

Service ironies: one size doesn't fit all situations. (Customer Service).(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... Most of us would like to discover one simple, easy-to-remember policy that resolves all service issues. "The customer is always right" comes immediately to mind. Regrettably, this is a hope doomed to frustration. Looking after customers is a...

When good bids go bad: if a bid looks too good, ask questions.
April 1, 2003... Scenario: When Barry saw the bid from the mason, he should have been suspicious. Why was his best mason's bid so much lower than the other bids? The architect's specifications for the fireplace called for a "split Roman brick" firebox, with a...

Strategic planning: five rules for implementing your plan. (Strictly Business).
April 1, 2003... Many builders approach strategic planning the way some people train for their first marathon: They rush out and buy new shoes and off they go, running every day that first week. The second week they only run twice. And by the third, good...

Clarification.
April 1, 2003... The January/February Strictly Business column stated that a contractor should "... always be ahead of the customer and maximize the use of your client's funds by taking a deposit and front-loading your draw." The article ommitted the fact that...

Sales magnet: five ways to be instantly irresistible. (The Top Line).
April 1, 2003... I recently saw a poster in a sporting goods store of the Three Stooges. Larry, Curly, and Moe, dressed slovenly, were holding their golf clubs and looking comfortably smug in each other's company. The title of the poster was, "Play Golf with...

Hard-working ceilings. (Trend Lines/Custom Touches).
April 1, 2003... "The ceiling is one of the most ignored sides of a room," laments Bethesda, Md.-based architect Jim Rill. "It's really a great way to divide or orient a space, and to give warmth, rhythm, and texture to a room." The architects whose projects...

Walls of music: in-wall speakers go high-end. (The Wired House).
April 1, 2003... If the hills of Santaluz, Calif., come alive with the sound of music that's because residents of the ColRich Collection at Santa Monica are joining the surging number of luxury-home owners who are opting into whole-house audio systems. Custom...

Hidden agenda. (Trend Lines/The Wired House).(AVIA's home entertainent system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Now you see it, now you don't. That was the general idea behind this home entertainment system by AVIA, Inc., in a Locust Valley, N.Y., master bedroom. The setup, which won Best Hidden Installation in the Custom Electronic Design and...

Cool hand wok. (Trend Lines/What's New).(induction wok from Kupperbusch )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Kuppersbusch Ceramic Induction Wok cooktop element senses when a wok is placed on its surface through pan detection technology. Only then will the element heat up to preprogrammed temperatures--within seconds, water flicked at the wok will...

Mold management. (Trends Lines/What's New).(from GP Gypsum)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A recent innovation in gypsum technology promises to be an important weapon in the war on mold in buildings. GP Gypsum's two new patented gypsum wallboard products, DensArmor Interior Guard and DensArmor Plus Interior Guard, combine the...

Light catcher. (Trend Lines/Great Rooms).(master bath)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Dan Phipps got two chances to design this restful master bath in San Francisco. Fifteen years ago, he remodeled the Edwardian-style house for clients with a limited budget. "We did the general layout then, putting the master bath in what had...

Guest suite. (Trend Lines/Great Rooms).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... "The clients wanted a self-sustaining guest suite that resembled an open loft," says Fairfax, Calif.,-based architect Henry Taylor. Exposed brick and recycled-wood ceilings with wrapped structural posts and beams give it that slightly...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events. (Trend Lines/Events).
April 1, 2003... April 10-13, Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Fla. For information call 800.367.6522 or visit www.kbis.com. * April 28-30, The Seniors Housing Symposium: Building for Boomers & Beyond....

Desert bloom: a tough, rocky site yields an innovative new house. (On Site).(from Page Repp, Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano)(and related article)
April 1, 2003... Building in traditional Southwestern styles has never interested Tucson, Ariz., builder Page Repp. Nor has it ignited creative excitement in the minds of architects Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano, also of Tucson. All three admire the old adobe...

Spot market: for custom builders, it is time to think local. (Portfolio).(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... Custom builder Tim Chupp enjoyed a bumper year in 2001, and judging, by the activity in his Valparaiso, Ind. market, 2002 promised to be even better. "The way it was looking last spring, it was going to be my best year ever," says Chupp, whose...

Midwest traditions.(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... In every region of the country, the fortunes of the custom home market are closely linked with those of the stock market. But the Midwest has traditionally been somewhat insulated from Wall Street's ups and downs, and in the current climate of...

High desert hacienda.(in Albuquerque)
April 1, 2003... As a tourist and retirement destination, Albuquerque, N.M., plays second fiddle to nearby Santa Fe. And to Albuquerque custom builder George Lewton, that's just fine. Compared with its desert-chic sister city, the peaks in Albuquerque's...

