S.E.A.Construction Inc.

California Home, Garden & Gourmet Show

2011-09-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Announcing:

Did you know that the California Home, Garden & Gourmet Show is in San Mateo this weekend?
We’ll be there, and look at all the things you can do:

1. Want to be one o 10 lucky people to win a $5.00 gift certificate for JJ’s Yogurt (near Piazzas)? Here’s what you do:

Come see us at the show
Tell us you saw this post on our website
Then ask us for your $5.00 gift certificate***

2. While you are there you could enter to win Giveaway Contests from big vendors, like:

A $9,000.00 Ugly Backyard Makeover, or
You can win an iPad, or
Maybe you can win a $6,000 patio or driveway makeover.

3. But even if you didn’t want to try your luck at any of those things, and you can’t stand the taste of frozen yogurt, it can be fun to just:

walk around and get some new ideas, or
Watch funny people, or
Adopt a new best friend (there will be a few adoptable dogs and cats I hear).

Still, if you just came by to say “Hi” we would be thrilled to see you. Bring a friend and tell them why you like us. It’ll give us a chance to tell your friends how much we like you.

FYI:
We will be breaking in Gina, our newest staff member. Let’s play a friendly trick on her.
Why don’t you come by our booth, ask for her by name, and then ask her the toughest question you can think of just to find out see how big her eyes can get…

Don’t worry. She’s really nice, and we’ll be right there to answers your questions or just show you around.

We sincerely hope to see you there this Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

***One certificate per party. Only 10 gift certificates available so be one of the 10.

The Art of Designing Bang Into Your Buck

2011-06-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

By Petalyn Swart-Albert

“Once we [define] our limits, we [can] go beyond them.” Albert Einstein

1. Avoid Decision Fatigue Syndrome. Shorten the process!

No, DFS isn't a clinically recognize condition, but it should be. It's my term for the gnarly wall of tiredness that remodeling homeowners often hit -even those with a very talented designer on team.

Tim Dougherty's Beautiful Babies
(Find Tim at Bennett Glass, Redwood City)

Here are just some of the early symptoms:

1. You wonder which colour chip you’ll hit with a flying dart.

2. You call Fido in to see which floor sample he’ll sit on first after he enters the room. (I tried this once but my dog, whose rear-end never before cared where it sat, suddenly developed an aversion to strange objects on the floor.Who knew?)

3. You find yourself asking everyone their opinion; from the designer friend-of-a-friend who can get you a 99% discount, to the plumber on your job who confesses plainly that he’s colour blind
“uh...but I like blue!”

When people’s opinions begin to confuse you even more, then you need to stop asking for opinions from other people. It should be clear to you that this technique isn’t going to get you where you need to go.

Decision Fatigue Syndrome can occur anywhere between demolition and drywall. I’ve seen it hit people before they made their first decision. Now, I’m not going to tell you that once you do this or that you will never feel DFS again, because you will, absolutely!

But you can manage it. You can avoid going toxic, or becoming emotionally exhausted during your remodel.

Why is DFS a problem? Surly its just a part of doing a home remodel, right?
Right! But while you may remodel just once or twice in your lifetime, the wisdom of serial remodelers like us can help that twice in a lifetime project more buoyant an experience. Life is short and challenges in life are abundant. There are problems we can’t do much about, of course, but the ones we can manage ...why wouldn’t we? It always help to have a nifty way of knowing we’re covering all our bases.

To Cover your all bases -you first have to know what your bases are.
A simple rule worth its weight in gold, is pre-setting a criteria for making decisions [BEFORE]- you make your first decision. Without a defined criterion, you can be assured that each decision will take more effort and energy than it needs to, which will guatantee a hastened journey to Numbs-Ville.

“But WAIT! I want to make sure I love everything I pick...” you say?
Great! You should. You should drool with personal pride. Really! It's you baby and you need to feel tremendous pride. But here's the shift you want to make:
Shift from hair-splitting each and every decision, to splitting hairs over what common-sense means to you and what beauty and quality mean to you. That's the time to get your heart involved. Let it rip when defining your criterion.
This way you agonize (to any intollerable degree) just once. All that's left for you to do after that is to measure those countless decisions against your intelligently calibrated list and you'er onto the next best thing.
You see, once you know exactly what went into crating your criteria and why, then each decision that follows feels far less incumbered because by default, each is based in who you are rather than on someone else’s story, or values.

Start with the basics:
1. Where will quantity apply? (a large floor area? large tile area? large number of sconces? etc)
2. Where will quality apply? (touch-friendly cabinet hardware? Swiss door locks? Italian Windows?)
3. Where will sheer beauty apply? (designer colour? Texture? fine accents?)
4. Which items will require (for you) a combination of two or all three of the above?

Now, here's where the money comes in. This is general guide when budgeting for your basics. Keep in mind that the costs associated with each of the six ‘q’s can increase significantly where quantity, quality and beauty increase:

i) quantity ($)

ii) quantity + beauty ($$)

iii) Quality ($$)

iv) Quality + quantity ($$$$)

v) Quality + beauty($$$$)

vi) Quality + beauty + quantity ($$$$$)

The Criterion: Your Defining Questions
While Value typically equals price, price does not always equate to value. When the value doesn’t live up to the price we feel ripped off. But now and again the price seems not to live up to the value, and then we feel like we’ve won the lotto. It isn’t that you are looking for that miss-priced thing. Look for items you imagine carry a higher price than they actually do.

• Before you looked at the tag, what do you estimate it would fetch?
• What did a similar item cost elsewhere?
• Is your sense of beauty excited?
• What about quality? How does your eye measure quality before you touch it?
• Did you instinctively assign a higher price tag to the item than it actually costs?

Always be prepared to ask why a thing is so low or so high. If it is a great deal higher than you’d have expected then think of it as an opportunity to further refine your educated eye. You are still the only one who can decide if that reason is worth the price tag. On the other hand, if it is remarkably less expensive it is actually pragmatic and sensible to find out why.

The answer will inform you, but more than that you may want to qualify the reason:
Asking the ‘why’ question could save you from making a choice you’d have to live with for years.

• Perhaps the way the item was acquired offends you?
• How do you feel about forced labour or possible slavery methods?
• Does the items acquisition require deforestation or the extinction of a species?

In other words, if you have ethical “Not with my money!” sensibilities, then you should be sure to list them as part of your criteria. Remodeling one’s home is rarely a necessity like just having a home is a necessity. So, remodeling isn’t the time to trade principles for vanity. What’s more important, your value-cantered self esteem or that gorgeous stone you can’t believe you can afford even though it’s extracted without conscience? If you can handle the badgering of your own conscience over the years to come, then go for it. But, if you can’t then your decisions now will only hurt you in the long run. Will the immediate value seep away with the years? How will the cost of replacing the offending materials offset your initial Bang?

Up Next:
The Art of Designing Better Bang into Your Buck
2. Find Your Sweet-Eye: How many senses do you See with?
Subscribe now to follow.

Participate in this conversation.
Click: Petalyn Swart-Albert to email your story or question.

Style And FORM

2011-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone, something you need to know. Style and Form in Los Altos California, has lots of samples in inventory “...which are deeply discounted and can be a nice upgrade without the traditional expense." according to Sherry Scott ASID CID, Style and Form's President.

Here's

We can personally attest to the quality and exciting aesthetics of Sherry's merchandise. Style and Form is like this best kept secret among people like me who love the high design look but want better value.

If you aren't in the market for something spectacular to feast your eyes on, then perhaps your friends might be. At the very least, if you haven’t been to this store before you really should go. I guarantee it will come to mind the next time you’re looking for that perfectly appointed piece that isn’t like anything you see everywhere else.

Style and Form started off in Santana Row and moved just a year ago to its current location. The new space is all on one level now so it’s easier to see everything without climbing those steep stairs. Ask for Sherry or Ben and mention that you read about their sample sale here on the S.E.A. Construction Blog; you might just receive special treatment.

