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  • Not crying about the market
    By Rob Heselbarth - Monday January 26, 2009
    From Rob H - I was at the International Builders Show last week, and feel good about what I saw. I visited almost 30 manufacturer booths in just over two days, and it was clear that manufacturers are not sitting back waiting for things to get better. They're not crying about the state of the housing industry, they're working hard to provide builders, architects and ultimately homeowners with innovative products for their homes. Each manufacturer I saw continues to launch new products and go after new markets. When the market finally turns around, builders and architects will have plenty of great new products available to help you differentiate and thrive. Latch on to their energy and aggressiveness and apply it to your business today...

  • Industry Awards
    - Friday January 9, 2009
    Yesterday, the American Institute of Architects announced the winners of its 2009 Honor Awards. As noted in the press release about the winners, projects range from commercial, religious buildings to residential settings. It's an impressive list of winners from all over the world. These winners will be honored at the AIA Convention which is held in San Francisco this year - April 30 through May 2. Award programs such as the esteemed AIA Honor Awards are wonderful for the trade community. They not only recognize the innovative and talented people in the industry but they also allow these people to inspire their peers. And winning awards not only gives you industry recognition but they also allow you to market something extra to your...

  • Green building
    - Friday December 12, 2008
    RD&B magazine sent a survey to readers in November 2008 to get insight into the industry. The results were interesting - some surprising and some expected. One statistic that wasn't necessarily surprising was that 72% of respondents said their green practices will increase in 2009. And with that, only 1.5% of respondents said they don't use green practices at all. Codes and laws regulating green/energy-efficiency seem to becoming the standard. EPA now has its WaterSense program to regulate water-saving products; LEED helps builders certify their projects as green; and more associations are providing resources on green topics. But at some point does green building simply mean good building? I met an architect on my flight home from...

  • CBIA calls builders to act
    - Thursday December 4, 2008
    I received a release this morning from the California Building Industry Association calling for members to voice their concern of a new proposed law by the California Resources Air Board. This new law would put a new cap on emission gasses which the CBIA says would put a greater burden on the housing industry. The CBIA expresses urgency and emotion in the release.  California does have a reputation of having strict building/housing codes. But does this new law go too far? Will it really affect the housing market as harshly as the release implies? For California builders, what is your opinion of this new change happening in your state? Check out the release here. The release also includes a link to a page for voicing your...

  • AIA releases survey on compensation
    - Tuesday December 2, 2008
    The Dow was down again yesterday which seems to be a weekly occurrence. But despite the issues on Wall Street, the American Institute of Architects released its compensation survey at the beginning of November with promising results. According to the release, "... a nearly six percent annual increase in average compensation for architecture positions between 2005 and 2008, the strongest period of growth since AIA began collecting compensation information in 1990." This sounds like positive news! Especially with all the negative news we hear about the housing market. Click here to view the complete report. So, are the survey results realistic with what residential architects and designers are experiencing in the custom home...

  • NAHB release on bank bailouts
    - Tuesday November 25, 2008
    NAHB released a report today about the purchase of FDIC banks negatively affecting the housing market. At one point in the release, it touches on the homebuilders in Texas who have been mostly insulated from the slowdown. Click here to read the release. Are the recent bailout actions impacting your construction loans, and/or business?

  • Online marketing
    - Monday November 24, 2008
    When times are tough, there's a saying that companies should focus on marketing even more so than before. This is sometimes easier said than done. When companies have to weigh where to lot their valuable dollars, in most cases marketing is left off the table. But, with the new internet age, there are many marketing tools that are free. Taking advantage of these online marketing tools might be just what companies need to get through the next few months. What online tools, if any, are you using?

  • Trends Unveiled at Preview Luncheon for 2009 IMM Cologne
    - Tuesday October 21, 2008
    During a recent preview luncheon at Fiamma here in the Big Apple, Koelnmesse GmbH – organizer of imm cologne held annually at the Cologne Exhibition Center in Germany – recently offered a preview of the international design trends that will be emphasized and seen at the upcoming international furnishings trade show, which is set for Jan. 19-25, 2009. The German company unveiled these interior design trends – which were broken into four categories called Extra Much, Near and Far, Tepee Culture and Re-Run Time – predicted by the show's Trendboard for 2009 and beyond following a two-day meeting of its five members this summer in Barcelona, Spain.This year the board – which gathers annually and whose members...

  • The Path to Embracing Environmental Design
    - Tuesday April 29, 2008
    Today, the widespread observance of Earth Day – and Arbor Day – now more than ever signals to one and all that not only is environmentalism something that could reduce the human impact on the earth, but that it’s also something that’s become increasingly political and corporate (see related story), with Google going green for the day on its search page and offering a list of Earth Day-related sites just a click away, for instance, President George W. Bush planting a tree in New Orleans on Tuesday to mark Earth Day and all three presidential candidates issuing statements calling for better environmental standards. The Bush administration also offered a plan to boost fuel economy for cars and trucks to cut U.S...

  • Two Show Homes Go Green, and Luxe
    - Tuesday April 29, 2008
    With Earth Day Tuesday, and Arbor Day Friday, it was appropriate to post the audio files describing the kitchen and master bath of The (25th Annual) New American Home because it was the first show home to be certified by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) new Green Building Program, launched on Green Day during the 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, FL.The New Southern Home, which was also on display during the IBS, was built with plenty of eco-friendly building and design techniques and products, as well, so it’s also appropriate to post the audio files describing the kitchen and laundry room.Both homes featured Timberlake Cabinetry, which has also received certification by the Kitchen...