Custom Home articles from November 2002

Custom Home archives from November 2002

Educational experiences. (Editor's Page).
November 1, 2002... It took me a long time to realize that I wasn't the only person born without knowing how to, well, take your pick--sail a boat, drive a car, bake a cake, edit a magazine, run a business. None of us comes complete with all the knowledge...

Degrees of difficulty: difficult customers come in a range of styles. (Customer Service).
November 1, 2002... Difficulty clients travel under many titles: high-maintenance customer, customer from hell, customer we wish we'd never met, and several others unsuitable for print. Their cost to builders is significant in rime, stress, and dollars. They...

Staying on top: even market leaders must control costs. (Case Study).
November 1, 2002... Scenario: Everything had been going wonderfully for Dan's high-end custom home building company. Over the past few years, the average cost of his homes had risen higher and higher until he was the highest-priced builder in his area on a...

Back to basics: brush up on the fundamentals of success. (Strictly Business).
November 1, 2002... Whether you are in a hot market or a slow one, the end of the year is a good time to look at your business accounts to make sure you are taking care of the basics. In both up and down markets, a custom home business will run a lot smoother if...

Choosing wisely: contractors nationwide are turning to EXPO Design Centers for one-stop product selection, low prices and a customer-service edge. (Special Advertising Section).
November 1, 2002... Your custom home or remodeling project is rolling along like a smooth-running train. Smart interpretation of your client's wish list has resulted in a blueprint the customer loves, and that you can build profitably, on schedule. Permits are...

Entryway seating. (Trend Lines/Custom Touches).
November 1, 2002... "There are patterns that relate to any entryway," says San Francisco-based architect Max Jacobson of Jacobson Silverstein Winslow Architects. "As you come toward the building, changes in direction of travel, in level, in view, and an increased...

Full range: Elan targets all price points. (The Wired House).
November 1, 2002... The question for luxury home buyers today isn't whether to install custom electronics but to what extent. You can have anything from a basic multi-room sound system to a full-tilt smart home. For some people, being able to pipe Diana Krall into...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events. (Trend Lines/Events).
November 1, 2002... Dec. 5-6, Upper Midwest Builder Associations Trade Show & Conference. Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis. For information call 800.362.9066 or visit www.uppermidwest buildersshow.com. * Jan. 21-24, 2003, International Builders' Show. Las Vegas...

Rural restraint: preserving that country feeling. (On Site).
November 1, 2002... When custom builder Guy Semmes directs clients to his company's office in Potomac, Md., he tries to steer them around the more gruesome patches of mini-mansion sprawl that have cropped up nearby. It gets harder all the time. A recent New York...

2002 Custom Home Pacesetter Awards.
November 1, 2002... CUSTOM HOME proudly presents the winners of the eighth annual Pacesetter Awards program. Co-sponsored by CUSTOM HOME and the National Association of Home Builders' Custom Builders Committee, the award honors professionals who have demonstrated...

Warming trend: in the hot seat. (Products/State of the Art).
November 1, 2002... These days, toilet seats can do everything from warm your buns to take. your blood pressure. Most popular among homeowners who choose to upgrade from standard-issue seating are heated toilet seats, which plug into a regular household electrical...

Walk the borderlands. (Products/Fine Finishes).
November 1, 2002... BorderWalks creates architectural designs in flooring from all domestic hardwoods and most exotic woods. The square-cut patterns are manufactured through a patent-pending process using end-grain cuts. The company offers 16 standard borders and...

Hip to be square. (Products/Fine Finishes).
November 1, 2002... The Magic Square sink resembles an ancient Greek fountain, but functions as a sink for the kitchen or bath. The exterior basin is lined with a stainless steel pan, which is hidden beneath a slightly angled tray of tumbled marble or Venetian...

Small and sleek. (Products/Faucets).
November 1, 2002... The Domani.02 by Sieger Design is a scaled-down version of the group's original Domani, but is sized for use with smaller washbasins. Available in a chrome finish, the Domani.02 features a single-lever mixer. Dombracht. 800.774.1181....