I’m dying for someone we know to install one of their Italian Kitchens modules. They are just beautiful. Click here to see some photos: Valcucine Artematica Glass and Cherry Display Kitchen.

If you don’t need a kitchen but love the look of hand blown Murano chandeliers, or enjoy eye-candy like outrageously colourful throw pillows, you’ll love imagining the many fun and tantalizing things in your home. Tell us if you go. We'd love to hear from you.

Dreams Happen Playhouse

2011-04-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

Fast forward ...et voila!
Almost ready. In another week or so it'll be complete and ready for delivery.

How cool is this, huh?

Geometrical floating stairs with lots of storage
to stash all those science-ie things

A view of the inside; unrestricted to the outside for easy access to the stars, barometers "...and other fancy stuff."

The Minnie House: Outside In

2011-04-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

Photo taken by Steve Rapport

The Minnie House: Outside In We are so proud of this little gem! I'm looking forward to connection with the homeowner and I'm hoping he'll let me interview him.

So What If It's Raining. We Won't Melt.

2011-03-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

Search Amazon.com for science experiments

That's what tarps are for, right?
A lot of tarps were carefully hung over and around the playhouse to protect it from the weather (and what weather it is too) and also to allow the work to progress.

Emilio hard at work within a circle... hum!
...I wonder what that is for???

Well, that's done for now. Still don't know what it is though.
Maybe its a super-duper teleportation chamber...

(...not really.)

Oh, the suspense is keeeelling me!!!!

S.E.A. Construction and Cody Brock Team up with Hayes Group for Dreams Happen 2011

2011-03-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

Well, the 2011 Dreams Happen event is about to happen again and we'll be ready. Two years ago S.E.A. Construction, Inc. and The Hayes Group joined forces to produce the mysterious Spy Lair. It raised $26,000 at the 2009 Dreams Happen Auction; the exciting biennial event that raises money for Rebuilding Together Peninsula.

2009 Spy Lair
Photo by Carrie Gomez

This year, however, Hayes and S.E.A. have teamed up with Charlie Cody of Cody│Brock Commercial Builders. Cody is donating the space for the project’s construction, and is sharing the cost of production with SEA and Hayes. Steve and Rich of SEA agree that it is uplifting and tremendously fun to collaborate with another contractor like Charlie on such a cause.

Hayes has come up with yet another rub-your-little-hands-together-in-glee magical creation. It’s perfect for little scientists on their way to discovering the great inventions of their generation. The Science Lab (as the plan calls it,) is so much more than the name suggests. We can’t wait to see it decked out with all its exciting doodads, thingies, and what-cha-ma-bobs... (that’s code for ‘cool stuff we’re hoping uber science-ie shops and awesome lab-ish businesses will be willing to donate... ehem... hint, hint? Know anywhere like that? )

Here’s what it looked like last weekend.

Construction Business Management: What Every Construction Contractor, Builder & Subcontractor Needs to Know

Here’s what it looked like last weekend. Just wait!

If you’d like to witness the evolution of this amazing playhouse for yourself, just subscribe to this blog. Then you can unsubscribe after the Gala Auction (or whenever) if you like.

I’ll be snapping photos weekly at the Cody│Brock warehouse to show you how the project is taking shape as our SEA team takes it from blueprint to 3D.

Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners

Jose Moreno & Edgar Luna
The Talent of S.E.A. Construction, Inc.

Hey... Pssst! Don’t tell anyone, but I’m thinking we should call it “The Amazing Super- Science Lab”...T.A.S.S.L. (huh?) ...Err, umm well, ...hummm! Oh, what the heck!

Well anyway, hit subscribe to get your updates, or just come on back next week for developments.

