Design Idea Portfolio

I thought I would share  a recent find, I think will be of great benefit to both us and our clients.  Actually this one was shared with me by one of our current clients.

Its HOUZZ a web based collection of interior design and decorating ideas.  This site has over a million photos to inspire your next project and allows you to create from those photos your own collection of ideas.  HOUZZers, can bookmark photos found on the site or upload their own photos into "idea books" allowing you to organize your ideas however you like and to make notations about what it is that you connect with in each photo. These idea books can then be easily shared with anyone including designers and contractors.

From a contractors side one of the biggest assets you can have is a collection of ideas and photos that help to communicate your style and express the vision you have for your project.  In the past we have recommended  a portfolio of magazine clippings, photos  and notes that we could review with our clients, these clippings and notes help us get on track and understand the look and feel our clients are after and whats important to them. This is still a good idea, however, sharing these portfolios and making copies for everyone can become a job of its own.

Today with the Internet, smart phones and tablets we have a greater ability to organize and share information instantly.  This information is also much easier to access and reproduce saving us valuable time and  allowing us to communicate easier and more accurately than we have in the past.

Check it out and see what you think, but don't be surprised if find that inspiration that leads you into your next project.

Kevin

What Lies Beneath

Machu Picchu is an incredibly beautiful 15^th-century Inca city built on a mountain ridge in Peru that has stood for over 500 years.   It is known for its amazing views, detailed craftsmanship and its beautiful terraces, but what I find most fascinating is not what can be seen from the surface but what lies beneath.

 It has been estimated that nearly 50%-60% of the construction of Machu Picchu is below the surface.  Compare that with most homes of today where the site work, foundation and drainage account for approximately 8%-10% of the construction. The builders of Machu Picchu were commitment to engineering and design and understood and recognized proper site work, a solid foundation and good drainage were as important to the city as the beautiful stonework itself. 
 
Today hundreds of thousands of people visit Machu Picchu each year. Its stone walls and elegant terraces have stood the test of time thanks to its builders and their attention to the important things that go unseen.

Kevin

Choosing your Buider

Today I was asked a great question about how one should select or choose a Custom Home Builder. I suppose I should have already had an answer developed for such a question, given that I am a builder, but I didn’t.  After a little contemplation though, my thoughts began to gel and it became apparent it’s not only is it important how you select a builder but when. 

Later I think I should develop these ideas further but my immediate response is:  Select a builder that builds in your price range, one that can meet the level of performance and finish you desire, and one that you trust. Once you have met the first two criteria and are in the process of making your final decision then go with the one you are most compatible with and the one you trust.  

Secondly, I truly believe if you are contemplating building, your first priority should be to select your builder.  Before you buy land, and before you develop plans you should already have a builder you are committed to.  An experienced builder can save you time, money and heartache and help you navigate through the process and avoid the many pitfalls that are made when people try and go at it alone.  

Dr. Ravi, Thank you for your thought provoking questions.  I look forward to developing these thoughts further and sharing them soon.

Kevin