Table of Contents Fall 2008

FEATURES

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  Living History

  Tom Glass parlayed his passion for historic buildings into a specialty remodeling company.

   
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  Acquisitive Nature

  Tom Kelly is no novice when it comes to buying other businesses. Two decades ago, the Portland, Ore.–based Neil Kelly Co. acquired a kitchen and bath dealership in nearby Beaverton.

   
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  Lean on Me

  Troubled employees merit help, but not at the risk of the company overall.

   
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  For Art's Sake

  Art-world connections help transform a nondescript ranch into an object of beauty.

   
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  International Flair

  Ten years ago, when S+H Construction, of Cambridge, Mass., renovated the exterior of this house, the homeowners’ choice of peach paint stood out in a sea of conservative grays and browns in the Harvard Square neighborhood.

   

FINAL TOUCH

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  Window Below

  To capture the view of a stream, the architect of this remodel designed a glass floor that hovers above the water feature.

   

INSIGHT

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  Safety in Diversification

  Years ago there was a great TV commercial where a bunch of old men are sitting around a dusty table. One stands up, pounds his fist, and announces, “This is the way we have been doing it for years, and we are not about to change,” just as the head of a seated compatriot hits the table — the man...

   
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  Prep Time

  I recently attended a meeting of production managers from around the country and was reminded of the importance of this position. Focusing on supporting your production manager is one of the strongest moves you can make during these challenging times.

   
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  Supporting Role

  One of your most important roles as owner is managing your employees and providing the support they need to succeed at their jobs. This isn’t a touchy feely New Age concept. You don’t need surveys or evaluations to tell you that happy employees perform better.

   
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  Ups and Downs

  In the last couple of decades we’ve become more sensitive to the challenges posed by steps to those who are mobility impaired, but there are still many situations in which a change of level is desirable to create a particular spatial effect.

   

INTERVIEW

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  Ten Minutes With ...

  Based in Naples, Fla., Criteria HiFi is a $5 million audio/video contractor specializing in high-end integrated systems.

   

PEOPLE

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  Video Star

  Bel Air Construction is using a novel approach in its quest to fill three sales positions. Hoping to attract more qualified, serious applicants, the Jarrettsville, Md., design/build firm created a want ad video for its Web site.

   
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  Artful Promotion

  Philip Guarino was intrigued by an idea he read about in an Italian publication: High-end Italian retailers are showcasing work by local artists to entice customers to come into their stores.

   
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  Numbers Game

  Five-year-old Heritage Construction Services, in Houston, has all the work it wants, but founder and president Jeff Hunt wouldn’t change his sales approach even if that weren’t the case. It’s not because Hunt tries to close as many sales as possible.

   

PROCESS

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  In a Better Light

  Under cabinets, on toe kicks or tray ceilings, directed at artwork, or tucked in the garden, low-voltage lights such as MR-16s can make plain spaces pop.

   
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  Web Collaboration

  When information technology specialist and homeowner Bruce Johnson and his wife remodeled their kitchen a few years ago, the couple’s busy weekday work schedules and family-centric weekends made it difficult for them to meet with the designer.

   
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  It Takes Two

  Many remodelers rely on a single project manager for each job, concentrating the decision-making power and supervisory duties with that one individual. But what about when a project is so large or multifaceted that there just aren’t enough hours in the day for one person to accomplish the task?

   
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  Second-Home Statistics

  According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), although the combined total of vacation- and investment-home sales declined with the overall market in 2007, it still accounted for 33% of all home sales, which is close to historical norms.

   

PRODUCTS

KITCHEN + BATH

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  Material World

  With sensitivity toward reuse and recycling, many companies are taking a close look at the materials that go into their products. From reclaimed wood cabinet components to artistic impressions on copper and stainless steel, these products are truly materialistic.

   

New + Notable

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  New Products for the High-End Remodeling Industry

  Finely crafted teak countertops and islands with striking woodgrain patterns target high-end customers who appreciate the wood’s natural beauty and durability.

   

TRENDS

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  Retro Fit

  If an autumn chill is setting in and impending gray winter skies are getting you down, try spicing things up with a hot retro vibe. For some time now, manufacturers have been resurrecting and reinventing appliances, accents, and accessories in bright shades and curvy patterns reminiscent of the...

   

PROFITS

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  Rest and Regroup

  Staff retreats are popular among companies of all sizes and across many different industries. Bringing managers and key employees together in a non-work setting for one or more days not only stokes teamwork and company loyalty but also allows leaders to share important facts, information, and...

   
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  Team Effort

  The first big development step for many remodeling company owners is a transition from tradesperson to businessperson. They begin, as author Michael Gerber says, to work on their business not simply in it.

   
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  Lien Line

  Chances are good that most home­owners don’t know what a lien waiver is, but remodelers would do well to tell them. Subcontractors can file a mechanic’s lien on property they work on in the event of a dispute over payment, but asking subs to sign a waiver ensures that won’t happen.