Summer 1998 Remodeling Tips   Select an Issue Spring 2002 Winter 2002 Fall 2001 Summer 2001 Spring 2001 Winter 2001 Fall 2000 Summer 2000 Spring 2000 Winter 2000 Fall 1999 Summer 1999 Spring 1999 Winter 1999 Fall 1998 Summer 1998 Spring 1998 Winter 1998 Fall 1997 Summer 1997 Spring 1997 Winter 1997 Our Company Philosophy Our Customers Write... The Lofty Library New Twists to an Old Idea Window Fashions Our Company Philosophy “II. Company Philosophy. Coastal Builders has only one product: Satisfied Customers. We believe in making a fair profit by hiring, training, motivating, and rewarding a highly professional group of employees who work as a team to produce well-crafted custom building services and thereby our product of Satisfied Customers. . A customer is not dependent on us, we are dependent on the customer. . A customer is not an interruption of our work, the customer is the purpose of our work. . A customer is not someone to argue or match wits with, nobody ever won an argument with a customer. . We are not doing our customers a favor to serve them, they are doing us a favor by allowing us to serve them. As an employee we welcome your loyalty, creativity, and innovation. When problems arise, we try to deal with them honestly and with integrity. We encourage the participation of all employees in maintaining a happy and efficient work atmosphere. We ask everyone to be a problem solver rather than a problem creator.” This is the mission statement from page one of our company employee handbook, we think it speaks for itself. When you are ready to remodel, and want to be highly satisfied with the results, give Coastal Builders a call. We can provide you with many local references that will confirm that we successfully implement this policy every day, in fact we have included some comments from some of our clients on page four of this newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you.   To Top Our Customers Write... “This was a very successful project and we are very happy with the results. Coastal Builders provided quality work at a fair price. We were impressed by the skills of your Lead Carpenter, Bruce Nelson. His organized approach made the upheaval of the major renovations a pleasant experience. While replacing the kitchen and two bathrooms and building the addition, he always left the work site in immaculate order. Bruce's attention to detail, willingness to hear our concerns, and ability to anticipate problems has resulted in a first class addition to our home.” Carl & Amanda Hansen, Gray Rock “Everything was very professional, yet friendly. There weren't any surprises. Ron Logsdon was always obliging...never once said he couldn't or wouldn't do something even if it meant more work for him. We were very impressed with the pride and effort that went into the job. Thanks to all of you.” Christine Sharpe, Brampton Hills “We were pleased with the level of professionalism your team demonstrated throughout the project. Ron Logsdon is an exceptional individual. His thoughtfulness in not disrupting our daily life was greatly appreciated We actually miss having him around. His work goes without saying...he is truly a talented individual!” Christine Smith, Catonsville “We just wanted to let you know how happy we are with the complete renovation of our master and hall baths. Lee Grubb did an outstanding job. His craftsmanship and work habits were exceptional. Lee did everything possible to keep the mess confined to the two bathrooms. Although we had covered everything in the house in plastic, we were pleasantly surprised to find that it really wasn't necessary. Not only did Lee keep the mess confined to the bathrooms, but he also meticulously cleaned up after himself throughout the day and before going home. He even put his tools and supplies neatly in the corner each day before leaving. Lee made sure that the electricians and plumbers kept to his high standards. He also took great pains to protect our walls and woodwork when removing and replacing the fixtures. Lee was always available to answer questions and contacted us to explain any problems that would arise. He even made suggestions on how to place the accent and border tiles that really enhanced the appearance of the bathrooms. Lee is an excellent craftsman and definitely an asset to your company. In a world where a lot of people only do what they need to get by, it is refreshing to see that there are still people like Lee who take great pride in their work. We cannot say enough about the quality of his craftsmanship. The job that Lee did has exceeded our greatest expectations. We have had nothing but compliments from family and friends who have seen the finished product. Thanks to Lee, we would gladly use Coastal for future projects and would highly recommend your company to others.” Jim & Sharon Klein, Gray Rock   To Top The Lofty Library Sociologists have turned a mirror on our lives and shown us that, as a society, we are placing an ever-increasing importance on our homes and their internal environment. We choose to spend more of both our work and free time at home. They call this phenomenon "cocooning." Among the many reasons for this trend, the need to escape stresses of everyday life in the outside world rates at the top. The conveniences of phones, computers and the World Wide Web help make cocooning possible. However, their ties with the pressures of the outside world can also make one feel that home is no longer a secure castle. The world is invading through the wires and the air waves. One way to regain the home as a haven is to have a place where you can kick off your