happy holidays!

December 2014 Newsletter View this email in your browser Best wishes for a peaceful, healthy, and amazing 2015!   polka dot study by artist sofie ramos sofie ramos www.sofieramos.com shoup residence featured at dwell.com Click here to see article and slideshow. share this newsletter Share Tweet Forward to Friend buildingLab 999 43rd street oakland, ca 94608 t: 510.420.1133 e: info@buildingLab.com          *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright © 2014 building Lab All rights reserved. update subscription preferences   unsubscribe from this list

special announcement

October 2014 Newsletter View this email in your browser enter to win an iPad Dear clients and professional collaborators, As we are entering the last quarter of 2014, we want to express our thanks to you for a year filled with creative energy and solid achievements. This is the time to look back and evaluate. Your feedbacks and suggestions will help us serve you better in the future. Most of you might already know: we are an active pro in the Houzz.com community. It is the largest showcase for design and building professionals and it also serves as a helpful community forum. A positive review on our Houzz page would be invaluable for our business. We thank you in advance for taking the time. To write a review, please go to http://www.houzz.com/writeReview/ and follow the simple steps.  For a limited time, Houzz offers reviewers to enter into a drawing to win an iPad. something to brag about We are happy to announce that we won 3 Platinum Awards and 1 Grand Prize in the 2014 REMMIES given by the National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI). Again, we are grateful to our clients for their inspiration and their trust in building Lab. SF Townhouse Remodel Residential Interior Category over $150,000 Platinum Award   Master Bath for a SF Penthouse Residential Bath Category $50,000 - $75,000 Platinum Award Appleberry Drive Residence Entire House Category $250,000 - $500,000 Grand Prize, Platinum Award bL team says goodbye to project architect Jeff Prose Best wishes for his next exciting venture! shoup residence featured at dwell.com Click here to see article and slideshow. share this newsletter Share Tweet Forward to Friend buildingLab 999 43rd street oakland, ca 94608 t: 510.420.1133 e: info@buildingLab.com          *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright © 2014 building Lab All rights reserved. update subscription preferences   unsubscribe from this list

after the remodel: how to maintain those sparkling shower glass walls?

September 2014 Newsletter View this email in your browser after the remodel: how to maintain those sparkling shower glass walls? If you are like many of the fortunate homeowners who have a newly remodeled modern bath, you would take pride in keeping your frame-less shower glass enclosure in its pristine condition. Over time, though, you may forget to squeegee religiously, or your housekeeper may become less vigilant in the war against soap scum and hard water deposits. In any case, even the most fastidious homeowners can find themselves peering through less than clear glass. soap scum: your worst enemy Soap scum forms when body oils and dirt combine with soap and the minerals in the water. It is the unsightly film left behind in the bathtub or on the shower glass when we finish bathing or showering. When it is allowed to build up and harden, it can be a real challenge to clean. Don't despair and don't throw in the towel. There are some simple and effective methods to tackle this problem, ranging from the homemade and natural, to more intense and chemical. Protect chrome fixtures before you use any harsh chemicals or acids. Try out new cleaning products at an inconspicuous spot. Mix baking soda with drops of water to form a paste. Use a sponge or rag to gently scrub the paste onto the glass surface with a circular motion. Wipe clean with another damp rag and polish with a dry soft cloth. Wet a fabric softener sheet (such as Bounce™) and wipe in a circular motion. Other common household products that are effective: store bought soft scrub, dish-washing gel such as Cascade™, and laundry detergents. For tougher stains, mix a little water with Bar Keepers Friend™ powder to form a paste and scrub with a rag in a circular motion. A soft old toothbrush can be handy for cleaning the hard-to-reach places. Rinse and wipe clean with a damp rag and polish with a dry soft cloth. hard water deposits: definitely not your friends If your water contains high level of calcium and magnesium, your will have white precipitates which accelerate the formation of tough buildups akin to concrete. For regular cleaning, rubbing a cut lemon in circular motion is easy and natural and it also leaves a clean smell. Mix white vinegar and baking soda to form a thick paste and rub in circular motion. Leave the paste on the glass surface for an hour for very tough stains. Rinse and wipe with a damp rag and polish with a clean soft cloth. Use white distilled vinegar at full strength to repeat the above step if regular vinegar does not work. how to prevent soap scum in the future? After a thorough cleaning, apply baby oil or lemon furniture oil on the glass.  Squeegee the glass walls and door daily after shower. Wipe dry with a clean rag regularly is also effective especially if the bath is not adequately ventilated. Spray and wipe with a glass cleaner such as Seventh Generation™ or Windex™ weekly. Liquid soap and bath gel (instead of bar soap) tend to lessen the buildup. a fiesta to honor jeannie's retirement The bL family gathers to send Jeannie off to Mexico in high style. shoup residence featured at dwell.com Click here to see article and slideshow. share this newsletter Bath photos by Scott Hargis. Share Tweet Forward to Friend buildingLab 999 43rd street oakland, ca 94608 t: 510.420.1133 e: info@buildingLab.com          *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright © 2014 building Lab All rights reserved. update subscription preferences   unsubscribe from this list

