Mike Foering - Custom Craft

House Renovation During the Coronavirus: Plan Now, Build Later!

Before the coronavirus outbreak, did you have thoughts of starting a new house renovation project? If so, did you decide to put it on hold because of social distancing? We’d love to help you keep your design dreams moving! Although we’ve temporarily stopped active construction and closed our in-person Design Center, we can still work together virtually on project planning and design and development.

At Custom Craft, we have a thorough preparation process that precedes production. Thoughtful design is at the heart of everything we do and ensures that we create a space that is tailored to your wants and needs, and is executed with care, high-quality craftsmanship, and efficiency. By planning now, you will:

Get ahead of other prospective customers and avoid a crowded market. When the pandemic ends, many people will start requesting renovation projects at once. By getting started now, you’re far less likely to experience construction delays down the line. We’ll hit the ground running right away.
Focus on perfecting the details. Many homeowners get excited when they kick off a renovation project and want to rush right into construction. We’re just as excited as you are, but we encourage the opposite approach. Rushing may result in an end product that doesn’t match your vision. Since you’re spending far more time at home right now – and given that we can’t even begin construction – it’s likely you’ll be more engaged in our planning process by starting now. This will help us produce the highest-quality outcome that exceeds your expectations.

We do recognize the economic impact that the coronavirus has had on families in our community and that financially, a home renovation may not be a feasible project to take on right now. However, for those who do feel positioned to consider it, we encourage you to read on to learn more about our virtual design process and how to get started.

Phase 1: Virtual Introductions & Project Planning

Over the course of a few virtual meetings, we will:

Discuss your goals and objectives for the renovation and potential challenges
Take a virtual tour of the impacted areas in your home
Review and align on an initial design proposal
Review a preliminary scope of work (including timing and budget)

Ultimately, we consider this a partnership, so our goal in this phase is to determine whether Custom Craft is the right fit for you, and that you’re the right fit for us!

Phase 2: Virtual Design and Development Process

Once we’ve agreed to move forward, we’ll dig deeper into the project (virtually) with one of our designers. We call this your “At-Home Design Center.” We will:

Present a schematic drawing of your new space and a palette of finishes so you can see how the materials look side-by-side.
Package all of our recommended finishes and materials, which we can drop off on your doorstep, or you can pick up curbside.
Create a 3D rendering based on the finishes you select. This will help you visualize the new space.

Once we’ve aligned on design and budget, we’ll prep for production! We’ll create a tentative schedule, contingent upon us receiving formal approval from the government to resume construction. Important to note, even when the quarantine ends, we will continue to provide a safe environment for you and our staff, and will follow all guidelines from the CDC. Read more on our precautions here.

So, are you feeling inspired to start planning your next project? Or perhaps you just want to brainstorm some preliminary ideas? Please contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you and your families lasting health and safety as we navigate this difficult time together.

An Update from Custom Craft on COVID-19: We’re Here If You Need Us!

As we work through the uncertainties of this global pandemic and its profound impact on our community and the world, our commitment to the health and safety of our customers, team, and families remains our top priority. Because of this – and in compliance with local officials – we are still open, but are operating under special circumstances.

Despite these changes, our core values of customer satisfaction, quality, integrity, teamwork, and sustainability remain strong. We are dedicated to serving you to the best of our ability during this difficult time. We’ve been a family-run business since 1982, and we proudly made it through the 2008 recession. We’ll recover from this, too! All of us will, together.

Please read on for an update on the precautions we’re taking, how to contact us, and how we’re helping the community.

Precautions

To comply with social distancing, we have paused all active production sites, and our entire team is working remotely. Any communication regarding existing projects will continue through BuilderTrend, our online project management platform.

All meetings and consultations will be held virtually (more on that below). We’re here to answer any questions you may have about an existing project, or a project you’d like to plan for the future. You can contact us here.