Details: Gala and Auction, June 4, 2011

Stanford Shopping Center, Main Courtyard

Beginning at 6:30pm

2010 Top 500 Remodelers List (from 301 to 350)

2011-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

SEA Makes the the Top 500 remodelers, Nationwide for the 18th consecutive year.
It's hard work when your goal is to be the best. But being the best only matters when translates into the caliber of service and value our clients look for.
2010 Top 500 Remodelers List (from 301 to 350)

S.E.A. Wins Three 2011 NKBA Design Awards

2011-01-24T16:20:00.000-08:00

SEA Construction wins 2011 NKBA Awards in Three Categories

1^st Place in the Large Kitchen Category,
1^st Place in the Before and After Category,

the Judge’s Award!

The judging panel was also really impressed with our presentation binder, and asked to hang onto it for a little while to exhibit as an example. Since we missed the Gala Awards dinner, they have invited us to come to the next NKBA Chapter meeting, on February 17^thfrom 6pm-8:30pm at Zephyr in San Francisco, to personally congratulate and present us the awards.

Heavenly Feasting

Portola Valley CA

Great job Team !

Congratulations to

Raphael Gomez, Architectural Designer

Tonya Wilson, Interior Designer

Richard Alfano, Project Manager

Petalyn Swart-Albert, Photographer & Awards Binder

We Highly Recommend:

1. The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player: Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants

2. The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance)

Why You're in It - daily 5 Remodel

2010-12-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

Why You're in It - daily 5 Remodel

Social Media Marketing: Not Much to Lose - daily 5 Remodel

2010-12-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Social Media Marketing: Not Much to Lose-
...professionals with an unmatched level of daily industry news, best practices and peer-to-peer engagement. As one remo..
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/SEA-Construction-Inc/134206629928326)

Can you believe it?

2010-10-11T12:51:00.001-07:00

WE won!

Thank you Daily5Remodel for the awesome iPad -and just for signing up too (although that's not why we signed up). Your online magazine rocks!
We're going to use our new iPad to show clients beautiful photos and videos of our work. Who knows what else we'll think of. Anyone have other ideas? We'd love to hear them...
We're P-R-E-T-T-Y excited.

If you get a chance, check the article in this link: Daily5Remodel
Recommendation: If you're in the business, you need to sign up for Daily5Remodel!
It's current, relevant and energizing for the new breed of professional and the clients who want to know them.

2010-10-06T12:17:00.001-07:00

Half-way through Wednesday... Wednesday's a good day!

2010-10-05T13:36:00.001-07:00

10 Things Your Contractor Wonâ€™t Tell You - CNBC http://ping.fm/ji58Q
Help! What do the excellent contractors with businesses built on trust and client-care have to do to balance this kind of gratuitous press? If you think education is of greater value to everyone than debasing an entire industry, (or not) shoot me a comment either way.

2010-10-01T14:12:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/YP5QS

2010-10-01T13:19:00.001-07:00

test

2010-08-16T16:16:00.001-07:00

launching our new website in 6 days SEAConstruction#kitchenremodel

A Safe and Healthy Home for Every Person

2010-08-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Look for Barbara Pratt... you just can't say "no" to someone like that.

2010-07-31T23:35:00.001-07:00

Palo Alto 2009

2010-07-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

How an Alabama fire chief risked jail to save town from Gulf oil spill - CSMonitor.com

2010-06-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

How an Alabama fire chief risked jail to save town from Gulf oil spill - CSMonitor.com

EPA Lead-Based Paint Safe Work Practices

2010-06-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

2010-06-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

There are many moments throughout the crazyness of the day, when we just need to stop and say what matters. We at SEA hope you enjoy this video. It reminds us of the way we like to feel about our clients... we believe in standing by you. It's important, especially these days when so few believe anymore.
Blessings to each of our clients, those whom we have served, and the ones we serve now. Thank you for trusting us. We will always do what it takes to keep your trust.

The Lead-Safe Guide to Renovate Right

2010-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Lead-Safe Guide

You will learn:

• Basic facts about lead and your health.

• How to choose a contractor, if you are a property owner.

• What tenants, and parents/guardians of a child in a child care facility or school should consider.
• How to prepare for the renovation or repair job.
• What to look for during the job and after the job is done.
• Where to get more information about lead.