Easy being green. (Products/Faucets).
November 1, 2002... Paris kitchen faucet with metal handspray, shown here in new green patina finish, features a concealed ledge design and emporium handles. The Paris faucet is available in more than 33 finishes. Watermark Designs. 800.842.7277....

Clear water. (Products/Faucets).
November 1, 2002... The Country Kitchen collection's coordinating filter faucets--designed to work with undercounter filtration systems--have been enhanced with two new finishes: Tuscan brass and Inca brass. Rohl. 800.777.9762. www.rohlhome.com. Circle 161 ...

Copper kettle. (Products/Faucets).
November 1, 2002... The Madison IV wide-spread faucet is available in an antique copper finish and with a side spray. It is also available in polished chrome, PVD brass, stainless satin nickel, and antique pewter finishes. Blanco America. 800.451.5782....

Modern metal. (Products/Faucets).
November 1, 2002... The For Loft collection basin faucets by Michael S. Smith are available with three handle options--lever, cross, and wristblade--and offer a clean functionality suitable to most environments and architectural styles. For Loft basin faucets are...

Desert beauty. (Products/Interior Doors).
November 1, 2002... Using woods such as knotty and clear pine, white mahogany, and alder, crafters create interior doors with distressed finishes in the style of the Southwest, such as this DeLeon model. Custom designs also are available, as well as custom stains...

Green standard. (Products/Interior Doors).
November 1, 2002... Environmental-Class wood doors are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The environmentally friendly factory-applied stains and topcoat colors can be custom matched. Marshfield Door Systems. 800.869.3667. Circle 158 [ILLUSTRATION...

Eastern influence. (Products/Interior Doors).
November 1, 2002... Bi-fold doors are constructed of American hardwoods such as maple, oak, or walnut. Facing materials include styrene-backed paper, fiberglass, plexiglass, paper laminated between glass or acrylic, and custom materials. Cherry Tree Design....

Deco artistry. (Products/Interior Doors).
November 1, 2002... The 1930s-influenced Art Deco II door is made of mahogany, walnut, ebony, tiger-striped maple, and burled bubinga veneer. McLean Woods. 505.983.2644. www.mclean woods.com. Circle 157 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A rustic look. (Products/Interior Doors).
November 1, 2002... Knotty hemlock interior doors are crafted from select Western hemlock and are offered in four- and six-panel styles in heights up to 7 feet. Nord. 800.877.9482. www. doors-windows.com. Circle 159 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Deep burnish. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... Three new colors--burnished indigo, burnished verdi, and burnished brick--are available in the company's framed and frameless cabinetry, which comes in maple, alder, rustic maple, and rustic alder. Canyon Creek Cabinet Company. 206.674.0973....

Custom touch. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... The company works with custom builders, architects, and others to design kitchen cabinets in Shaker, Early American, Arts & Crafts, and Victorian styles. The cabinets shown are natural cherry with a cream distressed milk-paint finish. Crown...

Elaborate cabinets. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... Drawing on the look of Old World furniture, the Furniture Art Connoisseur collection includes cupboards, pantries, sideboards, and kitchen islands in several designs and finish colors. The Sussex cupboard shown here is finished in...

Functional masterpiece. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... Glass cabinet doors, raised dishwasher cabinets, custom refrigerator panels, and base microwave cabinets are among the options in the new Masterpiece line. The line comes in maple, oak, cherry, and hickory and includes 12 door styles and 40...

Designer features. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... The all-wood Designer Gold series of cabinetry is available in a variety of woods, including cherry, maple, oak, knotty alder, knotty pine, and hickory. Shown here are maple Laurel Bay cabinets in a wheat frost finish. Medallion Cabinetry....

Euro-sleek. (Products/Kitchen Cabinetry).
November 1, 2002... Custom cabinetry has interior options that include wire shelves and baskets, hidden appliances, and slide-out work surfaces. The SC 16 series paneling and cabinetry system is shown in a warm anegre. SieMatic. 215.244.6800. www.siematic.com....

