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Archive for August, 2008
New tile collections from Ann Sacks
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008Property tax freeze for historic renovations- because “the greenest building is the one that exists*”
Monday, August 18th, 2008Illinois residents (probably other states- check yours) can get an 8 year property tax freeze for doing a renovation which preserves historic features- if the home is in a landmark district, a historic landmark itself, or can be shown to be influential or characteristic of the period it was built in. http://www.illinoishistory.gov/PS/taxfreeze.htm
There are rules, of course, but it isn’t as hard as I feared, and definitely worth checking out… unless you like paying more taxes, ad infinitum.
Might not seem like this is a post that should be categorized as “green construction”, but that’s part of the reason I write this. Think embodied energy- the energy used to construct the building. Using the embodied energy of an existing building is far greener that expending the energy again.
In other words, there is a huge environmental savings from using a building that is already constructed vs. demolishing and trucking it and all its components to the landfill, and then shipping lots of new “green” material to a site and starting fresh.
More to come.
*quote from Mike Jackson, FAIA- Illisnois Historic Preservation Agency
Contemporary chandelier lighting
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008Once confined to the dining room or large salons and entries, and always of traditional design, the chandelier has become the go-to fixture in all but the most humble room- and they are contemporary, too.
For (Swarovski) chrystals in a sphere, very contemporary, see http://www.schonbek.com/geometrix/led/index.html. Both LED and halogen. There is a smaller version that can be put right in the dishwasher for cleaning!
Giogali chandelier, with rings that can be arranged to create different configurations with different lengths and shapes: http://www.dwr.com/product/categories/lighting/chandeliers/giogali-chandelier.do?search=basic&keyword=giogali&sortby=ourPicks&page=1
Laura Kirar’s Syro chandelier for Baker-http://www.kohlerinteriors.com/baker/1_1_5_0_coll_prod.jsp?brand=Baker&coll_id=2260850&category=Lighting&subcategory=Chandeliers&prod_id=2271950&prod_num=LK123&index=2&browse_key=Baker%212260850%21Lighting%21Chandeliers%21 Kohler had a huge horizontally expanded version of this fixture at the KBIS show. I love the gold infused in these disks- this one can go beyond contemporary, I think. Pendant also available.
Rules of thumb for different stages of life (and the homes that go with them)
Friday, August 8th, 2008First time buyer, move-up buyer, and the empty nester all have different needs in a home. Knowing which is your most likely buyer helps you to make sure you remodel with as many as possible of the market group’s desired features- making the most of your remodeling dollar.
First time buyer: Master bedroom minimum width of 11′4″, to fit a king-size bed and 2 nightstands. Also there should be room along another wall for a 60″ dresser. Master bath should have a 4′ vanity that extends over the toilet. The kitchen goal is workspace for 2 people.
Move-up buyer: Master bedroom increases in width to13′4″ and a sitting area must be included; there must also be room for a second chest of drawers or dresser. Master bath vanity should be at least 6′ with a double sink and a separate tub and shower. Kitchen should have an island for prep or cooking.
Empty nester: Master bedroom can be the same as the move-up buyer, but add a mini-retreat area nearby- for use as an office or sitting area. Master bath should have all the above features, plus ample linen storage. The kitchen should include all the above plus a double pantry.
Regional differences can exist. Make sure to do some market research with a realtor you trust- or visit open houses in your area. Be an informed investor to maximize your resale value.
From: Professional Builder, September 1989
Cabinetry hardware for luxury functions
Friday, August 8th, 2008(this is the hardware that makes your cabinetry open and shut, not the knobs…)
Blum has a new Servo-Drive product, that automatically opens drawers with a light touch or a light pull on the handle. It can be stopped in any position and can be combined with Blumotion for a silent close. http://www.blum.com/gb/en/01/30/60/index.php Go ahead, get messy while you cook- you don’t mess up the cabinetry! This product also has accessibility benefits. There are even 2 Youtube videos about this product- you know where to find them.
Mepla-Alfit’s Illuxo system has an LED light on the hinge, so that when the cabinet is open there is light. No power connection or transformer required! http://www.mepla-alfit.com/content/EN/products/illuxo.html
Not hardware- but a great way to use all the space available- Base ToeKick Cabinets use the formerly wasted toekick for maximizing storage. http://www.diamondcabinets.com/news/pr_details.cfm?pr=11
Radiant floors- luxury AND green
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008“radiant is best described as a system that thermally conditions the body, as opposed to heating the building”
Because the body and not the building is being heated, radiant feels luxurious. The floor is warm, so you feel warmer than if the ceiling is warm.
Since it feels so warm, most people are able to keep the thermostat several degrees cooler, saving energy costs.