Virtual Design Consultations

Given that we are spending so much time in our homes right now, you may find that the time is right to start planning your next home remodeling project. Our designers are readily available to start that process with you! They are holding virtual consultations via video (Zoom, FaceTime, etc). You can discuss your needs, walk them through your home, and map out your vision together.

Because we believe in thoughtful design, we have an extremely thorough planning process before construction even begins. By getting started now, we’ll be able to hit the ground running once it is safe to resume on-site production.

Your At-Home Design Center

At Custom Craft, we’re proud of our Design Center, as you can experience all material samples in one place (in 3D!), rather than making multiple trips for specialty granite, tile, cabinetry, plumbing supplies, floor, and lighting. Because of the coronavirus, our in-person Design Center is temporarily shut down, so we’ve decided to bring this experience directly to your home! Once we understand your budget and your vision, we’ll create an “At-Home Design Center” for you. We’ll gather all of our recommended finishes and materials into a to-go box, which we can drop off on your doorstep, or you can pick up directly. This will enable you to still make design decisions and keep your project moving despite the circumstances.

The Future

When operations do normalize and we receive approval from the government to proceed with active production, rest assured that we will continue to provide a safe environment for you. Our employees will follow all guidelines from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) as outlined below:

If you are sick, are showing symptoms of respiratory (or other) illness or have been in close contact with someone that you know is sick, please stay at home and seek medical care.
Wash your hands upon arriving at work, either in the office or at the job site, for at least 20 seconds under hot running water and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Discard tissues in a garbage can and clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
Disinfect surfaces including door handles, workstations, and other frequently touched objects.

We will be monitoring the CDC for any additional precautions to take.

As we always do, we will use BuildClean’s dust control system, which enables us complete control over the dirt and dust when we’re in your home. This is a product we’ve used for many years, but we recognize that it will be even more important in light of the current climate.

When the time comes for production to resume, we request that you please communicate any changes to the health of your family (or home), our designated work zone, or the agreed upon plan/schedule in a timely manner.

Our Community

Some of the healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus are members of our families here at Custom Craft, and we know that many of you can likely say the same. It hits home for all of us! We have donated masks as a small gesture of our support and appreciation for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect the health and well-being of the community.

We’re continuing to explore new ways that we can help those who need it most right now. We’ll be in touch on how you can get involved, and certainly, if you know of any opportunities or have ideas on how a company like ours can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

We sincerely thank you for your patience, understanding, and support during this difficult time. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates as needed. In the meantime, we wish you and your families lasting health and safety.

Visit us at our new office in Lansdale

Custom Craft Has Moved!

It’s official!

We are open for business in our new location at 1111 Forty Foot Road in Lansdale, Pa. We are planning an open house event for the fall to show off our new space. Be on the lookout for an invitation to that event soon. In the mean time, take a sneak peek at photos of our new space below.

Bathroom Lighting Tips and Trends

Tips and Trends in Bathroom Lighting

It’s often said that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, but there’s no doubt bathroom upgrades increase the level of luxury for a home’s current inhabitants, as well. Many people dream of heated floors and fancy tile, but what really turns a plain powder room into a spa-like retreat is the room’s light. Let’s take a look at the four main types of bathroom lighting and current trends for a lovelier lav:

Task Lighting

Task lighting illuminates a specific point for a specific purpose; in the bathroom, that means the vanity mirror. To avoid unflattering shadows, vanity mirrors should always be lit from the sides, not just centered above the mirror.

Current trends: Brass is back! There has been a resurgence of this long-neglected metal in the past few years, especially in bathrooms. Choosing brass or gold-tone faucet hardware and vanity sconces adds a delightfully modern twist. Take care, however—these metals need a bit more TLC than chrome or nickel. Be prepared to polish and clean regularly to keep your fixtures fresh.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting places light strategically on a favorite feature and adds depth to the room. These lights can be playful or utilitarian, but always be sure they are waterproof!