Sunshine statement.(Vero Beach, Florida)
April 1, 2003... Whatever the state of the national economy, Florida continues to lure wealthy Snow Belt retirees and second-home clients. And as upscale enclaves like Palm Beach and Boca Raton have become more crowded, relatively quiet Vero Beach has begun to...

Northwest exposure.(Seattle area)
April 1, 2003... With its culturally aware population, distinctive climate and topography, and rich architectural heritage, the Seattle area has long been a hotbed of custom home activity. Recent hard times for high-tech industries have battered the local...

Washington update.
April 1, 2003... Despite sniper attacks and terrorist alerts, the Washington, D.C., area's diverse economic base, bolstered by federal spending, continues to float the local custom home market at near-boom levels. Real estate values that seem only to climb with...

Rare vintage: a proper wine cellar requires more than just rows of racks. (Products/State of the Art).
April 1, 2003... Educated wine collectors know that it takes much more than a few racks in a room to safely preserve fine wine so that it appreciates in value. It takes knowledge of how to achieve and maintain the conditions that allow wine to age properly...

Wine Cellar Innovations. (Products/State of the Art).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Wine Cellar Innovations stocks and custom-builds redwood, mahogany, and pine racking systems in many configurations: individual, corner, bulk, and display. Tasting centers and decorative accents, including wall murals, stained glass, tile, and...

WineCellarPro. (Products/State of the Art).(wine racks from Wine Cellar Pro)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... California redwood wine racks are fabricated by local woodshops in any configuration, among them waterfalls, corner round units, decanting tables, and wineglass holders. Sapwood-grain redwood racking is offered as an alternative to all-heart...

Habitat monitor. (Products/State of the Art).
April 1, 2003... The Habitat Monitor Climate Security System monitors cooling systems, senses and displays climate conditions, and tracks temperature and humidity. High and low temperature/humidity set points can be programmed into the system, and an internal...

Cellar mate. (Products/State of the Art).(cooling system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A self-contained, commercial/industrial-grade cooling system, the Cellar Mate operates as a stand-alone unit or in a series. It automatically evaporates condensation to maintain room humidity. The system is designed to work with most existing...

Breezaire. (Products/State of the Art).(cooling system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Breezaire self-contained and split cooling systems allow the user to control wine cellar conditions with an adjustable thermostat. Engineered for vibration-free operation, the systems maintain relative humidity between 50 percent and 75 percent...

Alan C. Simonini: Simonini Builders, Charlotte, N.C. (Product Report from the Field).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... When Alan Simonini installed a cold-mist humidifier in his home during construction, he found that the system did not produce enough moisture to protect the wood trim and Brazilian cherry floors. "We took great pains to acclimate the floors to...

Brian Bailey: Brian Bailey Homes, Austin, Texas. (Product Report from the Field).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... For years, Brian Bailey has been wiring the homes he builds with lighting and system controls, but the scale of his projects made connecting all the systems increasingly difficult. Using Lutron's new Radio Frequency (RF) components with the...

Metal master. (Products/Fine Finishes).(Christopher Thomson )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Christopher Thomson does not simply shape steel, copper, and bronze into architectural accents and components. "I approach each project differently," he rays, "striving to find its proper relationship to the customer, the environment, and work...

Working details. (Products/Fine Finishes).(red cedar shutters)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Custom-crafted, kiln-dried Western red cedar shutters are the specialty of the craftsmen at Timbefiane Woodcrafters. "Our design process begins with the specifications and measurements provided by the customer," says Rich Heggs, vice president...

Exotics underfoot. (Products/Flooring).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The new Studio B line of hardwood flooring features eight exotic woods and is available in random-length strips in 1/4-inch thicknesses. Kambala (shown) is native to West Africa and deepens in color as it ages. Flooring glues down with ton...

Geo-friendly. (Products/Flooring).(glazed porcelain tiles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... GeoStone EcoCylce glazed porcelain tiles are made of unfired, reused raw materials and base materials. Tiles come in a 12-inch-by-12-inch size and 4-inch-by-12-inch bullnose trim. Crossville Porcelain Stone/USA. 931.484.2110. www....

Italian technology. (Products/Flooring).(porcelain stoneware floor tiles from Monocibec)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Novecento Italiano heavy-duty, single-fired, glazed porcelain stoneware floor files are available in five sizes and six colors. Decors and special pieces are available. Monocibec. 212.980.1500. www.italytile.com. Circle 168 [ILLUSTRATION...

Historic floors. (Products/Flooring).
April 1, 2003... Antique, recovered woods are salvaged from mills, factories, barns, and homes and then dried, straightened, and milled according to the client's specs. Chestnut floors, shown here, as well as heart pine and oak are available. Carlisle...

Make the grade. (Products/Flooring).(from Penwood Flooring)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Plank hardwood flooring is available in uniform or random widths, in random lengths in several domestic species, and in three grades. Shown is Heritage grade white oak plank flooring in a natural finish. Pennwood. 717.259.9551. www....

