Holiday Projects

            I know school just started, fall is on its way, football season is in full swing and, yes, it is time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Only twelve weeks left till Christmas. Yes, I really did just say that. It may seem like a long time away, but we all know that it will be here before we know it and probably before we are ready.

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us. Hobby Lobby already has the Christmas decorations out!  As this realization hits, we start to make a mental or written list of all the things we need and want to do before the holidays are actually here. Is a kitchen or bathroom remodel on your to do list before the company comes? Maybe you just found out that your home will be the location of this year’s Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration or your broken oven just won’t cut it for baking those cookies.  Do you want a new kitchen or bathroom before Thanksgiving? Maybe you can’t redo the entire room but want to make some small changes. Or maybe you just want to finally get the dining room repainted or new carpet in your bedroom. Now is the time to start thinking about it and making plans. If you begin now, you will have plenty of time to get your project done before Thanksgiving hits and then you can enjoy your new space all throughout the Christmas season.

Before you start to panic and hyperventilate, take a deep breath and let’s take a realistic look at the calendar. Depending on the amount and magnitude of work that you want to do in your kitchen or bathroom, you can expect a remodel to take anywhere from three to six weeks from demo to final cleanup. If you start your planning and decision making now, you can realistically have a new kitchen or bathroom by Thanksgiving. Consult with the professionals who will be completing this work for you and they will be able to give you a better idea of the time needed to complete your project. Whatever you do, DO NOT plan to wrap up your remodeling project the day before company is expected to arrive. Something might be backordered or take longer than expected and then you will really be up a creek without a paddle or eating your Christmas dinner at Waffle House. The holidays are hectic enough without adding that little bit of stress.

As you consider who will be doing the work for you, make sure they have a good reputation, are doing what they say and completing projects in a timely manner. Check their references and don’t let the bottom line make the decision for you. Sometimes there is a reason one person is less expensive than another. The holidays are not a time to risk having issues with a contractor. Make sure you clearly communicate your deadline to the contractors you work with to ensure an on-time project. That way there will be no surprises and everyone is on the same page.

We all know the holidays can be a stressful time. There are parties to attend or host, food to be prepared, gifts to be wrapped and memories to be made with your family and friends. Endeavor to enjoy this season and all of its wonderful food, people and events by planning ahead. Take time to slow down and remember that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com and let me know if you have any questions regarding holiday projects.

Remodel Roller Coaster-Part 3

For the past several weeks we have been discussing frustrations that could be encountered during a remodel project. Today we will finish up our series.

4. "I haven't see anyone on the job site in days." Could it be that they are waiting for the sheetrock mud to dry, or concrete to cure, the hardwoods to acclimate to your house or the mud to dry out? Or is it that the contractor hasn't communicated a delay to you. Before jumping to the wrong conclusion, talk with your contractor.

5. "My contractor won't return my phone calls or emails." Are they on vacation and failed to let you know? Did you give them adequate time to respond or are you expecting a call back within the hour? Some job sites don't have cell reception at them or maybe they are in a meeting and unable to respond. Ask your contractor up front what their response time is to emails and phone calls. Also, that's another great question for past clients before deciding on a contractor.

6. "My allowance won't cover what I told my contractor I wanted." Perhaps you didn't clearly spell out to your contractor what you wanted or maybe they weren't listening. In comparing estimates, it's important to make sure your allowances correctly reflect the level of style and quality you are looking for. Low allowances could contribute to a lower project price and some contractors operate that way in order to get the job, only ending up with a higher overall price once you have made your selections. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

I hope this series has been helpful for you and helps avoid any heartache in the future. I'd love to hear about any of your experiences and any items I didn't discuss. Feel free to email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com

Remodel Roller Coaster: Part 2

Last time we started a discussion on different areas that people experience frustration during the remodel process and how to avoid them. This week we will dive into a few more areas.

2. "That's not how I thought that was going to look." Often times the vision you have in your head about how the finished product will look and the vision the remodeler has in his head about how the finished product will look are two completely different things. The phrase "modern" may conjure up different images for him than it does for you. Pull pictures that reflect what you want, clearly spell out and communicate what you are wanting and get the contractor to tell you what he thinks the final product will look like. Don't be afraid to ask questions and clear up in your mind and your contractors mind what you are expecting the finished project to look like. Houzz, Pinterest and magazine pictures are great ways to help you visually spell out what you want.

3. "Why wasn't that included in our estimate?" Diligent work in making selections beforehand and making sure you have a clear contract helps to avoid this question. Some items that may be beyond the scope of the project and unable to be included could be mold found under the floor or sheetrock, rotting floor found under a tub or shower, or plumbing or electrical discovered in a wall that is to be removed. Also, if you make any changes to the scope of the project or finishes, this could impact the price. Ask when making a change if it is going to add expense. Better to be apprised of the extras all along the project than being surprised when you get the final bill. For your own peace of mind, consider padding the project price with an additional 10% in your mind for items that might be uncovered during demo or during the project.

Next time we will continue our discussion on this wild remodel ride. Have any frustrations of your own you would like to share? Shoot me an email at jessica@webbercoleman.com

Remodel Roller Coaster: Part 1

One thing I constantly see clients irritated with and exasperated by is the remodel experience. The process is taking a lot longer than they were told, there's a breakdown or lack of communication with the remodeler, the remodeler made an assumption and something wasn't executed like the homeowner envisioned. When launching into a remodel project, regardless of how large or small, it's important to set clear expectations for yourself and your remodeler and make sure it is detailed and documented clearly. Set yourself up with clear expectations so you are properly prepared for the headache and hassle. The graph below is something we put together to help clients understand how their emotions might react during the remodel process.

Over the coming weeks we will explore some recent areas clients have expressed exasperation to me.

