Custom Home articles from September 2002

Custom Home archives from September 2002

Trophy houses. (Editor's Page).
September 1, 2002... As far as I'm concerned, a house doesn't deserve a trophy because of the size of its floor plan or the dominance of its roof line. I don't care if it has one bathroom or ten, a marble foyer or a linoleum one. Anyone can keep adding space and...

In the zone: business coach Clay Nelson helps custom builders find their own sweet spot. (Close Up).
September 1, 2002... Custom builder Brace Giffin had only just met Clay Nelson, a business coach who specializes in the custom building and remodeling industries, and already Nelson was changing his life. Over dinner with a mutual friend, Giffin described a recent...

The customer threshold: learn to avoid your client's breaking point. (Customer Service).
September 1, 2002... "And now they won't return my phone calls. They are just impossible to please. Talk about the customer from hell! Where do they all come from? What should I do?" Any customer can become the customer from hell. Difficult customers actually...

Ready, aim, fire: when to terminate an employee. (Case Study).
September 1, 2002... SCENARIO: Barry knew hiring Beverly, his new office manager, may have been a mistake as soon as he began to review the Byer file. There was no contract in the file, though the clients sent it in two days ago. He'd told her all the procedures...

Put it on paper: a short guide to writing a business plan. (Strictly Business).
September 1, 2002... Most custom builders I talk with agree it's important to develop a written business plan. Unfortunately, very few of them sit down and, as the Nike commercial says, "Just do it." But, like other complex tasks, producing a business plan is...

Cast in a new light: new technology brightens old houses. (The Wired House).
September 1, 2002... For years programmable lighting control has been envied by home dwellers who have been unable to install a hard-wired lighting system in an existing home. The security of lights that create the appearance of an occupied home, the convenience of...

Club med. (What's New).
September 1, 2002... Made with Mediterranean clay, sand, and cellulose. Terramed all-natural interior wall coatings from Med Imports give ordinary surfaces an earthy, European look. The ochre plaster's texture plays with light, creating shading effects and a rustic...

Flex all. (What's New).
September 1, 2002... Designed for pesky curved walls and wavy ceilings that can be a pain to frame, the Flex-C Trac system includes bendable metal tracks that simplify and speed up construction of wood and metal structural curves. To build high-quality curved...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events. (Events).
September 1, 2002... Oct. 10 to 12, Restoration & Renovation Conference. Cleveland Convention Center, Cleveland. For information call 800.982.6247 or visit www.restoration andrenovation.com. * Oct. 17 to 18, American Housing Conference. Renaissance Hotel, Chicago....

Winners! 2002 custom home design awards. (Cover Story).
September 1, 2002... Best Overall Custom Home of the Year Virginia Beach, Va., Residence Of all the features that distinguish a truly custom home--thoughtful design, superior materials, fine craftsmanship--perhaps the most important is the simple intention...

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.
September 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...

Healthy house: heat recovery ventilators help homeowners stay healthy and save energy costs too. (Products: state of the art).
September 1, 2002... Shortly after Gettysburg, Pa., builder Ken Roberts first used structural insulated panels on an energy-efficient custom home in the mid-1990s, word got around that a competitor who used the same materials was having problems with mold. "He...

Animal instinct. (Products: fine finishes).
September 1, 2002... John Landrum Bryant's building product design business began on a smaller scale--designing jewelry for his animal-loving wife. While decorating their apartment and finding a scarcity of animal pieces, Bryant began creating nature-inspired...

Expert panel. (Products: fine finishes).
September 1, 2002... Lumicor decorative panels combine a one-of-a-kind look with a durable surface. The panels sandwich a range of materials, including fabric, metal, wood veneer, and foliage, between two pieces of translucent resin, resulting in a distinctive look...

Smart switch. (Products: home technology).
September 1, 2002... The Faedra Smart Dimmer contains a microprocessor that allows for multilocation dimming, one-touch preset light levels, variable fade times, and tap-on/ tap-off operation. The dimmer uses standard faceplates and wiring. Lutron. 800.523.9466....

Surge stopper. (Products: home technology).
September 1, 2002... One of three new devices designed to protect against transient voltage surges that can enter the home through power and data lines, the Multimedia Residential Surge Protector Panel mounts at the home's entrance. It allows for two-pair...

Face the music. (Products: home technology).
September 1, 2002... The FireBall music management system plays CDs, MP3 files, Internet radio stations, and Sirius satellite radio stations for up to 700 hours of music. The system connects to home automation systems and touch panels and can be networked to other...

Door screen. (Products: home technology).
September 1, 2002... The DSC2000 all-in-one door communications system features a color CCTV camera, an ultra-sensitive microphone, and improved voice intelligibility. The system displays video to any television monitor or the company's VIA touch panel. Elan Home...

Total control. (Products: home technology).
September 1, 2002... The company's line of advanced lighting controls includes a scene director, multi-location dimmers and fan controls, toggle switches, and motion-activated switches. They install with conventional wiring. Pass & Seymour/Legrand. 800.223.4185....

Fine China. (Products: roofing).
September 1, 2002... Imported from China, slate roofing lines absorb less moisture and undergo rigorous international testing, the maker says. The slates are custom punched for installation and come in black, antique green, dark green, and desert sand....

Brand new clay. (Products: roofing).
September 1, 2002... Montoro genuine clay grade-one roof tiles are manufactured in Australia using individual molds. The tiles, which interlock at the head and side lap, come in two profiles in a range of colors and finishes. U.S. Tile. 909.737.0200....

