Custom Home articles from July 2003

Custom Home archives from July 2003

Learning experience. (Editor's Page).
July 1, 2003... It's not too early to make plans to attend the 2003 NAHB Custom Builder Symposium, which will be held Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 in Orlando, Fla. Over the years, I've urged readers to attend this excellent event many times. And now I'm going to once...

Past perfect: Richard Marks turns back the clock on historic homes. (Close Up).
July 1, 2003... When we decided to profile a custom builder doing outstanding work in historic restoration, it was not difficult to locate our subject. We looked where the old houses are, zeroing in on Charleston, S.C., which bears as rich a lode of notable...

A growing problem: educate customers about the dangers of mold. (Customer Service).
July 1, 2003... In case you missed it, the April 2003 issue of THE JOURNAL OF LIGHT CONSTRUCTION [another Hanley-Wood publication] reported that an appeals court reduced the Melinda Ballard mold settlement from $32 million to $4 million. While this is...

Keep it real: factor in hidden costs when pricing change orders. (Case Study).
July 1, 2003... Scenario: Construction on the Byer's new home had gone quite well. The Byers had made their selections in a timely manner, the weather had been good, and the house was a few days ahead of schedule. The next task was installing the hardwood...

Under control: keep costs down and profits up. (Strictly Business).
July 1, 2003... Okay, you've taken my advice and asked your buyers for more margin. Good for you! You're halfway to becoming more profitable. Now it's time to tackle the second half of the equation: controlling costs so that you hang on to more of that margin....

Old friends: past customers can lead to future business. (The Top Line).
July 1, 2003... Clients who already know you, have bought from you, and trust you--let's call them friendly customers--are some of your most valuable and cost-effective marketing resources. Surveys of businesses show that it takes anywhere from 10 to 20 times...

Home offices. (Custom Touches).
July 1, 2003... "A home office is a space that has a particular set of needs individual to the client," says Camden, Maine-based architect John Gillespie. "As long as you meet those needs, everyone is happy." The space must meet the basic needs of adequate...

Above and beyond: ordinary appliances get smart. (The Wired House).
July 1, 2003... Motorized blinds, choreographed home theaters, whole-house lighting displays... Such are the premium lifestyle amenities we've come to associate with the connected home. Proprietary high-end communications networks from Crestron, AMX, Elan Home...

Vintage charm. (The Wired House).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The process Electronics Design Group follows when designing a home theater is a simple one. "We meet with the client and determine what type of performance they want," says Joe McNeill, systems sales manager. "Then we put the specs on AutoCAD...

Water world. (Great Rooms).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A remodeled home on a Belvedere, Calif., lagoon needed a kitchen that would allow the clients to supervise their young children playing outside without worries of unfettered access to the water. Of course, they also wanted expansive views of...

Spectacular spectrum. (What's New).
July 1, 2003... Designed around the concept of chromatherapy, Whitehaus Collection's new Nymphaea lavatory basin changes color with the temperature of water. The clear crystal glass basin is available in six embossed patterns. Each color in the shifting...

No bugs allowed. (What's New).
July 1, 2003... Termites can pass through gaps or cracks as small as 1/32 inch, and all concrete eventually settles and cracks over time, allowing termites the opportunity to invade a home. Syngenta's newly introduced Impasse Termite System is designed to bar...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events. (Events).(Calendar)
July 1, 2003... Aug. 10-12, National Hardware Show. McCormick Place, Chicago. For information visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com. * Sept. 3-7, Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO. Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome,...

Top flight: an age-in-place custom home lands on a Pacific Northwest shore. (On Site).
July 1, 2003... Far in the northwest corner of Washington state, about as close to Canada as you can get without crossing the border, sits the perfect house for an airplane buff. It perches on the edge of Semiahmoo Bay, which is part of Puget Sound, like a...

Far and away: in an unsettled time, vacation homes thrive. (Portfolio).
July 1, 2003... In the custom home business, the term "dream house" is much bandied about. But let's not fool ourselves; the real dream is a vacation home. Primary residences have to stay awake and keep their eyes on the ball. Commuting distance, school...

Safe at home: interest in storm rooms and safe rooms is on the rise. (State of the Art).
July 1, 2003... More than 1,000 tornadoes touch down in the United States each year, according to the Weather Channel, ripping through communities with wind speeds of up to 318 mph and exerting enough wind force to shred structures and injure or kill any...

Jim Blahut: Perennial Homes, Beach Haven, N.J. (Azek).
July 1, 2003... Jim Blahut prefers to create his own details for the Victorian homes he builds. "I had been looking for a trim product that is impervious to moisture and insects, and that can also be painted and worked with--i.e. cut, routed, sanded,...

Ray Passailaigue: Passailaigue Homes, Charleston, S.C. (Product Report from the Field).
July 1, 2003... In the humid summer climate of South Carolina, Ray Passailaigue was having problems with the treated native wood decks he installed on his homes: They warped, split, twisted, and splintered. Dissatisfied with this performance, he looked around...

Carved beauty. (Fine Finishes).
July 1, 2003... Hand-carved wood entry doors are custom-designed in the U.S. by architects and designers, then crafted in India of natural teak. The hardwood's weather- and insect-resistant properties make it suitable for exterior applications, and its...

Stony surfaces. (Fine Finishes).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Sinks and countertops from Sheldon Slate are crafted of several varieties of slate in different colors quarried by the company in its own fields in Maine, Vermont, and New York. Family owned and operated, the company also produces slate files,...

