Tag Archives: safety

Aging In Place: Take a Ride on the Stair Chair

When my client first called asked for one of these, a Stair Chair, I gave her a ballpark price on a new one. It’s a good thing I was talking with the Executor not the heart patient we  are working for! She couldn’t believe that the simplest, well made stair chair would cost a minimum […]

Clean + Green: New EPA Renovation + Repair Law

Beginning this month, a new certification is required for all remodelers, general contractors hy men that work on homes constructed prior to 1978, the year lead in paint was banned in the U.S.  This certification is required by anyone doing work on the home, including window installation companies, flooring installers (carpeting too!), just about anyone […]

True Stories: M3 Race Finalist Cross Between American Idol + Shark Tank

Okay – a little background for my readers. This past year, I have been participatng in the Make Mine a Million $ Business Race. It has helped our company grow in mamy different ways, most of all, through tracking our financials completing a full business plan with 5 year goals clearly stated. I have participated in […]

True Stories: Loos of the World

If only I had a camera with me all those years I traipsed the planet carrying my computer bag, before I became a designer.  The time was long before digital cameras were cheap small. Oh, if I had had one in my purse. I would produce a coffee table book, full of gorgeous photos of artistic public private […]

Clean + Green: Green Building Professional!

HBBDI are now certified Green Building Professionals!  Brian Garvey, our new Project Lead, took the NARI sponsored class test in December, passed with flying colors,  is now our on-staff Certified Green Professional. He is available to consult through all phases of design construction on green practices, keep you up to date on new, easy, healthful ways to include Green […]

Contractor’s Corner: Our License Is for You!

We know a client is knowledgeable when the first question they ask is, are you licensed? Sometimes, when we do design work, or meet with people to offer a bid, a prospective construction client will ask, does it matter if I use a licensed contractor? Why? What if I know someone who has always done […]

Aging In Place: Successful Aging Excerpt from "Seeking Alpha" Stock Market Analysis Website

Following is some very interesting research data from both the NAHB (National Association of Homebuilders) NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) reported by both Seeking Alpha then picked up by Dar + Company as research information for their energy investments. This is a serious market to watch! “The National Association of Homebuilders has created a […]

Aging In Place: Stylish Grab Bars, Safety First

Usually, the first time we get ‘the call’ for installing an Aging In Place home modification is for adding Grab Bars in the Bathroom, usually in the Shower/Tub area or near the commode. And there the discussion begins. How much will it all cost? Seniors with fixed incomes who have not prepared their homes in advance are suddenly […]

Designer's Corner: Let's Talk About Floors

How do I help a client choose a Kitchen or Bath flooring?    If a client is doing a remodel, the most important delineating factor for choosing flooring is her budget.   A low budget can mean choosing a vinyl flooring product, and most often I would work with a Marmoleum or Congoleum flooring. They have a […]

Home Maintenance Tips: Check Your Hot Water Heater

How often do you think about your hot water heater?  Can you remember the last time that you checked it? Typically, water heaters last 10 to 15 years, but with a little care maintenance they can last even longer. Some things to consider about your tank: Check the exterior. Leaks rust on the outside could […]