Winter 2000 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 The Homeowner's View of Remodeling Our Customers Write... Loads of Charm: The Unfitted Kitchen Interiors Come Alive With Plants Home Exteriors: Vinyl Siding The Homeowner's View of Remodeling When homeowners begin to think of remodeling, they usually have many worries. What type of people will they be letting into their home? Will the remodeler listen to the owner's needs? Will they have to settle for poor workmanship? These are legitimate concerns - we have all heard the horror stories - but there are a few ways to make sure you do not become one of them. First, make sure your remodeler has a current MHIC license, then call the MHIC to check on any complaints against the remodeler. Next, make sure the remodeler carries liability and workman's compensation insurance for your protection. Finally, get references and check them! There is no better way to evaluate a remodeler than to get the opinions of their past clients. For this reason we periodically publish letters and comments from our clients, many of whom would be glad to talk to you or even show you their project. When you are ready to build your project, give us a call and we will put you in touch with our clients and let them tell you why you should use Coastal Builders.   To Top Our Customers Write... “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and the staff at Coastal for a "job well done". Our current bathroom remodeling project turned out better than anticipated. Rich Campbell was professional and thorough in sales and estimating. He worked with us on the design and submitted a thorough and concise quote and followed through on all details. We solicited three quotes on this project and Coastal was not the low bidder. However, in large part due to our comfort with Rich, and his well designed proposal, Coastal won the work hands down. Before our project started we met with our project manager, Lee Grubb. Lee explained every detail of how the work would proceed and what would be done to not disrupt our daily routine. Our skepticism quickly changed to optimism once Lee got started. Lee is, by far, the most detail oriented, professional and courteous project manager we have ever met. He made sure each day that the work are was left clean, trash was removed and that every precaution was taken to prevent damage to surrounding areas. Questions were answered promptly, and he always consulted us regarding any changes or suggestions. Additionally, his skill in installing ceramic tile is exceptional. He is a great asset to Coastal and represents your company very well. We want to thank you again for a fabulous bathroom and you can be certain that all of our future remodeling plans will include Coastal Builders.” Craig & Chris Childres, Brampton Hills “Richard Campbell, John Watts, Bruce Nelson and John Grafton make quite a team. We are exceptionally pleased. Your willingness and ability to make modifications to the original plan was exceptional. Bruce also did several "extras" that are greatly appreciated. He even fixed a plumbing problem that had nothing to do with the project. We are totally pleased and pray Christ's blessing on you all.” David & Becky Bohning, Ellicott City “We are extremely pleased with the results of the remodeling job on our kitchen. Lee Grubb, the carpenter, is in a class by himself. His skills and personal traits cannot be overstated. Thanks for a job well done.” James & Harriet Morris, Font Hill “From plan to execution Coastal did a magnificent job. Quality of finish work was superb. Construction from footers to roof was outstanding. Our carpet was protected and undamaged (it is white) and the workmen climbed in and out of a window to minimize traffic through the house. When we made changes during construction, Coastal adapted with grace. We would be glad to "show off" our job to your potential new clients. Thank you for a wonderful addition.” Richard & Joan Foster, Dunloggin “We were more than pleased with the promptness and dependability of Bruce Nelson. Overall, he made our life as comfortable as possible, considering the amount of construction we had done. The compliments are overwhelming from family and friends and we have recommended you to two families who are looking to add space onto their homes. If we ever need work done again in the future, Coastal will be our first choice. Thanks for treating us with the utmost respect.” Mark & Susan Klein, Turf Valley Overlook   To Top Loads of Charm: The Unfitted Kitchen The kitchen is the heart of the home. Yet many homeowners, when asked to describe a modern, state-of-the-art kitchen, picture something rather commercial in appearance. They automatically envision long, uninterrupted expanses of counter tops and gleaming hi-tech appliances. A new trend in kitchen design, however, is taking the country by storm and wiping away those notions. This innovative concept called the "unfitted kitchen," was introduced in England and is based on the fact that, in addition to cooking, people are living and entertaining in their kitchens. Therefore, the look and functions of the other social spaces in the home, such as family rooms, greatrooms and home offices should be integrated into the kitchen. This is accomplished in an unfitted kitchen through using fine furniture pieces rather than the standard matched kitchen cabinets. These