Table of Contents Spring 2007

FEATURES

• 

  In The Clearing

  The owners of this house in the Texas Hill Country wanted to update the upper floor master bedroom and bathroom of their modest cabin. They asked architect Kevin Alter of Alterstudio Architects, in Austin, to design a renovation that provides views of the cypress-dotted landscape on an inlet of...

   
• 

  Boutique Branding

  A. Lee Parron doesn't mince words when describing his role as a remodeler. The road has been rough at times, he says, but the bumps and bruises he's gotten along the way have been well worth it. “Just like anyone else, we've had our ups and downs,” says Parron, president of The Kitchen Center in...

   
• 

  Design Savvy

  Just as remodelers have become more sophisticated over the years, so have clients, especially those who are interested in major renovations and additions. At home and at work, these are people who are proficient in the latest and greatest when it comes to computer technology.

   
• 

  Interlocking Ideas

  The pieces may be a lot bigger, but large-scale remodeling projects come together much the same way as an intricate jigsaw puzzle. Outlining a budget and design plan is like assembling all the edge pieces to create a sturdy frame; installation is as easy as snapping each piece into place. For...

   
• 

  21st-century Kitchen

  Predictions made during any decade of the 20th century regarding the kitchen of the new millennium invariably involved a hefty dose of futuristic edginess, largely based on the idea that high-tech inventions would be the focal point of all our living spaces. Now that the new millennium has not only...

   

FINAL TOUCH

• 

  Material World

  Copper accents add old-world charm to homes.

   

INSIGHT

• 

  Look Here

  A point of focus can be as simple as a favorite piece of art at the center of the main living space. Or it can be more elaborate, such as an inglenook around a beautifully designed fireplace or a composition of windows looking into the garden beyond. Its purpose is to draw you into the space and to...

   

• Communicating Skills

  Design is a skill that you can study, practice, and educate yourself about. However, the missing ingredient is "style." Skill can be learned, but style can only be acquired through years of practice and paying attention to details.

   

• Managing The Budget

  One of the greatest frustrations a homeowner can face is the realization that your fabulous design will cost more to build than expected. Upscale clients are no different.

   

• Home Sweet Home

  Today's kitchens are less about high-tech gadgets than about designers and remodelers applying technology to create custom spaces that enhance clients' lifestyles.

   

INTERVIEW

Ten Minutes With...

• David Nachbar of Bausch and Lomb

  David Nachbar of Bausch and Lomb answers questions.

   

PEOPLE

• 

  Animal Magnetism

  The theory behind Charles Clarke III's BOLT concept, explained.

   
• 

  Politically Connect

  Politics isn't just for politicians. Jake Schloegel, president of Schloegel Design Remodel in Kansas City, Mo., learned that lesson a few years ago as he battled for repeal of a sales tax that was having an impact on the remodeling industry. Kansas City, plus its counties and municipalities, had...

   

• Showing Gratitude

  To communicate the importance of customer service and to build a strong reputation for his staff of eight, as well as subcontractors, the president of Phase II General Contractors in Lakewood, Wash., instituted a simple reward system.

   
• 

  The Next American House

  Open spaces and personalized amenities are what baby boomers, who have no intention of slowing down, demand in their retirement-phase homes.

   

PROCESS

• Brand Protection

  Successfully creating a market identity for your company isn't easy. Branding first requires a substantial creative effort, then a serious financial commitment as you establish the brand through marketing.

   

• Outer Circles

  Many remodelers struggle to strike a profitable balance between sustainable growth and manageable marketing, but Anderson-Moore Builders does the job by focusing on--and only on--its existing referral base.

   

• Theater View

  Creating a home theater is often a priority in high-end remodeling projects, but it can be too specialized for a remodeling practice, requiring electronic expertise. “My job as a contractor is to know what opportunities are available and to present those opportunities to clients,” says Toby Rolt of...

   

• Daily Plan

  Most remodelers are familiar with business plans: written documents that describe a company's objectives, strategies, market, and financial forecast. Richard Steven of Fulcra Consulting (www.fulcraconsulting.com), in St. Paul, Minn., says that although this plan is useful to introduce a company to...

   
• 

  Fine-Tuning

  Changes to S.N. Peck's design/build process save money by keeping all team members on the same page from project start to finish.

   

PRODUCTS

• 

  New + Notable: Hardware, Coatings, Gas Fireplace, and more

  The latest products in upscale remodeling.

   

TRENDS

• 

  Trends: Storage, Lap Pool, Saunas, and more

  The latest products for health and fitness.

   

PROFITS

• Compensation Conundrum

  Not all full-line remodeling and design/build salespeople are comfortable with traditional compensation.

   

• Sales Incentive

  The danger of a sales commission based solely on volume is that the salesman has no incentive to sell a profitable job.

   

• Key Accountabilities

  There's no mystery about bonuses for associates at Allen Associates in Santa Barbara, Calif., which does an annual volume of $21 million in upscale remodeling and new construction.

   

• Document Trail

  In an article titled "Does Your Business Need a Document Management System?" the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants offers suggestions to small-business owners on managing information. Here is an excerpt: