Winter 2001 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 Coastal Builders Celebrates Twelfth Anniversary Have You Seen Us in Your Neighborhood? Our Clients Write... Global Trends Influence Design Countertops: Solid Surface A Delight in Store for You Coastal Builders Celebrates Twelfth Anniversary February 2001 marks twelfth anniversary of Coastal Builders, Inc. You don’t get to be twelve years old in the remodeling business without doing a lot of things right. Our commitment to producing top quality projects that meet the needs of our clients has really paid off. Many of our clients have come back to us for additional projects after their first one, some as many as three times! The questionnaires we send to our clients after a project is completed are consistently returned with high marks for great designs, high quality of work, low impact on the homeowners during the project, and the ease of working with our Lead Carpenters. Many of our clients have referred us to their friends and family when they were looking for a remodeler. On the back page we have listed some of the neighborhoods we have worked in over the years, most likely yours is in the list. In addition, we are sharing some of the comments by our customers. Thanks for making our first twelve years a success, and we hope to continue serving the community for many, many more. John M. Watts, President   To Top Have You Seen Us in Your Neighborhood? If you live in Howard County or western Baltimore County, it’s a pretty good bet that you’ve seen our signs in your neighborhood sometime during the years we’ve been in business. Here are some of the neighborhoods in which we have completed projects over the years, do you see yours? We would like to thank our many clients in these neighborhoods for making our first twelve years a success. Dunloggin, Grey Rock, Brampton Hills, Patuxent Overlook, Mount Hebron, Farside, The Chase, The Preserve, Centennial Estates, Point of Homewood, Ellicott City, Maple Woods, Valleymede, Historic Ellicott City, Font Hill, West Friendship, Catonsville, Worthington, Chestnut Hill Estates, Elkridge, Old Mill, Columbia, Wetherburn, Turf Valley Overlook, Chapel View, Patapsco Park Estates, Roland Park, Pikesville, Bowie, Eldersburg, Woodbridge Valley, Towson, Timonium, Laurel, Bethgate, Allview Estates, Glenelg, Relay, Arbutus, Sykesville, Clarksville, Scaggsville, Dorsey Hall, Annapolis, Fulton   To Top Our Clients Write... “Coastal Builders in general and Jeff Miller specifically did excellent work on this project. Because I designed this addition (instead of hiring and an architect), I had a high level of interest in how the project would be built. I have always been interested in architecture and wanted to perform the architect’s oversight function. Throughout the project, Jeff focused on constructing an addition that would please my wife and myself while also being built to Jeff’s high construction standards. Jeff always listened to my ideas, suggested alternatives about how we could proceed, and warned me when he thought my ideas were impractical. There were times when I got new ideas or changed my mind in the middle of the project. Jeff was extremely helpful in making suggestions and developing change orders that provided what my wife and I wanted with minimal additional time and expense. As construction proceeded, I was amazed at the amount of detailed planning and coordination required to complete the project. I had total confidence in Jeff’s ability to overcome problems and successfully complete this job. Everyone at Coastal Builders did an excellent job from beginning to end.” Raymond Donaldson, Fulton “We welcome the opportunity to comment on our recent sunroom addition. Coastal Builders exceeded our expectations in every aspect of the project. From the design phase through project completion, Coastal Builders competently managed the entire process. Onsite staff were courteous and communicated construction plans in advance to allow for any necessary preparation on our part. Bruce Nelson as project manager was reliable and attentive and his work reflected genuine pride in the final product. The construction took three months and during that time staff arranged for minimal disruption to our home and schedules. We are very happy with our new sunroom and we applaud Coastal Builders’ attention to fine craftsmanship and perhaps most of all, their commitment to customer satisfaction. Please do not hesitate to use us for reference purposes and be assured we will look to you again should we expand or remodel in the future.” Roger and Kelly Buchanan, Turf Valley Overlook “We were extremely pleased at the courtesy and professionalism of our lead carpenter, Lee Grubb. He made the project progress smoothly and was very unobtrusive in our home. We truly came to regard him as part of our daily lives! We will certainly recommend Coastal Builders to anyone and would be happy to provide a written referral. Thanks for your great work.” Pete and Libby D’Antuono, Brampton Hills   To Top Global Trends Influence Design If one were to describe in a single word the global trend in kitchen and bath design today, it would be simplicity. And it's no wonder the idea is catching on quickly! Our lives are so fast paced and complex that a home environment free from extra clutter can have a calming effect on the soul. It's roots are Asian, based on the Zen principle of removing all non-essential elements from a space until harmony, balance and simplicity is achieved. These theories are being put into practice by designers all over the world, including those in Italy, Germany, England, and finally North America as well. This new global philosophy revolves around six themes: transparency, texture, softened colors, suspension, lineal design, and minimalism. Each of these elements contributes to the overall look and serves a well-defined purpose, nothing is frivolous. Transparency can be found in openness of cabinets, which are often glass fronted or open shelved. These designs celebrate light as an interactive material, and they are very sculptural, playing creatively with proportions. The heavy, boxy look has been replaced by a look that is sheer