This pamphlet is not for:

• “Do-it-yourself” projects. If you plan to do renovation work yourself, this document is a good start, but you will need more information to complete the work safely. Call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEA D (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint.

2010-05-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

“Having just had surgery, I am reminded how important it is to trust your surgeon. The bottom line is, we need to feel safe in their care; never doubting we will always work together for the best outcome. Then it hit me. A good contractor is like a having preferred family surgeon. Sure, I may wish I didn’t need either of them, but when I do, I make sure they’re either dead or retired before I try someone else.”
Petalyn Albert

Spill the Beans...(It's a blast)

2010-03-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

...Tell 'em how you really feel!

The National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) is offering a $500 prize if you win.
The quick skinny is this:
You can win a fair little sum for your 3 minute video about your project and why you enjoyed working with your NARI remodeler (like ... just off the top of my head... oh, let's say S.E.A. Construction).

Hum, how much money is that per minute, (I'm calculating while I write this). That works out to about $166 per minute of video. But, we all know there's a lot more to it than that right? It really comes down to three (much more personal) things:
1. See your project on video and the NARI website
2. Do something really, really nice to your NARI professional
3. And, of course, the fun factor.

Here's the link to get you started Your Project & Cool NARI Professional. This link will take you directly to the NARI web-page with more information and some simple instructions.

Have fun and break a leg, why don't ya!
We sure hope you win. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Hot Topic!

2010-01-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

Go to Style and Form, and do it soon!

If you are looking for furniture, textiles, fixtures, (or even jaw-dropping contemporary kitchen configurations ) that you can only access through she-she designers, you have to go to Style and Form. Don’t worry though… you won’t be faced with she-she price-tags. You will rarely find us talking about furniture but Style and Form is one of those exceptions we must disclose.

Sherry Scott is an award winning ASID interior designer and is the brain behind Style and Form. She and her husband Ben (…a really nice guy too!) have found a clever way to purchase pieces that only the quite affluent can afford without swallowing hard, and bring these pieces to us for our delightful homes. Style and Form is one of those best kept secrets among people who have the taste for this caliber of style, but want it for less than it would sell for through a designer.

You often hear about stores that promise designer product at reasonable prices but Style and Form is in another class altogether. If you have always wanted the opportunity to purchase incredibly unique, highly functional pieces you would normally only find through an ASID guru, Sherry Scott’s Style and Form is where you need to go. Even if you are not ready for ‘Incredible’ right now, you should familiarize yourself with Style and Form for when you are in the market.

If this sounds like a commercial, it is unintentional. There’s always that danger when I’m really excited about something, but I just can’t encourage you enough to visit Style and Form… that’s the only way you’ll be able to see for yourself and why S&F should be first on your list… even for great advice.

Three years ago, I hired Sherry to help me pick paint colours for my home. We had just completed building it and were ready for interior paint. Because of many factors, when we got to this stage I was ready to quit. I felt like if I had to make one more decision I was going to burst or run far, far away. Sherry’s encouragement renewed my confidence in myself (that was the bonus) and her incredible eye created an elegant colour palate for the whole house. She was effortless and easy to work with and I love my colours every time I look at them.

When you see what she has done, and can do with her wealth of knowledge and talent you will feel very lucky indeed to have found her. I suspect Style and Form will become your best-kept secret too.

The Economy: Real or Illusory?

2009-12-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

"...Be hopeful, because job creation is going to be the nation's top priority next year."

Dennis Jacobe, Ph.D.,

The current economic situation would be a lot easier to accept if it wasn't totally baffling. Companies that appeared to be an inch from bankruptcy a year ago now seem to be turning enormous profits. Wall Street is booming. Goldman Sachs is getting ready to pay out record bonuses.

