These shower drains may not help you become the next great innovator, but they will inspire you. Everyone loves to luxuriant in the shower, and what better way to enhance the beauty of your water oasis than with a stylish and highly functional drain?  These drains are not only decorative, they can melt into the tile floor with ease, or light the way, should you desire an escape from the daily glare of overhead lighting.  How relaxing to shower with only the soft glow of the LED to light the way!

Quartz Aco is a linear drain system that offers artistic solutions to shower drainage; there are several decorative grate styles and optional LED water activated drain lighting that adds chroma-therapy to your bathing experience.  Also, you can run the linear drain at the base of the shower wall allowing the shower floor to slope in one direction, creating less complex draining angle configurations and easier to install popular large-format tiles right on into the shower.

See link to website below:

http://www.quartzbyaco.com/

Kitchen Space

These days, kitchens contain much more than a fridge, a range, dishes and cookware. As the social center of most homes, kitchens today accommodate a number of conveniences – multiple appliances, specialty cookware, pull-out bins for trash and recycling, homes with fold-down computers, spacious pantries, laundry appliances and display shelves, to name just a few. It’s easy to see that the heart of every home needs to face many challenges with clever design in order to keep pace with today’s busy family.

In a remodeling project completed by our company, the original kitchen was woefully lacking in storage. There were no cupboards on the walls and only a few base cabinets among them, several were useless and inaccessible corner cabinets that hid hard-to-reach and, thus, forgotten cookware. Additionally, a center island housed a sink and dishwasher but provided little counter space for the large area it occupied.

Determined to find more room for the family, Harrell Remodeling designers created a kitchen layout that makes food preparation a breeze. Cookware, utensils and pantry goods are now conveniently accessed in the numerous cabinets, drawers and pullouts. A generous, sweeping peninsula provides plenty of counter space and enables the homeowners to prepare meals together while visiting with their guests. Ironically, the new peninsula layout created the possibility of a dead, unusable space in the sleek new walnut buffet, but the designer was not deterred. Instead, an ingenious pullout wine cabinet was installed to make use of the 30-degree angle created by the new peninsula.

In another kitchen located in Los Altos, a leak above the kitchen inspired the client to correct an inefficient room layout and improve storage in every available corner.

With little room to spare, every precious square inch was carefully considered for function and storage in this redesigned kitchen. The cramped under-stair storage area was opened up to the room, creating space for the owner’s new rustic table. The walls in the alcove were lined with shallow shelving for practical storage and display of collectibles. The existing stacked washer and dryer now reside in custom built-in cabinetry that cleverly conceals the appliances behind new flipper doors. The space now has a more open and organized feel to it that is brought together by the seamless blending of the warm, distressed-finish cabinets throughout the kitchen.

Laundry Space

InPortolaValley, a homeowner needed a solution for their laundry area. The original location was adjacent to their living room and they needed to find a more appropriate place for their noisy laundry. After careful scrutiny of the upstairs spaces, a wonderful solution was found.

An existing hall closet and the attic storage area located behind it were combined to create a spacious laundry room. Now suitably located near the second floor bedrooms, this small feat was achieved with only a modest amount of structural work. And, to ensure everyone’s comfort, sound isolation detailing and vibration specialty work was integrated to limit appliance noise and vibration from impacting family members in the adjacent rooms. Outfitted with crisp, white cabinetry, every compartment in this tidy area was detailed to the homeowners’ needs. Plenty of hamper baskets kept sorted laundry handy. Spacious countertops and a fold-down ironing board got clean clothes organized in a snap. A new skylight combined with a colorful (and quiet) floor made this a very cheerful and well-illuminated room!

Bathroom Space

With today’s hectic lifestyle, a bathroom needs to be correctly designed to make the space truly relaxing and luxurious. Excellent illumination and good ventilation are just a few of the details to consider in a space that may include a jetted tub, a shower or steam shower a private toilet area and mirrored lavatories. Of course, the need for appropriate storage within a bathroom has expanded. In addition to storage for linens, other space-saving built-in features may include hampers, makeup lighting, recessed mirrored

medicine cabinets with electrical outlets (for razors and toothbrushes), and plenty of drawers for toiletries.

 Bedroom Space

 Bedrooms and family rooms can also be designed for maximum efficiency to store just about anything. Details often include customized clothing storage (adjustable hanging roods, bins and trays, shoe shelves, tie racks, pull-out roods for garment bags and dry cleaning), dressing areas, entertainment systems and library shelving.