an interview with stephen shoup by renee smith

Check out my interview, Designing Your Dream Home on BayAreaForSale.com, one of the top sites for California real estate, including Concord, CA real estate. BayAreaForSale.com also services Florida real estate and California homes for sale.

stainless steel: our love and hate relationship

June 2014 Newsletter View this email in your browser after the remodel: how to protect your investment No, we are not talking about getting additional insurance here, although that is important and you should discuss with your insurance professional. We are initiating a series of discussions on cleaning and protecting the pristine surfaces (in your newly renovated home) which are integral to the aesthetics of modern design. stainless steel: our love and hate relationship Stainless steel surfaces are strong, durable, and versatile. Both polished and brushed versions complement many design styles from Mid Century Modern to Industrial Chic. But to the homeowners, S.S. is far from stainless. In fact, many were horrified to find that even clean water drops could stain a brand new cooktop. Not to worry, we have gathered many good tips from past clients, hardware store owners, and home improvement experts: Not all stainless steel surfaces are created equal. Make sure you check the particular manufacturer's instruction about cleaning and protecting. Try to clean soon after cooking every day so as to avoid burning in grease and food scraps. Always wipe following the grain of the steel to avoid scratching. Try any new cleaning products at an inconspicuous spot first. Always wet the surface first with a soft cloth or sponge. For everyday cleaning, use a few drops of white vinegar, leave for a few minutes, then wipe with a soft cloth or sponge.  For more hardened spots, sprinkle baking soda and add a few drops of vinegar. Wipe with a wet soft cloth or sponge. For really hardened spots, make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend (in powder form) with a few drops of water. Leave for up to a minute, then wipe it with a wet soft cloth or wet sponge. To add shine, chase it with Windex or a natural product such as Seventh Generation Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner. For spots that were there since the last century, you may have to use Bar Keepers Friend paste and scrub with a small 1" square piece cut from a white scrub. (Green scrub is the harshest, blue second, white is softer and more flexible) For the exterior of refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven, spray with Method Steel For Real (natural stainless steel cleaner) and wipe with a soft cloth or wet sponge. The inside of the oven is another story better left for a future newsletter. annual rebuilding together oakland project building Lab designers and carpenters worked with Piedmont Community Service Crew (PCSC) in a home renovation for an elderly woman in the Temescal district of Oakland. On two consecutive Saturdays in April, we mentored Piedmont High School students in a complete overhaul of a house with serious deferred maintenance issues. Highlights include installing a hot water heater housed in a new shed, reconnecting bathroom sink to the drain, new fence in the front and new deck at the rear entry, and exterior and interior painting. Everyone agreed these were two most enjoyable and rewarding days. a sad farewell to stella She was the best looking, goofiest, and most loving of all. We miss her tremendously and hope that wherever she is, there are lots of Bonies. shoup residence featured at dwell.com Click here to see article and slideshow. share this newsletter Share Tweet Forward to Friend buildingLab 999 43rd street oakland, ca 94608 t: 510.420.1133 e: info@buildingLab.com          *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright © 2014 building Lab All rights reserved. update subscription preferences   unsubscribe from this list

Hello, World!