Current trends: Backlit mirrors are the hottest way to give texture and depth to even the smallest powder room. This muted lighting provides a lovely, soft glow and pleasingly frames a special vanity mirror.

Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting adds interest and personality. It’s an easy and fun way to add an unexpectedly unique touch into what is commonly considered a purely functional room.

Current trends: The funkier, the better. Get ready to see lots of eclectic, sculptural fixtures, especially one-of-a-kind chandeliers with unusual materials and contrasting colors.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting floods the space with light and is most often found with overhead fixtures or recessed lights in the ceiling. Incandescent bulbs (or LED bulbs designed to mimic them) are a great choice for a warm glow that won’t harshly bounce off reflective surfaces.

Current trends: Dimmers allow you to change the level of lighting according to time of day and personal preference: perhaps fully lit for morning makeup application or barely there for nighttime visits. They make a room much more comfortable and quickly customizable.

No matter which lighting trend you favor, placement is key. A few inches can make the difference between a softly flattering glow and a myriad of unattractive shadows. Always consult a professional who can expertly guide you to the sweet spot of impeccable illumination and let your style shine.

Custom Craft Earns Two Best of Houzz Awards for 2015

We are pleased to share that Custom Craft Contractors has been awarded two 2015 Best of Houzz Awards in the categories of Design and Customer Service. These awards are the result of superior customer reviews and our overall popularity among users of Houzz—an online community connecting homeowners with home improvement professionals.

Houzz has changed the way homeowners plan for a remodeling project. Their website centers around a searchable database of project photos submitted by remodeling professionals. Similar to Pinterest, users of Houzz (also known as Houzzers) can search over 5 million photos of home renovation projects for ideas and inspiration for their own homes. When they find photos they like, they can add those photos to Ideabook folders in their account for future reference. They can also reach out to the companies that submitted the photos with questions.

There are 2.5 million professionals on Houzz, but each year only 5% of those remodeling pros are honored with Best of Houzz awards. Winners of the Best of Houzz Customer Service Awards were selected based on the number and quality of client reviews the professionals received in 2014. Custom Craft Contractors currently has 16 five star reviews on Houzz.

Somewhat different from the Customer Service award, the Design Award is based on how popular a professional is among Houzzers. Popularity is measured in several ways, including how often a professionals project photos are added to Ideabooks.

As a Best of Houzz winner, we have received a special badge (seen above) to display on our website and Houzz profile. The badge is intended to help communicate to prospective clients that we are a remodeling company that is committed to excellence. A badge of honor, indeed–and one that we will proudly display.

Many thanks to all of the clients whose reviews made this award possible. We would be remiss if we did not also thank the many Houzz users who added our photos to their Ideabooks. As always, your support is greatly appreciated.

Please Support Team Dancer Strong

The Custom Craft team is proud to support Team Dancer Strong in Alzheimer’s Association Run to Remember!

Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t just affect the elderly – it can rob people of the best years of their lives. My wife Kristen’s beloved stepmother Gail, pictured here, was diagnosed at the age of 53. The devastating effects of this disease on Gail and our family have been swift and unrelenting.

Team Dancer Strong – comprised of Mike Dancer, Katie Osley, and Kristen Foering – are running in the Alzheimer’s Association Run to Remember Philadelphia Half Marathon in support of this amazing woman. They hope to raise awareness and some research money in hopes of finding a cure for this devastating disease.

Please consider supporting Team Dancer Strong by making a donation at http://act.alz.org/phillyr2r2014 – click “donate”, then “search for a team” and type in “dancer strong”. Or come on out and help cheer for them on November 23rd.

Team Dancer Strong thanks you for your support!

We honor our veterans, past and present

Today, the Custom Craft Contractors team is pausing to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women in our armed forces, past and present. We are incredibly fortunate to live and work in the United States of America where our freedoms are protected by these courageous individuals. To all those who have served, or are currently serving, we express our heartfelt thanks. May God bless you all.

All posts by : Mike Foering