Thoughtful storage solutions can make the most of any space. One lovelyPortolaValleyhome lacked a playroom for the children and needed a guest bedroom for the frequent out-of-town family guests. Searching the home, the large unused attic above the garage provided the perfect solution to both space problems at once.

The generously vaulted room has plenty of space for the homeowner’s three children to read, play games, do homework and run around. A built-in desk, a TV cabinet and abundant storage systems house the many books, toys, games and videos for the children, as well as the linens (for the new full bath) and space for guest’s personal effects.

Displaying a chameleon charm, when company arrives, it easily transforms from a playroom into a luxurious guest suite. Visitors will find a comfortable room with plenty of natural lighting, a generous seating area, and a pull-down Murphy bed hidden inside the wall storage system and a desk area.

Imaginative storage solutions can be created in every home. Even the smallest of houses have hidden space that can be better exploited so that the home will function more efficiently for the family. So think bigger, get outside of your obvious floor plan area, and get into storage.

 The new mantra in energy upgrading is “reduce before you produce”, because the most cost effective energy dollar is the one you don’t have to spend.  In most homes, particularly those built in the 70’s or before, there are numerous opportunities to reduce energy losses, instead of generating unnecessary power to compensate for them.

 Depending on where the home is located and the climate involved, to save money, one course of action might be to get a home energy audit.  In many communities, these detailed performance tests and the recommendations for improvements that come from them are often subsidized by local and state governments and utilities, which further reduces the overall cost of upgrading.

One study in one area suggested the following priority for the particular home involved:

1. Windows
2. Wall insulation
3. HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning)
4. Roof insulation
5. Solar

The recommended improvements for the house next door could be completely different, depending on improvements or remodeling that may have already occurred.

 So if you want to make the most of your energy upgrade dollars, consider hiring a professional firm who can guide you through the process, looking for ways to “reduce, before you produce!”

Based on the kinds of things we’ve said and heard around Harrell Remodeling for years, we have had a hunch that people here are pretty happy.  While it was validating to be among the “Inc. Magazine/Winning Workplaces Top 50 Places to Work” winners, we’ve know that there had to be a way to actually measure and improve that happiness and satisfaction.

 We just completed our fourth annual Employee Owner Survey and our Employee Ownership Committee is tabulating and analyzing the results to share with our team at our Full Staff Meeting in April.  Our survey was carefully designed to get a snapshot across multiple areas including customer service, communication, teamwork, trust, employee benefits and more.  This anonymous survey provides a means of not only quantifying our performance in these areas but also makes it possible for employee owners to share comments that help us understand how we’re doing in greater detail.

 We’re fortunate to have a project manager on staff who loves statistics and she can slice and dice the data in a multitude of ways.  This creates some interesting perspective, but I think the most useful report she creates is one that ranks scores from highest to lowest for all four years, along with an aggregate score for each year.

 Its rewarding to see that overall we have improved each year since we started measuring, but fascinating to see how some areas have gone up or down from one year to the next.  Obviously, seeing the results is only part of the goal.  Highlighting the areas that need the most improvement and creating a strategy to address them is where we make the biggest impact.

 Our company mission statement is:

•  To provide the finest full-service Design+Build residential remodeling in our area.  We strive to be our clients’ “contractor for life” and,
• To foster a safe, stable, challenging and growth-oriented environment for our Employee Owners.

 Our survey and the changes we make as a result of it help us to achieve this mission in a very proactive way.  And I think it’s a very worthy company goal.

 However, with Homes By Harrell, you receive the benefits of the finest project management, quality you can see and feel, A-level trades specialists, a 5 year warranty and competitive pricing.

 No doubt about it, building a home is a complicated process, but we believe it should be simple for our clients.  To this end, we take on the complicated parts, fully defining the scope of work and the necessary details before construction begins, pre-screening trade specialists, reviewing proposals and advising clients along the way.  Once construction begins, we order and receive materials, coordinate the various trades to stay on schedule, verify progress to approve payments, arrange for inspections, and maintain the high quality standards that our company is known for, so that the process and your finished home can be something that you can feel good about for years to come.

 If you are considering building a new home, call Homes By Harrell!

 First off, it’s best to make sure the deck is sound, as it doesn’t make much sense to improve the appearance, if repair work is required.  Obviously if the deck or railings feel unstable in any way, you may want to get a professional opinion or structural assessment about what can be done to improve that.  But if it feels sturdy and the framing is accessible, inspect it to make sure that the connections are tight and that there are no obvious signs of rot, insects or other damage.  Older decks in our neck of the woods are sometimes constructed in part or even completely of untreated Douglas Fir, a strong wood when protected from the elements, but highly susceptible to rot and insects when exposed to weather because it lacks the natural protections found in Redwood or Cedar.