sustainable landscape design

April 2014 Newsletter View this email in your browser sustainable landscaping In contrast to the rest of the country, we have experienced the warmest and driest winter and early spring on record in California. Even as we enjoy the beautiful weather, we can’t help but wonder if the drought will deepen and what we can do to be waterwise. This is an important issue especially for those who are planning to remodel their house and envision a modern and sustainable landscape. landscaping an eichler: home, life, nature bL's own Stephen Shoup and his wife Taya Shoup (a landscape designer with SWA Group, Sausalito) have just completed a remodel of an Eichler into a modern residence with extensive landscaping that incorporates many green building practices. They share their thoughts on balancing aesthetics, concerns for the environment, and practical needs of the family and neighborhood.   For Taya, the landscape is an important part of her home; she wants it to have a calming effect. She selected a variety of grasses (the dominant plant type in the garden) for their rich textures and limited the palette to shades of greens and blue greens without too many flowers to achieve the desired effect. She also planted in masses that give a sense of simplicity and order.   She feels it is fortuitous to have a sloping front yard that raises the house up and enables the connection of the landscape with the amazing hills beyond. ‘I think the olives trees are the perfect choices (oaks would just get too big!) and the planting of drifts of Manzanita (a California native) and different grasses is very effective.’ Indeed, nature seems to flow down from the hills, continues around the house and spills gently onto the sidewalk. landscaping an eichler: site, street, architecture For Stephen, the two greatest concerns at the scale of site were the typical Eichler austerity to street frontage and this model's want of an atrium or courtyard. Along with other details, his solution consists of two primary elements. ‘The five foot tall fence defines a front courtyard with a soft sense of enclosure and filtered connection. The insertion of the large picture window in the dining room draws the eye more deeply into the site from the street.’   As one approaches this residence from the street, one experiences a sequential unveiling of spaces from public to private. This is achieved by way of layered planting, diaphanous fencing and lighting. The floor to ceiling glazing in the dining room engages the front of the house with the interior’s most active spaces. sustainable elements of the shoup residence all drought tolerant planting, many natives zoned + satellite controlled Toro drip irrigation system salvaged and re-used parts of the old fence vegetable planters made from salvaged IPE concrete driveway and path replaced with permeable surface (gravel) which allows water to percolate into the soil waterwise gardening For more ideas on selecting and installing drought-tolerant plants, here is some advice from Piedmont garden designer Anne Weinberger:  I enjoy creating low-water gardens with a harmonious combination of California natives and plants from regions around the world that share our Mediterranean climate. Some of my favorites are Australian Grevilleas with their spiderlike blooms and airy foliage, South Africa’s winter-blooming Leucadendrons and Mexico’s multitude of Agaves. Among my California native favorites are the blue-green Mendocino Reed Grass (Calamagrostis foliosa), our enormous range of Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) and the irresistible Pacific Coast Irises. All of these plants want well-draining soil, so planting on a slope or slightly mounding up individual plants is wise. While getting them established, water the plants deeply, gradually decreasing the frequency, to develop roots that will find water far below the surface. A nice layer of mulch around the plants (avoid their trunks) holds in moisture and keeps down the weeds. local resources Watershed Nursery Bringing back the natives garden tours California Native Plant Society-Bay Area credits Photos of Shoup Residence by Scott Hargis: 1. Front view showing layered planting, entryway, large window of dining room 2. (L) Path to front entry (R) Fence filters sunlight Photos of  plants: (L)Leucadendrons and (R)Agave by Anne Weinberger eichler day Panel of architects+designers at Hudson St. Design Sat, June 14, 10am-4pm 3773 Redwood Highway San Rafael 415.924.8300 Stephen speaks at 3pm   shoup residence featured at dwell.com Click here to see article and slideshow. share this newsletter Share Tweet Forward to Friend buildingLab 999 43rd street oakland, ca 94608 t: 510.420.1133 e: info@buildingLab.com          *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright © 2014 building Lab All rights reserved. update subscription preferences   unsubscribe from this list

Newsletter Archive

how to have a life during home renovation

remodeling 101 part 5 - how to survive a home renovation Hope your new year is off to a great start. In our previous post, we explained the 3 main paths through which design will transition to construction: 1. design-build done in-house by the same firm 2. architect-contractor by negotiated bid 3. architect-contractor by competitive bid Let's say you are convinced that full service design-build is the way to go and you are happy working with the design-builder you selected (we hope that would be us) through the design, permitting, and construction document phases. Then, what you need to focus on is preparing your family and neighbors so as to minimize inconveniences. time for a garage sale? Well, as you might have heard from friends and neighbors, having your house remodeled would likely result in pretty significant disruptions in your daily life. For those of you who are willing and able, moving to a temporary apartment, an airstream parked on your driveway, your villa in Napa, or grandma's, all represent sensible escapes from the dust and chaos. So, in this issue, we try to address homeowners who choose to stay in the house during construction.   1. Have a plan: a good builder will work with you regarding setting up temporary facilities (such as kitchen)  crew work hours, any special considerations sealing the work areas from other quarters containing dust and protecting floors noxious flumes or odors alert mitigating noise if you work at home designating a separate entrance for the crew storage of tools and parking house keys and pets daily and special cleanup plans waste hauling plans to maximize recycling and minimize waste streams portable toilet or bathroom access rearrange rooms for everyday living move the kitchen seal the work areas 2. Rally your whole family perfect time to declutter your home hold a garage sale, donate, recycle rearrange rooms for everyday living cover and/or relocate sensitive and valuable things such as electronics and fine furniture and even plants make sure all family members understand the process; elect one as the chief communicator to the contractor 3. Be extra nice to your neighbors inform your neighbors regarding work schedules apologize for the noise, dust, and general inconveniences figure out parking do's and don'ts alert them when there are periods of more intense activities or noise levels bring them a pie 4. Expect the unexpected allow for contingency in your budget allow for schedule adjustments with change orders be patient with final details: these are the touches that will make your project shine be thorough with the punch list  when it is over, you will only remember the good things... breaking news: see the new shoup residence being featured in a Houzz article a brand new building Lab website is ready for prime time  Thanks to our past clients and collaborators for their great reviews! Thanks to the Houzz community! Facebook Website Email Share Tweet Forward to Friend Copyright © 2014 building Lab, All rights reserved.