Hot water radiant heat is the dream system, but even if you have forced heat and air, you can enjoy the luxury in your bath or kitchen- with electric radiant.
NuHeat Floor Warming Systems (www.nuheat.com) come in standard mat sizes and can be unrolled by the tile installer to lay under the new floor. Even with a nice programmable thermostat (so you can heat only when you need it, further controlling costs!) the product is very affordable.
Microwave drawer by Sharp
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008They’re not brand-new, but still worth a comment, because having the flexibility to put the microwave below the counter or even lower, accessible to children and those with impaired movement is a big deal.
www.sharpusa.com/microwavedrawer
They are available in 24″ and 30″ widths. It also opens up the options with the weekend/weekday triangles- see prior post. And, makes a lot of sense for a breakfast bar or non-kitchen application, where you don’t want to look at the appliances too much.
Flat screen swing arm that folds completely flat
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008We love our flat screens and we love to swing them around as needed- those swing arms are the greatest invention since bread, right?
But here’s a swing arm that is actually mounted INSIDE the wall, so that you can put the TV completely flat on the wall when needed: http://www.chiefmfg.com/search_results.aspx?CategoryID=103
Easy cleanup and laundry tips
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008Use Pledge or any oil-based furniture polish to clean your stainless steel. It works as well as the stuff made for steel, and you have one less product under the sink.
I have a client with cherry floors in her kitchen and she is CRAZY about the Bona System, a microfiber mop head and spray, at www.bonakemi.com.
To remove greasy food stains from your clothes, use Murphy’s Oil Soap- the paste form that comes in a jar. You will never toss out clothes because of grease spots, and you won’t get that lightened spot that comes from other spot removers.
If you have an oops at the stove, or someone sneaks a cigarette in your place, spray Febreze or similar product on your furnace filters and run the unit fan to really clear the air- repeat if needed.
Creating and building great client relationships (tips for contractors)
Tuesday, August 5th, 20081. Show up for appointments on time. I couldn’t possibly count how many times my prospects are surprised by that. Of course, that goes for subsequent visits, too.
2. Read written communication out loud, before sending it out- especially proposals and first communications. Because we work in a less eloquent profession than most of our clients, our letters and proposals can sometimes be less articulate than optimal. Reading them aloud clears up a lot of that.
3. When something goes wrong, and it often does to some extent in our industry, COMMUNICATE frequently, and get the problem resolved ASAP. This prevents a tiny problem from becoming an irritation to the client and good graces disappearing.
4. Underpromise, Overdeliver. This is a tool that takes a while for the client to get, because not having you say you will do whatever they want, when they want it, is unnerving. But when they realize that you ALWAYS do what you say, or more than that, they grow to absolutely love it.
5. Newsletters or some regular communication to clients and past clients is vital. People are busy and seeing your name regularly reminds them to ask you when they need help- instead of starting over. It also means that they think of you immediately when a friend or coworker states a need, so referrals are more frequent. I also send a very unique holiday card and or a gift around Thanksgiving time.
5a. After the job is done, 30 days or so, depending on the project, call and see how things are. If there’s a small problem it’s easier to fix then, and the either way impression on the client is great. Often the client thinks of other things they would like to do on their home, then or down the road, and you can mark your calendar to check back with them on those items.
6. KEEP THE JOBSITE CLEAN!!!! This is a HUGE tool in keeping the customer comfortable. They don’t often know what is really happening and can only judge a job by familiar standards. If it looks clean at the end of every day, they assume that you are following up on the stuff they don’t know how to judge. Plus, it gives a sense of order to their homes, especially if they are living on-site.
7. Explain what is happening, in language the client understands. The contractor knows how the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone, but the client is reassured by explanations about what has to happen first, etc. I don’t believe in keeping the client in the dark- the more they know, the better they will like the service they are getting.
8. Make it as clear as possible what will be included in the contract, and what makes an “extra”. The more you can include, with the use of allowances, etc, the more comfort the client has that he knows what his costs will be. Including “everything that can be reasonably expected from a job of this scope”* may make your bid higher, but the informed customer is going to go with you. Just be very specific what is included- and get some macro-type language to insert, that is as clear as possible, so you can do it with just a few keystrokes.
*that’s actually language from my typical contract
9. Make a profit on your work. That’s really the best thing for your clients, too. If you don’t, you won’t be in business next year, and your clients will have to deal with another outfit- not as good as you- for their needs.
10. Savings-incentives? I encourage my cost-conscious clients to schedule work in winter, when there’s less construction work going on. That is a way to help them capitalize on the supply and demand of the market. Other than that, see #9.