 Clean loose debris from between the deck boards with a putty knife and leaf blower.  If the deck boards are too tight (less that 1/8” apart), you may want to make adjustments because the boards need air to circulate around them to avoid rot.  Next check the nails, screws or clips that attach the deck boards to the frame.  If they are loose or not flush, reset them to tighten them up.

 If the boards are extremely weathered or splintering, sanding the deck will be the only way to smooth them out, but you may want to consider getting professional assistance if this level of repair is required.  Next it is important to have a few days of clear, dry weather before and after cleaning and finishing to make sure the finish material makes a good bond with the deck.

 As a rule, decks should be stained/sealed rather than painted because stain penetrates the wood and erodes slowly over time, but paint is a relatively thick surface coating that with traffic and exposure can lose its bond and chip off.  Once painted, it is very difficult to remove the paint and go back to stain, so if it is painted, the surfaces will need to be well prepped and cleaned prior to applying new primer and paint.

 If re-staining, a good, clean, and dry surface is important.  Commercial cleaners are available and typically their active ingredient is oxalic acid.  Pre-rinsing the deck will loosen the largest particles and help the deck accept the cleaner.  The cleaner can be applied with a broom or brush then allowed to sit for several minutes to remove stains and ground-in dirt.  Persistent stains can be given a second cleaning, but be sure to “feather in” to avoid a spot-cleaned appearance.  Then a good rinsing is in order with a strong spray (not stream) of water.  Avoid pressure washing unless you have had a lot of practice as it is easy to scar and even shred the wood surfaces with the high-pressure spray.

 Once the deck has dried out for a couple of days (and there are a couple of dry days in the forecast ahead), a new stain/sealer can be applied.  The other extreme of direct sun should also be avoided.  Finishing the deck early in the day will give the stain/sealer a chance to penetrate deeper into the wood before the heat begins to dry it out.  To avoid variations in the finish, it is important to keep a “wet edge”, and doing a section at a time with a clean break such as at a deck board or other termination point will yield consistent results.

 Of course, if this all sounds like too much work to you, don’t let that stop you.  Harrell Remodeling would be happy to lend a hand because we know that properly maintaining a deck will add many years to its life, saving a lot of money in the long run, as well as providing a pleasurable place for you to enjoy those lovely days of summer and warm nights ahead!

 Some situations we frequently encounter are:

Water noise in piping from an upstairs bathroom

TV noise finding its way into adjacent bedrooms

Footsteps on the floor above

Traffic noise from the street

Home theater acoustics

Home offices adjacent to bedrooms or family rooms

 Each of these situations requires different treatments, and the range of treatments and associated costs vary depending on how intent our clients are on reducing the noise.

 Sound is transmitted from one area to another in three ways: Airborne, Impact and Flanking

• In airborne transmission the sound of a phone ringing travels through the air, for example, around a loose-fitting door, or through the cavities in an un-insulated wall, or through heating ducts.

• In impact transmission, the impact of an object on one surface of the floor or wall is transferred to the other side, such as footsteps on the floor above, or a ball bouncing off of an exterior wall.

• Flanking transmission passes the sound vibrations into the building materials themselves such as pipes rigidly attached to framing, with the framing carrying the noise to other places in the home.

Another question we ask is whether the concern is sound coming into a space (traffic noise through living room windows) or sound getting out (your son’s rock band practicing in the garage and disturbing the neighbors).

 Sound control is a complex issue and must be factored in to the home as a system.  One way to reduce airborne noise is to make the room as air tight as possible, with insulation, caulking, and gasketing –  but then what about ventilation so you can breathe?  Speaking of ventilation, if the room is very quiet due to sound control measures, will the sounds that used to be masked, say air rushing from a heat register, suddenly become more apparent?

 Another way to control sound is to introduce mass as a separation, for example a cast iron drain pipe instead of ABS plastic, or special sound board or double layers of drywall to a wall assembly.

 Isolation is yet another tool, and for example, drywall can be attached to the wall with resilient metal channel to decouple the wallboard from the framing, thereby interrupting the sound path.

 In highly specialized spaces such as a media room, home theater or home recording studio, you may want to consider hiring an acoustical engineer because just as important as reducing incoming noise, factors such as the shape and dimensions of the room, finish materials, location of components and other features can have a more dramatic affect on sound quality than the expensive speakers or other sound equipment you might use.

 As you can see (or hear), with sound control, there is no “one right answer”.  While some sound issues can be quite challenging to deal with, others might be addressed satisfactorily using some fairly common, if not standard, building practices.  Our advice?  As with any remodeling project, find a designer or contractor you can trust, who will ask the right questions before they propose an answer!