Skim the surface. (Products/Flooring).
April 1, 2003... Three-coat SkimStone system uses a proprietary blend of acrylic resins and dry ingredients to create a textured appearance on concrete floors. The finish is durable once sealed with SkimStone Protective Sealer, says the maker, and can be...

Wild wood. (Products/Flooring).(pecan hardwood planks from Robbins)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Urban Exotics pecan hardwood planks are satin finished with a standard gloss. Available 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches wide, planks are milled in random lengths with square edges and ends. Also available in cherry and walnut. Robbins....

Rustic yankee. (Products/Flooring).(plank flooring from Yesteryear Floorworks)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Wide Yankee Plank flooring is milled from new-growth hardwoods in 3/4-inch solid, kiln-dried planks. The tongue-and-groove planks are pre-squared and are available in random lengths and a range of widths. Shown are American black walnut (left)...

Pretty marbles. (Products/Flooring).(marble tiles from Graniti Fiandre)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Geologica line has been expanded to include three engineered marble tiles: Estremoz, Rouge Languedoc, and Cremo Delicato. The tiles are available polished and honed for interior and exterior use, and come in a variety of sizes. Graniti...

Forest friendly. (Products/Flooring).(bamboo flooring from WFI Bamboo)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Made of renewable bamboo, flooring is available in different varieties and finishes and unfinished. The flooring will not delaminate under normal conditions. WFI Bamboo LLC. 319.848.4932. www.bamboofloors. com. Circle 164 [ILLUSTRATION...

Matched sets. (Products/Lightning).
April 1, 2003... The Amenities collection is designed to complement the Newport line of faucets and fittings. The collection offers eight designs in single or double fixtures and eight finishes. Shown is an oil-rubbed bronze fixture with a flared...

Low profile. (Products/Lightning).(halogen undercabinet light fixtures)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The new 12-volt Pro Halogen series undercabinet light fixtures plug together for row mounting and can be used with wall dimmers or with built-in rocker switches. The light has a slim, 1-inch profile. Juno Lighting. 847.827.9880. www....

Deco delight. (Products/Lightning).
April 1, 2003... Modeled after a fixture in a 1941 Montgomery Ward catalog, the Manning pendant is made of cast aluminum and solid brass. It measures 16 inches in diameter and hangs 17 to 30 inches from the ceiling. Available in polished nickel, bronze gilt,...

Swirl away. (Products/Lightning).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Low-voltage ceiling pendants feature hand-applied swirls of color over shades in a variety of colors. Shown is the Green Swirl/Opal Pendant. Pendants measure 6 1/4 inches long and 6 3/8 inches in diameter and can bc used with incandescent...

Color of happiness. (Products/Lightning).(fluorescent fixture )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Happy Happy suspended fluorescent fixture diffuses light through blue, yellow, green, and red filters and through a silver birch or Tecno grille. The satin-finished, semi-transparent acrylic body measures 56 inches long, 7 1/2 inches high,...

Ali-oop. (Products/Lightning).(alumium sconce from Ivalo Lighting)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The 4-foot-tall Aliante sconce is made of an aluminum shell with a vertically centered, 21-inch frosted polycarbonate lens, The shell comes in satin and brushed finishes with clear or black anodization, in dimming and non-dimming...

Frosty glow. (Products/Lightning).
April 1, 2003... Shown in clear, the Echo pendant also comes in fuchsia. Havana brown. amber, and aquamarine. Echo measures 8 3/4 inches high and 5 inches in diameter and is also available in a fluorescent 13-watt option. 2thousand degrees. 866.234.2086....

Soft illumination. (Products/Lightning).
April 1, 2003... The LP Charisma pendant's injection-molded, clear polycarbonate cone is topped with a spun aluminum or white opal polycarbonate shade that directs light downward. Louis Poulsen. 954.349.2525. www.louis poulsen.com. Circle 173 [ILLUSTRATION...

Silken shades. (Products/Lightning).(from Progress Lighting)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Belmont collection features chandeliers in 15-, 9-, 8-, and 5-light configurations as well as a two-light wall sconce. The lights are constructed with flat-strap scrollwork arms in the maker's bronzed Sedona finish. Progress Lighting....

When in Rome. (Products/Lightning).(Roman reproduction chandelier from Meyda Tiffany)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Tiffany Roman Reproduction chandelier is constructed of stained art glass in the copperfoil method. It measures 26 inches high and 24 inches wide. The collection also includes wall sconces. Meyda Tiffany. 800.222.4009. www.meyda.com. Circle...

Panel discussion. (Last Detail).(hand-carved wooden Chinese panels )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Four hand-carved wooden Chinese panels dating to 1825 connect the formal dining room of this Midlothian, Va., home to the great room, giving the owners the flexibility to open up the public rooms for large parties. The home's owner, commercial...