Shake up. (Products: roofing).
September 1, 2002... Crafted from pressure-treated Southern yellow pine, LifePine shingles are hail- and wind-resistant and carry a 50-year warranty against fungal decay and termites. The shingles are offered in three styles and will age to a driftwood gray color...

True colors. (Products: roofing).
September 1, 2002... The unique color blends of Prestique Gallery laminated roofing shingles include weathered sage, balsam forest, and sienna sunset. The shingles, which feature textural complexity and dimension, come with a 40-year warranty. Elk. 972.851.0400....

Top off. (Products: roofing).
September 1, 2002... Ardogres Italian ceramic stone roofing offers the look of slate, with a textured surface and realistic edges. The material is durable and resistant to hail and fading. It comes in red, green, and black and is also available in a diamond shape....

Strong shield. (Products: windows).
September 1, 2002... HurricaneShield window glass sandwiches an ionoplast layer between two layers of glass, providing 100 times the rigidity and five times the tear resistance of traditional impact-resistant laminated glass, the maker says. As shown here, the...

Double up. (Products: windows).
September 1, 2002... The company offers three grades of double-hung windows for a range of custom projects. The Premium grade features a heavy-duty aluminum-clad exterior and comes in six standard and 22 special colors. Wood-grade units have a primed exterior and...

Solid shell. (Products: windows).
September 1, 2002... The company's clad wood products now are fully compliant with AAMA 2605-98 10-year finish specification standards. The windows feature an extruded aluminum cladding on the flame and sash exterior, a chrome pre-treatment process that provides...

Life line. (Products: windows).
September 1, 2002... Designed to reduce the likelihood of penetration from hurricane-driven debris. LifeGuard impact-resistant windows feature laminated glass, an upgraded glazing bead, and slave lock reinforcement. The system is available on the Legacy and Weather...

Out the window. (Products: windows).
September 1, 2002... The Ultra line of windows features a .050-inch-thick extruded aluminum frame with a 5052 alloy roll-formed aluminum-clad sash. The windows come in white, sand, rustic, chutney, and Hartford green, as well as custom colors. Kolbe & Kolbe....

Make it modular. (Products: range hoods).
September 1, 2002... Ventilation and chimney hoods feature delay-off buttons, halogen lighting, filter-clean indicator lights, and front-mounted three-speed controls. The modular systems accept either an internal or remote blower; the hood automatically shuts off...

Custom fit. (Products: range hoods).
September 1, 2002... The Integrated Ventilation System allows homeowners to customize the vent hood to complement the kitchen design. The system features internal blowers, halogen lights, and removable filters. Blower settings are available in 600-cfm and 1,200-cfm...

Free flowing. (Products: range hoods).
September 1, 2002... The AH600 hood uses multiple fans to generate a backflow of air that completely rids the kitchen of cooking smoke, odors, and vapors, the company says. Three 50-watt halogen bulbs provide targeted illumination. Gaggenau. 800.828.9165....

Blown away. (Products: range hoods).
September 1, 2002... The Matrix range hood is controlled from the cooktop and comes with 11 fan settings and hood lights. Custom options include an integrated look, modular features, and corner hoods. Users can time the fan to shut off after the smoke clears....

Quantum leap. (Products: range hoods).
September 1, 2002... The Quantum range hood combines a sleek, low-profile design with enough power to handle professional-grade ranges. The hood comes in 42-, 48-, 54-, and 66-inch lengths or in custom lengths; halogen lights illuminate the entire cooking surface....

One of a kind. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Customized closet systems combine laminates and hardwoods with accents in marble, solid surfacing, granite, polished brass, and gold. Accessories include built-in ironing center, hydraulic lifts, valet, and safe. Closet Design Group....

Behind closed doors. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Customized closet systems come with heavy-duty laminate shelving or upscale, furniture-quality pieces made from oak or cherry. Any style or configuration is possible, the company says. Creative Closets. 610.433.0933. www.creativeclosets.com....

Smart storage. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Frosted glass doors are just one of the features of the Espace freestanding closet. The units are available with aluminum, walnut, or cherry frames, as well as chests of drawers, tie racks, and ironing boards. The pieces can be combined with...

Extra space. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Closet system features a custom makeup table, a valet pull-out, and a hydraulic wardrobe pull-down. Raised panel doors and clear Lucite drawer boxes are available in any style or configuration. SpaceMakers. 770.422.6464....

Classy closet. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Bilbao system is composed of wardrobe units that can be combined in a number of ways. The pieces are made of aluminum frames and feature wooden and glass panels as well as hinged, sliding, and folding door options. A variety of finishes are...

Organize it. (Products: closet systems).
September 1, 2002... Closet organization systems feature divided drawers, belt and tie racks, adjustable cubbies, and velvet-lined jewelry drawers. The units are custom constructed rather than prefabricated and come with steel rods and see-through Lucite doors. The...

CHDA resources. (Products).
September 1, 2002... The products used in this year's winning Custom Home Design Award homes. PROJECT OF THE YEAR, P. 46 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. Bathroom plumbing fittings: Dornbracht, Circle 400, Hansgrohe, Circle 401, Kroin, Circle 402, Waterworks, Circle...

Behind the scenes. (Last Detail).
September 1, 2002... Efficiency is paramount in this Hatfield, Mass., kitchen that houses media seminars for chefs and cookbook authors. Designer and owner Lisa Ekus Saffer took advantage of the minimal depth needed for her vast cookbook collection and tucked extra...