Custom Home articles from July 2004

Custom Home archives from July 2004

Perspective.(Editor's Page)
July 1, 2004... We all need to step back every once in a while to take stock of where we are so we can figure out where to go from there. It's called getting perspective, "the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance," according...

Working relationship: how do you succeed in business with your spouse?(On Your Mind)
July 1, 2004... The conventional wisdom has it that something like half of all new marriages will end in divorce. The failure rate for small business startups may be even worse. Given those odds, going into business with one's spouse might seem to be asking...

Site unseen: cutting corners can have consequences.(From The Trenches)
July 1, 2004... Many years ago, when I was a less experienced custom home builder, I learned a very valuable lesson: Don't put your company in jeopardy just to save a few bucks. I learned this lesson in 1985, a time when the driver of the local home...

Service call: difficult customers sometimes are made, not born.(Customer Service)
July 1, 2004... Return now to Castle Rock, Colo. You may recall a situation I noted in my May/June 2003 column ("Judgment Calls," page 8) that involved footprints in the concrete walk and drive discovered during orientation. Well, the service adventures of...

Beyond custom: find the best of both worlds.(Case Study)
July 1, 2004... Scenario: After struggling for a year with too much work and not enough people, Barry had finally succeeded in hiring a new superintendent. And of course, as soon as he did that, demand slacked off, so that now his new superintendent is only...

A is for accounting: what grade does your accounting system merit?(Strictly Business)
July 1, 2004... You probably rely on report cards to find out how your kids are doing in school. But have you ever subjected your own business to the grading system? It could tell you where you are succeeding and where you need to improve. So I've devised a...

Feed the need: find out what motivates your customers.(The Top Line)
July 1, 2004... Every prospective customer has a motive behind his interest in your business. If you can determine this motivating factor, you'll be way ahead of your competition by knowing how to most effectively approach prospective clients and what will...

Wine cellars.(Custom Touches)
July 1, 2004... All fine wine collections require the same basic care and feeding. The pros list climate, humidity, and light control systems as must-haves to protect and preserve tender vintages. Vapor-tight doors and easy access are also top priorities. But...

Material master.(K+B Studio)
July 1, 2004... Once Gregory Fonseca devised the three-dimensional layout of this Linthicum, Md., remodel, he donned his artist's cap and began thoughtfully applying finishes and surfaces that would bring the kitchen to life. "It's like making a painting,"...

Meditative mix.(K+B Studio)
July 1, 2004... The owner of this 1970s rambler remodel is a collector of contemporary art and a believer in the benefits of feng shui. He hired architect Mark Krittenbrink to transform a warren of gloomy rooms into spaces that would stand alone on their own...

Center of attention.(Products)
July 1, 2004... Designed to function as a central workstation in the kitchen, Julien's AquaCentre model 1200 features integrated details that provide prep and clean-up space and keep kitchen tools at hand. yet out of sight. The module includes a large...

Making waves.(Products)
July 1, 2004... The WaveTub from Sonoma Cast Stone is pre-cast from colored concrete with a distinct contoured interior that will fit two bathers in a relaxing, ergonomic position. To overcome the chilly qualities of concrete, the maker has designed the tub...

Remote control: home automation via the Web.(The Wired House)
July 1, 2004... Home automation has traditionally branched into two main categories. The high end has been the domain of the rich, who can bankroll a team of electronics specialists to program and install a hardwired system managed by simple-to-use...

Fan fight: builders and engineers debate proposed ventilation standards.(Building)
July 1, 2004... In a move that has the National Association of Home Builders fighting mad, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has adopted a standard that could spur code officials to require builders to...

On guard.(What's New)
July 1, 2004... Generac Power Systems' Guardian Plus automatic home standby generators are UL-listed and provide emergency electrical power to a home's critical power systems during power outages, even when no one is home. Guardian Plus air-cooled standby...

Silver medal.(What's New)
July 1, 2004... Georgia-Pacific's DensGlass Gold sheathing product has been used extensively in commercial projects, and over the years it has proved its worth as a moisture- and mold-resistant exterior sheathing. Now the manufacturer has engineered an...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events.(Events)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Aug. 5-7, Southeast Building Conference. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. For information visit www.sebcshow.com. * Oct. 6-9, Remodeling Show 2004. McCormick Place, Chicago. For information visit www.remodelersshow.com. * Oct....

The long and winding road: a perilous hill country lane leads to a peaceful Texas retreat.(On Site)
July 1, 2004... Getting to Carl and Helen Lasner's house, in the Texas hill country takes some perseverance. A twisting, two-mile-long route guides you right through a creek not once but three times, and if there s been a storm recently you'd better be...

Fiscal restraint: in pursuit of the (relatively) affordable custom home.(Portfolio)
July 1, 2004... When was the last time your company built a house that you could afford to own? For many custom builders, it is not an idle question. Not because custom building pays poorly, but because the custom home market has shifted upward. Across the...

In hot water: a supply of hot water is just a pipe away.(State of the Art)
July 1, 2004... Most custom homes wouldn't be complete without the 100-gallon whirlpool tub and the jetted shower system in the master bathroom, plus showers and tubs in other bathrooms, as well as large-capacity washing machines and dishwashers. All these...

