Company News

Bucks County Multi-Room Makeover

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We are in the process of completing a renovation on this 16+ year old Toll Bros. house in Bucks County. The family has lived in the house since it was new, and they plan to remain there as their kids go though high school and college. When we visited the home, we found that many products used in its construction, like cabinets and flooring, were “out of the box,” low-quality goods that had already exceeded their life expectancy.

Our team listened to the needs of the homeowners and discovered the following:

They like to entertain anywhere from 4-40 people at a time. Room for enjoying cocktails, wine, good food and casual living was a priority.
The first floor was broken up into an unused dining room, a large vapid foyer area, unusual diagonal hallways, and a fragmented kitchen area.
They wanted a “cool” house and the removal of what they considered some stodgy suburban interior features.
Streamlining, organization, and big, sexy surfaces were a must.
They were ready to have fun with their project.

We began by removing walls between the dining room, entertainment space and kitchen to create a more open floor plan. We then selected sleek silver and white Euro-styled cabinets, extra thick white Caesarstone countertops, colorful clear glass tiles, and high-end Thermador appliances. The old out-of-the-box floors were patched in (since there was no original flooring under the cabinets) and refinished in a deep, bold black to pull the space together. Opulent and fun lighting fixtures and furnishings added the final touches.

We love projects like this one, when we are asked to stretch with the dreams of our clients.

Myers Constructs: Community Outreach

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Most people know Myers Constructs, Inc., as a source for complete design to build services for home projects, such as kitchens, baths, additions and whole-house renovations. But you may be surprised to learn that we also assist several local nonprofit organizations with their older buildings, as well.

We have worked with the following institutions:

The Fleisher Art Memorial — The Fleisher restoration project entailed repairing and replacing 83 wooden windows – most of which were nearly a century old – with the goals of maintaining the historical integrity of the buildings, achieving energy efficiencies, and providing a safer and more secure environment for the 17,000 people who visit the institution throughout the year. Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Board was required to replace their historic windows with similarly styled models. We were able to help them by sourcing locally made, historically styled double-pane windows, in low-maintenance materials that fit their budget. Not only did we complete this project without interrupting normal operations at their facilities; we also received a Grand Jury Award from The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia for our work.

Calvary Church in Germantown — We are working with this organization to correct some weather-damaged flooring, make some structural repairs, reconfigure some spaces in their buildings for better use by the parish, and attend to some deferred maintenance in their buildings.

We worked with a local homeless shelter to make repairs to several of their dormitory apartments. These rooms are occupied by women and their children who are escaping abusive living situations to start new lives for themselves. In order to protect these families, we don’t disclose the locations of these projects.

We are currently speaking with another church in Chester Springs about how we might be able to help them with an upcoming expansion project.

What we love about these projects is that we can improve the quality of life for many families and communities at once. It’s very satisfying to help build strong community resources that can help so many people.

Tamara Myers to Judge 2012 NARI Contractor of the Year CotY Awards

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I am honored to have been asked to be a judge for the Contractor of the Year (CotY) 2012 Awards. These are national awards bestowed by NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, to projects that represent excellence in our industry.

This coming Monday, January 9th, I will join other NARI members to begin the 3-day job of reviewing the entries and casting our votes. Later this year, a formal ceremony — the academy awards of our industry — will take place at the Spring national meeting, which is being held this year in Dallas, Texas. I had the honor of attending the awards ceremony for 2011 in Jersey City, NJ, in April, and it was an impressive and fun evening.

As designers and remodelers, we love having the opportunity to support with our vote the projects of our peers that shine and show the melding of good design, creativity and craftsmanship. It is our idea of a good time. And it’s a win-win for the industry, for the homeowners, and for those of us who learn and grow by setting a high bar for what good, professional remodeling should be. The wonderful thing about these awards is that, by choosing from NARI members in good standing, they are already selecting from the best in the industry. NARI’s multi-faceted focus ensures its members follow best practices from their industry, maintain and follow a code of ethics, engage in continuing education, and give back to their remodeling peers and their communities.

Happy December! Time to Start Planning for 2012

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While you’re busy preparing your holiday celebrations, entertaining and travel, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at your home and plan for the renovation projects that need to be tackled in the new year. We don’t know a better way to cure the “winter doldrums” than to breathe new life into a space that you use every day. Instant quality-of-life improvement! Call us today to discuss your needs. We’ll be happy to create a 2012 plan for your home.