New tradition. (Entry Doors).
July 1, 2003... Old World fiberglass composite entry doors in the Aurora collection feature an impermeable mahogany-grain skin over a dense PolyMicro core. Several styles are available in six UV-protective stain finishes and five paint surfaces. IWP....

Curve-hugger. (Entry Doors).
July 1, 2003... Curve Top doors can be made in any available wood species. Options include sidelights and transoms with zinc, brass, copper, or lead caming, and embossed panels. Doors feature stile-and-rail, mortise-and-tenon construction. Madawaska....

Option packed. (Entry Doors).
July 1, 2003... Entry doors in nearly any wood species can be constructed to the architect's or builder's design specifications through a new custom service by Simpson. Options include 18 tempered glass styles as well as leaded glass inserts. Special...

Thick skinned. (Entry Doors).
July 1, 2003... Acore's new fiberglass doors come pre-hung in a variety of styles and sizes and feature stile-and-rail construction in a non-cupping, non-twisting, water-proof composite material. Door skins resist scratches and abrasions, says the maker, and...

Hand wrought. (Entry Doors).
July 1, 2003... Entry doors of hand-forged iron feature interior glass panels that open independently of the frame. Standard designs, such as the new The Downs (shown), are custom manufactured to fit each job. Cantera Doors. 877.393.6677. www.canteradoors.com....

Metal magic. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Stainless steel or copper countertops and backsplashes can be custom designed and built to suit each client's needs. The countertops are low maintenance and provide antibacterial surfaces for food preparation. Frigo Design, 800.836.8746....

Safe and sound. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Designed to be concealed within cabinetry or closets, the Liberty safe provides UL-listed fire protection for valuables. With ample storage space and several functional organizers, the safe can be connected to home security systems. Liberty...

Perfectly chilled. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Luxury series under-counter refrigerators feature black interiors and glass doors and can be filled with custom rails and stiles to match cabinetry. Several models are available. Marvel Industries. 800.428.6644. www. marvelindustries.com....

Free standing. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... The combination working bar/pantry stand-alone armoire is available in pine, maple, cherry, or mahogany. It measures 48 inches wide and 83 1/2 inches tall and has 24 inches of worktop space when open. The unit has a bi-fold door and adjustable...

Hot touch. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... The Arrow gas cooktop is powered by electricity to provide 60,000 BTUs. The cooktop features 21 repeatable settings and eight quiet microcycling settings, silent ignition, and constant flame monitoring. Caldera. 800.725.7711....

Clear finish. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Sub-Zero models 650G and 611G custom refrigerator/freezer combinations feature glass doors. Interior lights can be set to glow while the door is shut and then brighten when the door opens. Available in carbon stainless steel and platinum...

Wonderful wood. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Custom solid wood countertops are available in 20 wood species, including exotics such as wenge, paduak, zebrawood, and teak (shown). In plank, butcher block, or checker-board configurations, each wood surface is sealed with a tung oil finish....

Triple play. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... The 30-inch over-the-range microwave (PCOR30) is a three-in-one hood that combines a microwave. a convection oven. and an over-the-range hood. The appliance features a combination mode that combines microwave with convection oven functions....

In-depth. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... The 23-cubic-foot, side-by-side, counter-depth refrigerator features a coated stainless steel exterior and water dispenser cover and is Energy Star qualified. Full-depth glass shelves slide out and adjust while loaded. Digital controls show...

Bronze beauty. (Kitchen Products).
July 1, 2003... Available in two types of solid bronze, the Apron Front sink offers different three-bowl configurations. Seven finishes are available. Rocky Mountain Hardware. 888.788.2013. www.rockymountainhardware.com. Circle 169

Inlayed trim. (Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... Handmade and hand-colored concrete kitchen countertops, vanity tops, backsplashes, and surrounds can be made with custom veining and can be inlaid with copper trim. Integral or drop-in sinks also are available. All surfaces are hand sanded and...

Random vein. (Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... Random through-body veining gives Granito Ceramico porcelain stoneware the look of natural marble and granite. Available in 125-by-178-centimeter slabs, it resists damage and comes in 12 colors. Mirage. 212.980.1500. www.italytile.com. Circle...

Moving mosaics. (Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... New Ravenna marble mosaics can be applied to floors, walls, and vanities in an array of custom designs from the Sarah Baldwin Design Studio as well as in standard designs. New Ravenna Mosaics and Stone. 757.442.3379. www.newravenna.com. Circle...

Fabulous forms. (Surfacing).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... UltraGlas embossed glass tiles and slabs are heat-formed with irregular textures and shapes in a variety of standard designs. In addition to the maker's selection of hand-applied colors and color combinations, custom matching is available....

Concrete jungle. (Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... Concreate series porcelain stoneware tiles come in four large sizes and six colors that coordinate with the maker's Metropolitan aluminum and steel mosaics and decors. Rex Ceramiche Artistiche. 212.980.1500. www.italyfile.com. Circle 158

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... Correction Boral Bricks' Liberty Classic Stone molded stone product was incorrectly classified as a paver in the May/June 2003 issue. The lightweight manufactured stone reproduces the shape and texture of natural stone, comes 3 inches thick and...

Stairway to heaven. (Last Detail).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Using $88 of materials and working for a fee of two cheeseburgers and a Coke, architect Steven M. Foote of Boston-based Perry Dean Rogers & Partners Architects designed and built his 9-year-old daughter-cum-client her dream home. Foote used the...