and beautiful. Texture is everywhere: in glossy finishes, dimpled fronts, and sanded obscure glass. Wood, glass, stainless steel, aluminum, granite and even plastic are harmoniously combined. An occasional leather drawer pull adds unique character. The trend is for whites to be softened and mellow. Parchment is the color choice for cabinets, and white marble is used on countertops. Other colors are less significant, although saturated red, yellow and blue are used as accents. Wenge wood, a dark, almost black wood from Africa, lends depth. Cabinets are often suspended off the floor. They can be free standing and show an attractive leg, or if attached they can "float", having no legs at all. Countertops are cantilevered and shelves are without brackets, all to express the feeling of openness and light. Lineal design is achieved through treating spaces as horizontal rather than vertical. There are no wall cabinets hung from the ceiling, and few pictures are placed on the wall. Wood grains run horizontally across cabinet fronts. Contrasting trim above cabinets keeps the emphasis low, horizontal and intimate, as does a 24" backsplash in the kitchen. Minimalism was the style 40-50 years ago, and some of those same ideas and products are being revived with the new "simplicity." Only, the look is more relaxed and inviting in today’s global kitchen and bath. Advances in technology make it possible for everything to be more user friendly. Plastics and superior coatings for wood cabinets make them waterproof and stain resistant. Advanced hardware systems have enabled manufacturers to produce sliding countertops and easily moveable doors. Countertops are becoming thicker, from the usual 3/8" thickness up to 4" thick, depending on the material used. The new global kitchen and bath design trends are certainly on the cutting edge of creativity. And as American homeowners have become more aware of what is going on in European and other global markets, there has been a strong movement in the direction of contemporary styling. Without a doubt, a well-organized and subtly beautiful room makes a peaceful place to escape to at the end of a hectic day.   To Top Countertops: Solid Surface Solid surface has been around for 30 years, ever since Dupont introduced the original Corian (r). Today the versatile material is being used in a huge variety of applications including work surfaces, countertops, sinks, vanities, shower trays, wall cladding and furniture. Created from a combination of acrylic resin, natural minerals, and pigments, solid surface is a highly workable material. The grain pattern of solid surface goes all the way through, so it can be cut, carved, routed, sandblasted, inlaid and thermoformed into a variety of attractive shapes. The advantages for use on kitchen and bath countertops are many. It is very durable, as well as impact and stain resistant. Should any accidental damage occur, the surface is renewable with a light sanding. It is non-porous, so it will not support the growth of bacteria. It is visible "seamless" when joined. It is available in a rich and ever evolving palette of many colors to blend with any interior.   To Top A Delight in Store for You "Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of doors played by somebody I do not know." John Keats (1795-1821). For the poet, who concerned himself with the intensely joyful experiences of life, wine tasting rated high up there on the list. More than ever today homeowners are agreeing with Keats. Attend a dinner party, and the chances are your host will offer his guests a delightful sip from his own private wine collection. This may consist of only a few choice bottles, or it may be a serious collection of thousands. Obviously, those who have made an investment of any kind in wine will want to provide proper storage. You will need to determine how valuable your collection is and how long you intend on keeping your wine, before you can decide which kind of storage is right for you. The most important factors are: Temperature: An ideal temperature is between 52-55 degrees Fahrenheit, without much fluctuation. Never place wine near sources of heat, such as a water heater or a furnace. Light: Keep your wine in complete darkness or in a low light area. Movement: Avoid placing wine in locations where there are frequent vibrations, such as next to the washer or dryer. Position: Wine should always be kept on its side so that the cork remains moist. Humidity: The humidity level should be between 50 and 80 percent. Odors: Wines pick up odors despite corks and capsules. Be careful of what you place near your wine. Another issue to consider is the size of your wine storage area. The most common mistake people make is to undersize. A good rule of thumb is to think of the number of bottles you would like to keep, and then plan for double that number, or even triple. Allow for flexibility in your racking. You will want a mix of single bottle racks as well as magnums, Champagne or half bottle racks. Include racks also for those wines stored in their original cases. Now you should investigate the options of purchasing a self-contained refrigerated storage cabinet, or having a wine cellar or wine room constructed in your home. Buying a wine cooler or cabinet is an easy way to add wine storage where there is minimum space, or as a secondary storage unit in another part of your home, or where major construction is not feasible. These cabinets have many great features, but wine capacity is limited. If you choose to build a wine room, carefully consider the location. The advantage of building one below ground is the natural insulation the surrounding earth provides. Many homeowners, however, prefer the convenience of having their wine collection stored adjacent to the dining room or kitchen. These above ground rooms should be well insulated, and fitted with a dedicated cooling unit. Above all, don’t forget that your wine collection is very personal. Through thoughtful planning and creative design, your wine storage area can also incorporate your personal preferences and style. A comfortable place to share with friends. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.