1.    "The project is taking weeks or months longer than I was told it would." There are many factors that could contribute to this. Maybe the weather hasn't been cooperating and they haven't been able to pour your foundation or roof the addition. Acts of God are a perfectly reasonable excuse for a project taking longer than it should. But there are also other reasons that may contribute to the process taking longer that could have been avoided. Maybe all of the selections were not finalized before the project began and now your tile is holding up the kitchen from being completed or that one light fixture is on back order til January. To help the process rock along as quickly and smoothly as possible, it's important before any work begins, that you have every selection and paint color made and if possible, in hand to avoid any delays. It's not fun living with a mess in your house or having to go without a kitchen or bathroom. I know-I've done it, that's why I'm such a huge proponent of doing the hard work on the front end in order to speed up and smooth the process along. Another factor could be that your contractor is not very organized or has too many projects going at the same time. Lack of organization or being too busy often manifests itself in project delays. Before you sign a contract with a remodeler, ask previous clients how well they have stuck with their schedule. Question the remodeler about how many projects they have going at one time and who will manage your project. Answers to these questions will give you insight into how your project will run.

Have you experienced any frustrations with a remodel project? I'd love to hear about them. Shoot me an email at jessica@webbercoleman.com. Next time we will continue our series on the remodel roller coaster. 

Polished Chrome vs. Polished Nickel

One question that often comes up when selecting plumbing fixtures is should we use a polished chrome finish or a polished nickel finish? Today we will explore the differences and when you should choose one over the other.

Polished chrome is generally less expensive than polished nickel. It used to be easier to find, but today most things are also available in polished nickel. Polished chrome has more of a grey, cool undertone while polished nickel has more of a gold, warm undertone.  Generally when using cool grey paint colors and white Carrera marble, you would want to use a polished chrome finish. If you are using warmer cream toned paint and Calcutta gold marble, polished nickel would work better.

Do you need to match every finish in a space? That’s a big question for another day, but no, your cabinet hardware, faucets and light fixtures don’t all have to match. You can easily combine a polished chrome faucet with brushed nickel hardware or polished nickel with other oil rubbed bronze accents. I love the look of a bright and shiny faucet. There’s something just so clean and fresh about it.

So before you select polished nickel over polished chrome, take a moment to evaluate the other colors and finishes in the space. You may find that polished chrome works best…and you can save a couple of bucks. Questions? Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com. I’m always happy to answer questions or give you further information.

Sub-Zero in Scottsdale

Earlier this year, I was privileged to join a group of designers from the Southeast on a trip to tour Sub-Zero and Wolf’s Goodyear, Arizona manufacturing facility. It was a fantastic trip with some really wonderful people.  We enjoyed good food, many laughs and a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West while we were there. I thought I would share some of the things I learned about Sub-Zero and Wolf’s manufacturing process while I was there.

We drove out to the middle of nowhere. A very flat place with only large distribution facilities dotted around. At the Goodyear, Arizona plant, Sub-Zero only manufactures built in refrigeration.  We all donned our safety glasses and heard a brief history of this facility from the manager. They currently employ over 400 people and many of their employees have been with them a very long time. They treat their employees well and many second generations work here as well. It’s easy to work for a company that produces such a high quality product.

As we began our tour on the plant floor, we were shown how rolls of metal were made into the exterior box of the refrigerator. Some work is automated and some work is still done by hand. The precision required was amazing to see in person! We continued thru the plant, seeing each stage of production and watching a refrigerator take shape.  I love seeing products being made and all that goes into them! It really gives you an appreciation and validation for your investment.

Then we stepped into the testing room. Boy, was that impressive! Sub-Zero tests 100% of every product that they ship out. They say they are the only manufacturer in the world to do that. They have zero tolerance for flaws. And they scrap product every day. Scrap an $8000 refrigerator? You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s what I thought. But their business philosophy is that they are building an appliance to last for 20 years. They don’t want the client to experience any issues. If they can catch the problems in the manufacturing process thru thorough testing, it saves them and the clients a lot of headache and cost. Sub-Zero only allows 100% correct product to go out their door. This information was reassuring to me as a designer and someone who specifies product for clients. It makes it easy to recommend a product when you know the manufacturer is doing all they can to reduce your headaches and provide the client a truly quality product.

It truly was an enlightening and informative trip. The next time you have the chance to see a Sub-Zero or Wolf appliance, or maybe even use one in your own home, maybe you too will look at it differently. And see the quality, time and testing that went into such a great product. Do you have questions about these products? Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com. I’m always happy to answer questions or give you further information.

It’s a man’s world no longer: How to succeed in a male dominated industry

This January, I had the privilege to present as part of the Voices from the Industry track at the Kitchen and Bath Industry show in Las Vegas. The title of my presentation was “It’s a man’s world no longer: How to succeed in a male dominated industry”. Many clients and contractors I work with were so supportive and helpful in my preparation of this subject. It was an hour long presentation, so I won’t bore you with it all but thought I would share some snippets with you.

Our learning objectives were to:

1.            Identify key areas men and women commonly miscommunicate

2.            Learn how to raise the level of respect with your appearance

3.            Highlight important traits to look for when hiring a female designer

More and more women are working in this man’s world of construction than ever before and it’s important for them to understand the subconscious ideas that men have about how things should work.

I am not a feminist, but it is important to understand the gender differences that do exist and learn how to work with them to get the job done. Understanding men in the ways it might impact women is a critical career skill set that women can develop like any other skill set. Men’s perceptions exist and could be affecting women regardless of whether they know what they are.

We had a great time and it was fun to share what I have learned over my 14 years in the industry. I am so thankful to get to work with some truly amazing men and women in this world we call construction.

Do you have any questions about this topic? Anything you have learned from completing a project?

Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com