pieces may include freestanding islands, hutches. and armoires. Other furniture pieces, such as a desk or comfortable love seat, are creatively blended in for a personalized and inviting look. In this way the same design style used throughout the rest of your home is replicated in the kitchen. Because of this trend, many cabinet manufacturers are introducing cabinet lines that incorporate furniture details. Some are also offering lines of freestanding fine furniture that are tailored for the kitchen, such as food cupboards and pantries. Yestertec builds beautiful, highly functional U.L. approved workstations - pieces of fine furniture specially designed for concealing standard, full sized, built-in kitchen appliances. This combination gives a low tech, more comfortable feel to a room without compromising the conveniences of a modern kitchen. Some advantages to an unfitted kitchen are greater flexibility in working around features such as windows, chimneys and doors. It also may be easier to rearrange to suit changing needs, especially beneficial as the population of homeowners continues to age. An unfitted kitchen allows more expression in design. The open spaces between the separate pieces in an unfitted kitchen can incorporate antique furniture collected by the homeowner, or accommodate favorite art collections. On the other hand, these spaces may cut down on storage area, and a long expanse of counter top may not be feasible. The unfitted kitchen may take more time to plan and design, as it will require a skilled eye to keep it from appearing cluttered and mismatched. The more elaborate architectural detail of the kitchen may also add to the cost. The unfitted kitchen has loads of charm, however, and is a delightful option worth considering.   To Top Interiors Come Alive With Plants If you have ever spent a leisurely afternoon at a Home Show, or enjoyed browsing through a House Beautiful magazine, you may have noticed how often and how abundantly live plants are included in today's interiors. Studies show that plants make people happy. In the work place, 80-90% of people's eyes light up when they first notice that plants have been placed in their cubicle. Designers have discovered that the addition of a few healthy, green plants can make an otherwise drab interior come alive. The Chinese art of Feng Shui, which is gaining in popularity among designers, teaches that live plants bring life and positive energy into your home. Practitioners of this art believe that careful plant placement results in the optimum harmony of life. Interior plantscaper Donna Miller of Jungle Tropicals works with homeowners to design an interior plant layout specifically for each home, purchase the right plants, and then finally install them properly and maintain them. In her installations she chooses from thirteen main house plants which are tried and true and won't require more work than a typical homeowner desires to give. Miller keeps in mind the color, texture and form of a plant when she selects it, as well as the amount of light it will receive in the area where it will be placed. If she is working with a solarium or built-in planter, then she must consider irrigation and drainage. It is important that furniture and accessories already be in place before decisions are made about which plants to use. Some plants are chosen as an accent, such as in a foyer where a gorgeous plant and pot make a stunning first impression. Others simply harmonize with their surroundings, making a subtle addition of color to the whole. Whether you are looking for harmony of life, or just like the feeling plants give to your home, the above considerations for choosing and placing plants can help you successfully reach your goal.   To Top Home Exteriors: Vinyl Siding One of the most versatile of all home exterior finishes, vinyl siding has come a long way since its earliest beginnings in the 1950s. The freedom from maintenance inherent in vinyl siding has always been its biggest selling feature. However, constant technical and design advancements have given vinyl siding style and beauty as never before. There is a vinyl siding product to complement virtually any architectural style, from traditional to contemporary, from colonial to ranch-style. Special processes impregnate natural woodgrain color striations in siding material to replicate the look of rough-hewn natural cedar. Raised woodgrain embossing yields a weathered wood appearance. For more traditional homes, a finely pebbled finish combined with a beaded edge profile provides the appeal of the painted clapboard look of the past. Designer colors expand the choice available to homeowners, providing maximum flexibility for creative applications. A wide range of color matched accessories, such as corner posts, window and door trim, soffits and fascia are available for the most complex of installations. No one can argue, though, that one of the best things about vinyl siding is that it never needs to be painted, stained or sealed. The color is not just applied to the surface, it's actually part of the siding material itself. Unlike wood, vinyl siding does not absorb water, and is impervious to wood-boring insects, fungus and mildew. It will not rot, crack, split, flake or peel. Cleaning is simple. All it takes is a garden hose and a mild soap solution. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.