Spicy surprise. (Last Detail).
November 1, 2002... Architect and owner of this San Francisco remodel Sandra Vivanco realized that she needed room between the wall and her 24-inch-wide, 30-inch-deep stainless steel Sub-Zero so the door could swing open wide enough for easy access. Vivanco...

Building complex. (Editor's Note).
November 1, 2002... Have you noticed that custom houses keep getting more complex? Sure, they're growing bigger, but size isn't necessarily the complicating factor. Often it's the scope of the project that's the culprit. Today, a custom home doesn't stop at the...

Pool houses.
November 1, 2002... "Sun," emphasizes New York City-based architect Mark Ferguson, "You want to maximize the amount of sun you're going to get on a pool, so it would be a mistake to put the pool house on the south side of the pool." Consider shade also. There...

Building alliances: a well-oiled partnership can make a job go swimmingly. (In Depth).
November 1, 2002... There was a time, not too long ago, when custom home owners wanted a fairly simple pool to be built on their properties. Not any more; now clients want outdoor spaces to be as well appointed as indoor ones. "They're realizing that [the...

Northern exposure: an outdoor haven on the shores of Lake Erie.
November 1, 2002... An acre-plus site wedged between a lake and a bay sounds like an ideal spot for a house open to the outdoors. But the lake is Lake Erie, the bay is Sandusky Bay, and the state is Ohio. Here, violent storms of every variety, freezing winters,...

Liquid assets: pool designer Doug Hackl dives into the details.
November 1, 2002... "Water is gorgeous any time you get it to do something it's not supposed to do," says Doug Hackl, principal of Hackl Pool Construction, Lake Worth, Fla. His passion is to give shape, texture, and movement to water, coaxing it into graceful...

Warming trend. (Outdoor Kitchen Appliances).
November 1, 2002... A new 24-inch integrated indoor/outdoor warming oven (IOWO24) can be installed into the company's recently released 52-inch freestanding grill cart and can be incorporated into any indoor or outdoor application. Dacor. 800.793.0093....

Electric cooking. (Outdoor Kitchen Appliances).
November 1, 2002... The new stainless steel Cherokee electric infrared grill uses a glass-top infrared emitter to cook food with radiant energy. Accessories include a rollaway cart, deep fryer, steamer, and frying griddle. TEC. 800.331.0097. www.tecinfrared.com....

Portable power. (Outdoor Kitchen Appliances).
November 1, 2002... The 26-inch Titanium series gas grill is constructed of heavy-duty 304 stainless steel and features two burners with an output of 20,000 BTUs/hour. Grill racks are porcelain-coated and two side shelves offer work or storage space. A rotisserie...

Chill out. (Outdoor Kitchen Appliances).
November 1, 2002... The Architect professional series slide-in, water-resistant outdoor refrigerator has a stainless steel interior and exterior and can be installed singly, stacked, or side-by-side. The refrigerator may be fitted with casters for easy movement....

Mini-beams. (Outdoor Products).
November 1, 2002... The miniature Monaco 2002, with a 1.86-inch-diameter body, adjusts from spot to wide flood beams, is made of an aluminum alloy, and features horizontal- and vertical-aim locking mechanisms. Lumiere/ Cooper Lighting. 805.484.7713. www.cooper...

Steely stairs. (Outdoor Products).
November 1, 2002... Custom stainless steel stairs are available in several sizes and will accommodate more than 180-degree rotation. Also available in copper, the stair shown here has wood treads. Diamond Spas. 800.951.7727. www.diamondspas. com. Circle 30 ...

Outdoor sounds. (Outdoor Products).
November 1, 2002... Outdoor speaker systems feature front-ported design and weather-resistant speaker terminal. Custom C-brackets are included with each speaker for installation under eaves and pivoting up to 180 degrees. All surfaces are paintable. Elan Home...

Spare the stairs. (Outdoor Products).
November 1, 2002... Constructed of stainless steel, the Stair Tamer is a remote-controlled cargo lift that will transport 400 pounds of non-human cargo from the ground to any level of a house or deck. Now equipped with a brake, the system moves up and down 7 1/2...