Back in the '30's and 40's the insurance world was referred to as the "insurance racket" It was likened to and most likely connected to the mafia which collected money very well but was reluctant to pay out. There were no rules or oversite, nowadays there is strict...
I have been a student of how houses work for a long time. I have seen them be awesome and I have seen them be poorly put together. I think as a remodeler it is part of my responsibility like any good practitioner to evaluate homes just like a physician or any other...
In a time when things are very dynamic in the remodeling world, it dawned on me that as the company is turning 17 years old that we are not merely a remodeling company, no we are a force of nature and a sum of our parts. Remodeling is like any other high-risk...
Living in Boise there is a close connection with Boise State University. The Blue Turf football stadium is carpeted with a genuine simulated grass playing field AKA the Smurf Turf. They frequently air an advertisement for Blue Turf Thinking which eschews the merits of...
Conventional wisdom says to get 3 bids. I suppose if remodeling were a commodity then getting the lowest price might be helpful but remodeling is not a commodity and never will be. How do you know you picked the right company? Can you recall that magic moment when you...
I have been struggling with a potential project for a month or so that had me worried. My mind was telling me that there must be a way to repair this old three-story building's patios, but my gut was saying the danger and risk were more than I was willing to take....
Project Name The Challenge This home had a small protrusion over the garage which was a potential space that was not taken advantage of on the original structure. The clients imagined that by moving the wall further to the front of the garage it would create a very...
Modern master bedroom suite additionThe Challenge This home was built in the 1920’s it had good bones. It had a confusing backwards kitchen and had an addition in the ’70’s. I had looked at the home for a friend a few years earlier and had discouraged her from...
Building Memories: A Case Study in Crafting the Ideal Family Gathering PlaceThe Challenge This 1999 home is part of a tight knit subdivision. The family wanted to have a gathering place for themselves to relax and enjoy time together, and a place away from the daily...
2 Story Addition in Historic North EndThe Challenge The home had an enclosed back porch that was a transition to a basement with plans to have the second story enlarged to finally have a Master Bedroom Suite. The home is in the Historic District and it is a...