Settling In

Hey.  It's been a crazy couple of weeks but things are starting to settle down a little bit.  We haven't got our stuff from the moving company yet, which means sleeping on air mattresses and wearing a lot of same clothes.  All in all we're doing really well.  Jaden is settling in to his school which he loves and we have gone on 3-4 hikes already (I don't recommend flip-flops, but that's all I have right now).  I have been working in the Harvest Bible Chapel Denver office in Denver, and the attached picture is a view from one of the offices.  I have been doing a lot of designing and estimating over the past 2 weeks.  Things are going great back in Illinois as work is getting done, and more leads keep popping up everyday.  I am very blessed to have a great team there.  We've got a great weekend lined up.  The church launches this weekend and we are very excited to be involved in that.  Have a great weekend everybody.  Talk soon.

JJ

Kitchen Layout Designs

I ran across this article about kitchen design and thought I would pass it along.  It seems to capture most of the standard layouts that today's kitchens are designed around.  The only thing that I would add is try to think about the lighting as well....and by that I mean both natural and artificial light.  I am a big believer that light can have a great deal of affect on the moods of the inhabitants of the space.  In my opinion, the more lighting options, the better.   Great article.....see how your kitchen stacks up.http://freshome.com/2010/10/03/how-to-layout-an-efficient-kitchen-floor-plan/

JJ's Big Experiment (Part II)

Many have been asking when we will be building our next unconventional house.  With those types of questions being posed, it is safe to assume that JJ's Big Experiment has been successful.  I have been very pleasantly surprised at the response we've gotten from our Prairie Style home.  So we are going to do it again.  This time, we're building a ranch, about 2200 sq. ft.  I am going to try to incorperate some of the Prairie Style elements into the design, but this time I would like to push the envelope even further.  We are going to eliminate the formal dining room concept, opting for an open area with a half wall for a more relaxed feel.  We are still making the kitchen the central hub of the home and inviting to guests, as well as creating a spa like feel in the Master Bedroom.  I would like to continue to bring the outside in with textures and colors, but also keep it crisp and clean for a more contemporary look.  I am very excited to see how it turns out and what everyone thinks of it.  We start digging the foundation next week, and by the way, it's for sale!

Pumpkin Fest Wrap Up

Just a quick shout out to everyone who stopped in at the booth over the P-fest.  I really felt like it was received well.  Of course there were a few people who didn't care for the more contemporary stuff we do, but by in large, folks are just glad to see something a little bit different.  It was also great to catch up with old friends and meet new ones along the way.  A special thanks to the Kelso's for all their hard work in the Merchant's Tent, however, they were not able to keep the smell of rotting grass away like I had requested.  All in all, I feel like it was a great investment.....continued branding of our name, meeting new folks, and maybe we will even land a couple jobs.

Branching Out!

It was in 2003 when JJSteffen Design & Build, Inc. was born. At the time, Jeff Steffen, president of JJSteffen Design & Build, Inc., was working as a foreman for another local contractor when he felt led to begin the journey of being self-employed. From the outside, timing could have been better. He was just married in 2001 to his wife Cara, and had their first child in October of 2002, not to mention beginning an extensive remodel of his own home. Over the next seven years, JJSteffen has been blessed with steady growth due heavily to Terry Kern, co-owner, and an amazing staff of carpenters, book-keepers and laborers. The goal of JJSteffen is to provide quality craftsmanship, timely service, and outstanding customer relations.  Now fast forwarding to the present, Jeff and his wife, Cara, have both felt led to start on another exciting journey.  In February of this year, Harvest Bible Chapel, where they attend, announced they would be planting a church in Denver, CO.  After much seeking and prayer,  Jeff and Cara are planning to be a part of the church plant in November.  Obviously, timing could be better with this economy.  However, part of what has kept JJSteffen Design & Build, Inc. afloat during the tough economic times has been the artistic vision and craftsmanship, attention to detail, and being clockwork efficient.  Jeff has been traveling back and forth for the past few weeks now talking to potential clients and consulting with people that are already part of the plant team.  He will continue to be an integral part of the operations in Morton and will be traveling back and forth on a regular basis.  He will also begin to brand JJSteffen in Denver as well as build a clientele base.  Jeff and Cara will also be helping out as much as they can with the church plant.  They are scared, they are nervous, but are both excited to see what God is doing in their lives as well as their family.  JJSteffen Design & Build, Inc. is here to stay in the Peoria area, and we will continue to try to grow our company.  Jeff and Cara would like to thank all of their friends, family, and clients that have been so supportive towards them during this journey.  Please continue to pray for them. If you have friends in the Denver area, tell them about JJSteffen Design & Build, Inc., and let them know there is a great church coming their way.

  

5 tips to a sucessful remodeling project

Remodeling today can be a very exciting and rewarding process.  But more than likely it comes at a price...both financially and emotionally.  With so many unknowns and variables, remodeling can be burdensome, emotionally draining, and just plain infuriating.  Here are some things that we have learned to make the process rewarding and to meet or exceed the expectations of our customers.

1.  Redistribute.  The idea behind remodeling is to redistrubute the space you already have.  Eliminate unnecessary walls and doors, creating the feel of larger spaces without actually adding square footage.

2.  Modernize the space.  This can be as simple as removing wall paper or as elaborate as ripping out the kitchen and starting over. By doing this you can make your home a haven, more desireable to be in as well as more marketable when the time comes to sell.

3.  Plan on things changing.  There might be an old plumbing line in a wall that was just demolished.  Okay, now what?  Well, it's going to be okay, let's get creative and find some solutions.  With any remodeling project, there will always be a few unforeseen issues, but having a proactive approach to dealing with them will minimize the impact they will have on the project as a whole.

4.  Be consistant.  Some people don't love the style of the home they live in.  They would love to change it if they could.  That is fine if you are willing to change the whole thing, but to change a room or two here and there will have a negative impact on the marketability of the house.  As far as basements go, change it.  There is enough seperation that as long as it is not a radical change, it will flow just fine.

5.  Planning....This is by far the most important aspect to your remodeling project.  Take the time to meet with designers and contractors in advance of the project so you know what you are getting into.  I suggest starting a binder full of magazine pages or an electronic folder that you can show your contractor what you envision.  If everyone is on the same page from the beginning, your project will go a lot smoother.