shoes, sink into an easy chair, put your feet up, and settle into a book. The warmth of books invites those seeking retreat into a different world where texture, touch, and smell are still important. It's even better if that easy chair resides in a part of your home, where, when you glance away from the book, you see beautiful textures, you smell the dignity of natural materials, and you sense a disengagement from everyday life. A balcony library overlooking the sitting room is becoming an ever more popular choice for people's homes. Of course, it wouldn't have to look over the sitting room. It could be a game room, or the living room. It just needs to be slightly removed from the normal household commotion. Also notice how the oak walls and rafters provide a warm contrast to the cool regularity of the brick wall on the left. The tapestry provides not only additional textures, but suggest far-away places and other times. So settle back into that easy chair, take a trip to medieval England -- or to outer space. Solve a mystery. Go on an adventure. Meditate on sacred writings. Take a deep breath. Look around. Relax.   To Top New Twists to an Old Idea Spiral staircases, wound up in mystique, have an ancient heritage. Wandering through a medieval chateau in France, you'll soon spy one in the corner, leading to some unknown chamber. The town homes in London, which Sherlock Holmes and his contemporaries occupied, often featured this means of ascent, and provided a mysterious setting for many a novel. Guarding the coasts of both the old and the new world are famous lighthouses, most with their steps in spiral form leading up to the light. Another spiral leads to the top of America's most famous landmark, the Statue of Liberty. But even more significant, people are incorporating spirals every day into their homes all across the continent. The spiral staircase is, most simply said, a means of ascending from one level to another. Spirals are often used for very practical reasons where space is tight. However, aesthetics is often the more compelling reason to use a spiral. York Spiral Stair describes it well, "The spiral is one of nature's most intriguing forms, simultaneously curving in on itself and twisting." When they describe staircases without a center post, they appropriately say that the staircase provides the "graceful, uninterrupted sweep of a double helix, providing a sculpture focal point for any room." Spiral staircases can be made of many different materials and come in two basic shapes. If one is seeking to evoke a solid and dignified impression, reminiscent of the Victorian era, iron is the material of choice. It can either be cast, wrought by a blacksmith into a work of art. For an especially rustic look, one staircase is actually manufactured from rusted iron which is hand waxed to preserve its rustic finish. Steel is a more contemporary replacement for iron and is very utilitarian. Often iron or steel is combined with wood. The wood can be used only for the treads - or for the entire structure. Wood tends to add warmth and lustre. In a contemporary environment, stainless steel, glass, and acrylic may be used. Two basic variations of spiral staircases exist: the center pole and the helix. In the first, all the treads are attached around a center pole in a circular ascending pattern. In the second, the treads are attached to a curving frame which forms a helical pattern. The latter is safer in that it allow for double handrails. But both can inspire mystery and awe, as spirals have done over the centuries.   To Top Window Fashions How people cover their windows (or don't) is a highly individual matter. They may be influenced by the style of the window or home, but more often than not, they are influenced by what neighbors are doing. For this reason, Gail Ward, maker of custom window decorations insists, "Don't say anything is standard! There is no such thing as a standard window treatment - or for that matter, a standard window." She still sees every variety of window treatment coming through her shop, but observes that homes now seem to have more windows, with fewer windows covered and the more frequent use of only top treatments. Nancy Thomas, owner of Fabrics & More, in Hickory, NC, sees customers from all over the country, let alone the world, because of the local furniture industry. She agrees with Ward that no particular treatment is "out" or "wrong." However, she has seen a tend toward people using more casual, less formal window treatments. Cotton is popular now as a fabric by which people make their homes look and feel warm and comfortable. Chenille also helps toward that end because of its friendly, inviting texture. Casements and gauze in many colors add to a casual appearance, heightened by the fact that they are rarely tailored, but more often just draped or tied to an exposed rod. In seeming contradiction, velvet (traditionally associated with elegance) also has a strong standing, presumably because of its comfortable, friendly feel. As fabrics move toward the casual, treatments themselves have become less formal. The full and exuberant luxury of cornice boards, of full draperies, or of swags and jabots, are not as commonly seen these days. Instead, simple tab draperies have taken the fore. However, the desire seems only to be casual, not plain. So even as treatments become more simple, people are embellishing what is there. Decorative rods and finials add interest to the top treatments, whereas drapery jewelry, tassels, fringes, and braids add embellishment to the fabric panels. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.