OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
Sneak Peek: East Falls Kitchen Photo Shoot
Take a gander at this lovely image from a photo shoot conducted last week by Mark Gisi of Tabula Creative at one of our kitchen projects in East Falls: We couldn't be more pleased with the results of the shoot and of the project itself. When we began work on this kitchen, it was suffering from dated 1970s styling and poor cabinet layout and storage design that made the room feel cramped. Contributing to the problem was the fact that the kitchen was sharing space with the laundry facilities, and the room was also uncomfortably cold due to an inefficient heating design. The customers called us in to fix the temperature issues and make the style/design more harmonious with the handsome1920s house. They wanted a true cook's kitchen with logical storage areas and a relocation of the laundry area. The reconfigured room now features high-end Thermador appliances, white Medallion semi-custom[...]
Beware the “Singular Specialty Expert”
My business partner and I attend a lot of events with other professionals in our industry. Recently, I was at a meeting where a very high-end HVAC contractor was boasting to our group about the $150K geothermal heating and cooling system his company recently installed in a NJ home. The system was top shelf, top price, and his client had no problems paying for it. Shortly after the new HVAC system was installed, however, his client called to say that one room in his house was still feeling very cold and uncomfortable. The HVAC contractor explained to his client how the system was properly sized and was delivering as designed. The problem, said the HVAC contractor, was that the house was old and not properly weathersealed. So the HVAC contractor then sold his client another $50K in weathersealing to make sure each and every room was finally comfortable. This story[...]
What does the Oscar greenroom and our clients kitchen have in common?
Awards for everyone! Check it out, Designer Waldo Fernandez has created some relaxing spaces for all presenters and honorees at this year Oscars. The Architectural Digest Greenroom at the 2012 features quartz counters that we have also used in some of our wonderful kitchens. See the Greenroom and the Casearstone quartz counters here: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/resources/features/2012/03/oscars-greenroom-waldo-fernandez-article
Different Customers, Different Outcomes: The Value of a Streamlined Process
We recently received a phone call from a returning prospective client who had contacted us several months ago about doing a large kitchen/home remodel for her. At that time, we met with this homeowner and explained our process, presenting her with an example of our project book. This is a crucial tool we create for every home renovation project we undertake. It's kind of the "bible" of the project, as it contains every drawing, specification, permits, and all of the product information necessary to complete the job. During the time since we last spoke to her, the homeowner had explored doing the same project with a home builder who had turned to remodeling after new construction dried up. She found that the builder didn't use anything like our project book, and the spaces he created were unstylish, builder-grade solutions. So, seeing the value in our approach and appreciating the results[...]
How To Find a Great Remodeler
Here is an account I just received from a new prospect when I asked him how he found us; "Was watching a remodeling show on television and they mentioned that you should deal with people associated with NARI. I went on the internet and looked for Philadelphia companies associated with NARI and found you." You can learn more about NARI here: www.nari.org.
Styling Your Space Like a Pro
Whether you've just completed a renovation project or you have an older room that simply needs an aesthetic makeover, if you're like most homeowners, you may find that you struggle a bit when it comes to furnishing your space and giving it the perfect finishing touches. But make no mistake about it: styling is important. It's what makes your house feel like a home and what makes guests take notice. Of course, anyone with the resources can fill a house with a bunch of “stuff.” The difference lies in how the items are arranged. For this reason, even magazines hire stylists to prop rooms to look make them picture perfect. Here, Philadelphia prop stylist Lisa Russell, who helps Myers Constructs make project homes look their best during our photo shoots, shares with us her insights about personal home styling: Q: How did you get your start in prop styling? A:[...]
City Paper Features Myers Constructs Project
We're pleased to have one of our recent projects — a Roxborough his and hers art studio — showcased in the City Paper blog The Great Indoors. Read the article here.
Video Clip: Tamara Myers Interview
Tamara, who serves as Chair of the Membership Committee for the DelChester chapter of NARI, recently sat down with NARI's Morgan Zenner at the National NARI 2012 CotY judging to discuss Myers Constructs, and the role NARI membership and certification plays within the company. Watch it here.
Project Slideshow: Center City Kitchen Upgrade
With their five children grown and leaving the nest, our clients in this Center City rowhome are preparing for the next stage of their lives — and those plans include a brand new kitchen to replace the 30-year-old builder grade space they had been using. The clients wanted newer, more savvy appliances and fixtures, as well as a room that would accommodate their changing lifestyle, which includes entertaining their grown children and extended families. Even though the footprint of the kitchen was on the smaller side, they needed to max out its performance! After removing everything from the old kitchen, we ran all new wiring and vented the oven hood exhaust to the outside (something the original builder had failed to do). We then installed Euro-styled flat-panel cabinets in a dark wood stain, along with new Bosch appliances that the homeowners had selected. We replaced the old kitchen floor with[...]
Updated Project Slideshow: East Falls Kitchen Renovation
This home is a lovely, large 1920s stone single in East Falls. The homeowners, who are now "empty nesters," asked us to renovate their large kitchen, laundry, and breakfast areas at the rear of the house. They felt that these rooms, last remodeled in the late 1970s, were very cold and poorly designed and fitted. In talking to the clients, we learned that they planned to live in this home for many more years before considering selling. We also discovered that they often entertain their children and grandchildren, so it was important to have room for everyone, even though moving walls would not be possible. The couple wanted traditionally styled, long-lasting, high-quality materials in their new spaces. Our designers' first step was reorganizing the layout inside the existing walls for maximum comfort and use and reconfiguring the spaces for better circulation. They selected cabinetry that better fit the minimal, but[...]