It provides a systematic way of periodically checking in on the top 5 things that will move our plans forward.  As each item is completed a new one takes its place, and each company manager is accountable for completing their action items.

 One aspect of the plan I am really excited about for 2012 has to do with our Employee Owner satisfaction.  We received feedback from our Employee Owner survey (look for an upcoming blog that will address this further), that piqued our interest in Wellness Programs.  We began to study what leading companies are doing to create a healthier environment for their employees, and decided to initiate one of our own.  One of the recommendations from the health and wellness experts is that for any initiative of this nature to succeed, it must be at the highest level of company goals, along with customer satisfaction, financial goals, and other high priorities.

 So that’s what we did.  We included employee owner health and wellness goals into our business plan, and as a result, we have a program in the works, with guidance from a consultant that specializes in corporate wellness.  We’ve established a “Wellness Committee” comprised of five employee owners; Kathy Paul – Chief Estimator, Bella Babot – Director of Marketing, Susan Pines – Finance and HR Manager, Kai Jensen – Project Manager and me, Ciro Giammona – President. We are starting a terrific program requiring a minimum investment of time, and are all excited to be on our way to healthier, happier employee owners and improved productivity.

 So as it turns out, our business plan is actually capable of helping our employee owners fulfill some of their New Year’s resolutions!  How cool is that?

My wife gave me a new coffeemaker as a gift – probably not like one you might be imagining. It amazes me how many different devices have been invented to address the centuries old process of steeping roasted beans in hot water and extracting the part one wants to drink from the waste.

One might think that the best way to do this would have been figured out long ago. Then came dozens of innovative improvements including the percolator, the French press,  Mr. Coffee, the Keurig cup, and now the Aeropress. I have to say, as unusual this thing looks and operates, it makes a really good cup of coffee.

For some, the process of making coffee is partly about the ritual - comfortably repeating a task you’ve done over and over year after year. For others, its about the coffee, and that’s it – “I don’t care how its made; just get me to a Starbuck’s.”  Regardless of the process, its true that it’s basically all coffee, but obviously quality and flavor will vary, and the evolution of the process continues to evolve through innovation.

What does this have to do with remodeling?  Some might say “I don’t care how its done – its just remodeling”. But is it?  Just like the idea of what constitutes good design has changed dramatically in the last century, innovative new materials and methods are being invented all the time.  The ubiquitous cordless screwdriver (and similar tools) has reduced the level of skill required to install a screw, but again, results will vary.  Knowing when to use a screw instead of a nail, what size screw, what type of screw and what material to use and whether to use a cordless or old-fashioned hand-operated screwdriver are all things that come with experience and training.

Nevertheless, innovation can work in everyone’s favor and as a company, we are always on the lookout for new materials and methods on behalf of our clients.  Its also why we strive to sort out the “leading edge” of design and construction technology from the the “bleeding edge”, as we really don’t want the results of our work to be an experiment that our clients end up having to live with or readdress.

I think I’ll go make another delicious cup of coffee now.

In contrast, one of the most effective business practices I can think of is the creation and execution of an annual business plan. This is on my mind because our management team recently approved our plan and each manager is now in the process of fine-tuning their department plans to support our overall plan.

I’ve come to realize that having a plan is good, but the process of creating the plan is probably just as important, and of course the mindfulness and discipline required to carry it out is the most critical part of it all. A finely crafted business plan that ends up gathering dust on a shelf is no better than those long forgotten New Year’s resolutions.

What makes a good plan? Ours has 6 main sections: vision, mission, objectives, strategies, plans and actions. You can think of them as moving sequentially from the grand scheme of the vision with ever-increasing resolution to the actions required to get closer to making the dream come true. Plenty of books and websites illustrate how to create an effective plan and most will suggest it should be concise, even to the point where it will fit on one page. We’ve not succeeded in keeping ours on one page, but we understand the logic of keeping it simple and ours is a little over 2 pages.
Surprisingly, a good plan might not need to change much from year to year. Like a resolution to make a significant lifestyle change, some business plan objectives need several years of persistent effort to get where you want to be.

Our objectives (aka goals) for this year address 5 main areas: customer satisfaction, our employee owners’ satisfaction, tending to our company culture, financial goals and productivity. Having a concise list really helps to stay on track and avoid being distracted or spread too thin.

As I write this, I am pleased with our progress, and continue to address those “resolutions” as we approach the 6th week of 2012. Part II will follow next week.

Ciro Giammona
President
Harrell Remodeling Inc.