2013 holiday greetings

Happy Holidays from the bL Team! 'Go Green' by Oakland artist Reenie Charriere We are grateful to our clients, friends, and colleagues, for a year filled with fun, energy, and creativity. Best Wishes for a peaceful, green, and amazing 2014! Reenie Charriere’s work addresses environmental issues exposing the natural beauty and the synthetic troubles all around us, and actively considers the consequences of human actions. DOMAIN Gallery. 1389 Jefferson St. Oakland CA 94612, opens 10-6pm Mon-Sun, on view through February, 2014. Read more... Copyright © 2014 building Lab, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

remodeling - design/build advantage

Remodeling 101 part 4 - transition from design to construction In our previous post, we explained the 5 phases of the design process: pre design - schematic design - design development - permit documents - construction documents. There are 3 main paths through which design will transition to construction: 1. design-build done in-house by the same firm 2. architect-contractor by negotiated bid 3. architect-contractor by competitive bid If you suspect we prefer #1, you would have been correct. Ok, so we're a little biased, but here's our completely objective take on the pros and cons of each option:  results of a design-build process: clean lines and elegant details 1. design-build The design-build model offers clients the benefits of a fully consolidated and seamless project execution by a team invested in common purpose from the outset. It is a one-stop destination with designers and builders under the same roof. The involvement of the lead carpenter, project manager, and key sub-contractors early in the design sequence informs and refines the design process (see bottom portion of diagram below). It also enables an increasingly accurate cost estimation during design development and pre-construction phases. In short, a good design-builder delivers extraordinary results while working with clients’ budgets by being knowledgeable, creative, and efficient.   2. architect-contractor by negotiated bid Sometimes, clients select a contractor when design has been initiated by their architect. Very often, the architect brought in a trusted general contractor early on in the design process, typically around the end of schematic design. In each of these cases, the contractor can offer invaluable insights regarding technical details, as well as material and labor costs which contribute significantly to the finalization of the design and specifications. This is an approximation of the design-build model which results in a negotiated construction bid.  3. architect-contractor by competitive bid In this traditional relationship, the architect completes the design and then solicits a competitive construction bid. Together with the client, the architect selects a contractor based on the reputation, management style, references, estimated cost, and availability, etc. While it is not impossible to find a contractor with a very high commitment to quality and a low bid, there are also risks that some design and construction details will be lost in translation. It is also entirely human that a contractor would present the low end of a price range when he/she is under competitive pressure. In reality, most discerning clients will want quality products and great craftsmanship. The inevitable change orders may cause costly delays and compromises.   diagram showing increasingly accurate cost estimation So, what are the main takeaways? The modern design-build we practice at building Lab is not a shortcut for projects that "don't require an architect". Within this model, we pride ourselves in our dedication to great design. We are a design driven building firm. If you choose to hire an architect, you will save time (and money) and end up with superior results by having your architect and contractor work together in a negotiated bid. We frequently serve as general contractor for many Bay area architects. You could be comparing apples to oranges in a competitive bid. A truly accurate cost estimate is labor intensive and is most likely not feasible in a free-of-charge bidding process. schematic design design development built The next episode: tips for homeowners to get ready for construction + the construction contract Something to brag about: bL is the first place winner in 4 categories in the annual NARI awards: Entire House 250k-500k Residential Interior under $100k Residential Exterior $100k and over Residential Kitchen over 120k Thanks to the Houzz community! we are now on RoomReveal, a new and exciting design and architecture website. look us up.... Copyright © 2014 building Lab, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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