Brenda Warren.(Great Finds)
July 1, 2004... Cut No Slak Construction, Salida, Colo. Brenda Warren primarily builds homes that blend perfectly into the Colorado mountainscape, and her clients want fireplaces that blend perfectly with their rustic homes. Warren likes Travis Industries'...

Donald J. Dryness.(Great Finds)
July 1, 2004... Spectrum Construction & Development Co., Succsunna, N.J. Custom builder Donald Dyrness says his company receives nearly 400 spam e-mails each day. The filter-based system the company was using to block these unwanted messages was not...

0rnamental metals.(Fine Finishes)
July 1, 2004... OrnaMetals LLC provides an array of decorative architectural metal ornaments from moldings, mansards, and medallions to finials, weathervanes, and waterspouts--all manufactured by German-based Kaufmann, designer and manufacturer of copper and...

Wonderful walls.(Fine Finishes)
July 1, 2004... The faux finishers of Clark & Hall Studios offer a wide repertoire of traditional and unusual wall finishes, from exterior lime painting and interior Italian plaster to murals and trompe l'oeil. While the company's approach is historic,...

Southwestern drama.(Entry Doors)
July 1, 2004... Pre-hung and pre-finished entry doors come in several styles and finishes. The full-eyebrow white mahogany garrison doors and custom sidelights shown have a chip-carved texture. Santa Fe Heritage. 800.684.2981. www.santafeheritagedoors.com....

Craftsman quality.(Entry Doors)
July 1, 2004... Constructed of Honduran mahogany, the Strawberry Park entry door features half-lights of leaded glass. The maker specializes in Spanish Colonial, Tuscan, Art Deco, and Arts and Crafts styles. Doors can be speed with hand-forged hardware. McLean...

Geometric gems.(Entry Doors)
July 1, 2004... Architecturally inspired glass options are now available on Craftsman collection entry doors, transoms, and sidelights. Featuring geometric patterns of clear beveled, clear textured, and cobalt art glass, the glass lights are set off by strong...

Stylish steel.(Entry Doors)
July 1, 2004... Constructed of stainless steel, solid copper, solid brass, or solid bronze with fully welded stainless steel integrated cores, entry doors come in an array of styles. Options include specialty glass, sidelights, and transoms. Shown is the...

Head to toe.(Entry Doors)
July 1, 2004... Fiberglass entry door systems are all-in-one sidelight/door units with a continuous head and sill, composite sills with internal weep systems, and fixed sweeps for energy efficiency. Doors are available in textured or smooth fiberglass. Weather...

Nature's image.(Surfaces)
July 1, 2004... Four new colors of Zodiaq quartz surfacing are respired by the texture of a rocky coastline: neutral taupe antique pearl, monochromatic ochre mosaic gold, tone-on-tone mystic black, and earth-brown smokey topaz. DuPont Zodiaq. 877.229.3935....

Hard as stone.(Surfaces)
July 1, 2004... Composed of 93 percent natural quartz crystal and 7 percent high-performance polymers, Formica Stone natural quartz surfacing comes in thickness of either 2 or 3 centimeters to fit a variety of horizontal applications. The material resists...

Spice road.(Surfaces)
July 1, 2004... Available in both slab and the formats for countertops, flooring, and vertical surfaces, the Indore series of quartz-based surfacing features spicy, earth-toned colors. Slabs come in two thicknesses and a 55-inch-by-120-inch size; the...

Improving performance.(Surfaces)
July 1, 2004... Basalto, Pietra Basaltina, and Porfido are the newest additions to the NewStone line of geologic stones, manufactured in a process that improves the materials' physical-mechanical performance, the maker says. Suitable for exterior and interior...

Go with the flow.(Surfaces)
July 1, 2004... Silestone's River series colors emulate the pattern variation of limestone while providing the strength and stain-and scratch-resistance of quartz. The series features a stain finish in six colors: glacier blue, Sienna red, Cleopatra gold,...

Stairs, molding, and millwork.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Custom home buyers, almost by definition, are looking to add unique design elements and fine details to their home. They want their home to feature the rich, textural elements that add style to a room, create a dramatic entryway, or accent the...

The Aladdin Light Lift.(Custom Products Showcase)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... The ALADDIN LIGHT LIFT is an easily installed motorized lift system that automatically lowers your chandelier for easy cleaning or bulb changing.... with just the turn of a key. Models are available to lift up to 700 pound chandeliers and 65...

Evergreen Slate Company, LLC.(Custom Products Showcase)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Evergreen Slate Company has the most beautiful range of natural slate colors available. With our extensive selection and most experienced staff, we can supply any architectural effect desired or match arty slate roof ever applied. We offer our...

Felber Ornamental Plastering Corp.(Stairs, Molding & Millwork)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... A recognized name for over 30 years, Felber offers varied styles in stock or custom size and forms. From its 2000-plus models, Felber can provide architectural details including ceiling medallions/ornamentation, cornices, niche caps/units,...

Water tight.(Last Detail)
July 1, 2004... The owners of this Minneapolis house thought of their attic as more than just a place to store dusty boxes. They dreamed of snoozing, working, reading, and bathing under the eaves, so they turned to architect Timothy Quigley. "It's practically...