Attitude Adjustment

OK - So, what do you think about the new name?! I had to get the word 'Design' in there somewhere. It's just what I love to do. i love building stuff and putting things together. But my favorite thing to do - what really makes me feel as if I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing is when I can solve problems through elegant and useful design elements.

I'm going to have to work on getting new photos more often too so I can show you what I mean.

But for example, if someone *feels* their kitchen is too small and there isn't enough space to entertain - there are often many simple little things that we can to to find the space by rearranging where the walls are or opening up space where there was a closet. Often I find that designers in the past just didn't know where to put the closets to maximize space - or walls for that matter. They felt locked into compartmentalizing everything. Good designers are like good puzzle-solvers in the sense that you get so much space, a set of parameters to work with, clues about living habits and you have to make all that work together through good design.

OK - about adjusting attitudes. I have been hearing a lot of people talking about these "bottom-feeders". What is that? Doesn't that mean they are just people looking for great deals? Well, Aren't we All like that? If not, perhaps we should be - especially since we are in this problem that we are in financially. My question then is, "Are these so called 'bottom feeders' closing deals?" Are they closing deals with Other People - is that why they are 'bottom feeders'? Hey - if there are people out there getting the good deals and reading the fine print where all the extra hidden fees are in the HUD1 - but they are indeed Closing - then who are we to complain? As far as I'm concerned, they are Buyers. And isn't that what we need more of these days? Buyers? If someone comes to you with their hard earned cash and says they want to buy something and they have great credit you could stand a chance of scaring them away by calling them names, eh? I say let's go out and find some more of these bottom feeders - oh - I mean BUYERS and work with 'em. Heck~ I'd like to be one of those myself! Lots of good deals out there, time to scoop them up! This is the thing to make real consumer confidence - Rather than bailing out and hiding under golden parachutes: spur invention, spur new business, and how about a little good old fashioned hard work?! Forget about the banks, get the good deals ~ Invest.

Let the Divided Light Shine In!

As of last week ~ Wednesday to be exact ~ Pella has decided to announce that they're coming out with color for the interior grills in their ProLine series. I have a great rep and always get really great deals. This news is very exciting ~ Whereas before the choices where white white or white to match your wood frame stain or paint ~ now you can choose from six colors: Ivory, Brown, Brickstone, Harvest, Cordovan or Tan.

The new choices in the ProLine series are a fabulous alternative to using the Architect series ~ and creates about a 25- 40% in savings on window expenses.

So what is ProLine and what's the difference? The ProLine series uses solid wood construction, aluminum clad exterior, double paned glass with aluminum grilles in between. It's a Great product.

The Architect series is a step up. The grilles are actually mounted to the outside of the glass rather than in between the panes and there's foam inbetween ~ which makes for a nice classic divided light look but has all the same efficiencies as the ProLine series.

The Julian Street House uses the architect series, for example. We spared no expense in creating 220. But it is a spec home, so the chances of redecorating are high. With the Architect series the new owners will be able to simply strip the windows of the grilles and replace them with a different wood as they choose to do so. It's not inexpensive - don't get me wrong - but it can happen.

ProLine is great for remodels or new planned construction because you choose the decor from the beginning and might not choose to change the decor for 5-10 years. Even if you do, you can create an environment that coordinates with the windows. If you wanted to change the paint or stain, however, the grilles wont come out. You would have to replace the windows at that point. So there is definately a give and take. A good window should ~ or I should say, "could" ~ last you 50 years. The average home owner might keep the same windows for 20-30 years before replacing.