But Main Street businesses are struggling, and many small businesses can't get the credit they need. Consumers aren't spending. Some companies are hiring, while others are cutting jobs, hours, and wages. Still, the U.S. Department of Labor just reported the smallest job loss since the recession began and a drop in the unemployment rate from 10.2% to 10.0%. It's a "through-the-looking-glass" sort of economy -- and when economics starts resembling fiction, there might be something wrong.
Read More: The Economy: Real or Illusory?

Dickens House 2007

2009-10-09T13:17:00.001-07:00

Proceeds go to St. Mathews Episcopal Day School

Hillsborough Oasis
The 'Sun' Room

When we were invited to be the contractor for The Dickens Project 2007 we were absolutely floored by the honor. As a 20 year veteran company of Design/Build, S.E.A. was an astute choice by the Dickens organizers.

Hillborough Living Room by: Emily Taylor of Emily Taylor Interiors

Dickens Projects typically include several designers as well as a contractor with nerves of steel to put it all together. Each designer is given a room of their own to design to their heart's content. Clearly this is not for homeowners with faint hearts. Nor is it a project for most contractors. When all was said and done, everyone involved couldn't have been more proud of themselves ...or of each other.

Dining Room by:

Barbara Van Dillen & Jana Fung of Van Dillen & Fung Interior Design

S.E.A. only hires the best architects and designers for their staff, and in 2007 S.E.A.'s founder Steven Albert and S.E.A.'s head of design, Mark Tetrault, couldn't have been more perfect a pair to guide this project. Steven co-ordinated between S.E.A's excellent team of sub-contractors, all of the contributing designers, and the homeowner. Mark, who received his degree from Harvard's School of Architectural Design, was well equipped to help knit the headier world of high design together with Steve's pragmatic scope of production and scheduling.

Master Bedroom by:

Leslie Lamarre of TRG Architects

Today, our stellar design team has some wonderful new faces, and their work continues to win awards. Because they work under the same roof with our project managers, they experience a rare opportunity in the world of architectural design.

S.E.A. Construction is the perfect place for designers who want to stand apart from other design professionals by their intimate understanding of how to design within a budget, even while allowing our clients room to breath. The real winners are S.E.A.'s clients.

True design/build professionals; those who believe in and practice the Design/Build principles of efficiency, high design, economy, and quality craftsmanship, are very different from companies that simply call themselves design/build. Actual Design/Build takes years to understand and cultivate as a culture that serves its clients at a higher level than the more traditional design-bid-build model.

The 2007 Dickens House was a wonderful opportunity for S.E.A. and an acute reminder of why we believe in and employ Design/Build practices. The simple fact of the matter is, the closer the design and build skill-sets are stitched together, the farther any budget will go.

DREAMS HAPPEN

2009-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Rebuilding Together Peninsula
(Desgined by: The Hayes Group)

We Won!!!
See It installed

Well, lots of people won because of the money raised by this amazing organization.... money used to help families in need fix their homes so that they can live with the same dignity the rest of us take for granted. So, when I say we are excited to be a part of supporting this organization it's definitely and understatement.

However, we can't help basking a bit in the glow of contributor success. We were always proud of Spy Lair and flattered to be asked by The Hayes Group to build it.

The Awesome Hayes Team.

Ready for action in front of their cutting edge playhouse design
See the Hayes team hel p SEA's master carpenters build Spy Lair

But we never guessed it would fetch the most money at this event. There were many beautiful play-houses by other contributors. Many had cool features like the use of sustainable materials, kinetic energy generating gadgets, and awesome 'girlie' stuff.

My personal favourite was 'Home Tweet Home' which made me wish I was a little girl again with wealthy parents who would buy it for me- just 'cause! I could play house and entertain my friends without any of the grown-up responsibility attached to any of it.

But Alas, it wasn't meant to be; then or now. Please, a moment of silence for my loss… thank you kindly.

On the other hand I have to admit, the Spy Lair was really the coolest, appealing to the more intellectual child with a disappearing nickel-coated door, high-tech Plexiglas-covered world map in the spy-room, a secret trap door for a quick get-away and surveillance spaces disguised behind ribbed walls of exotic Ipe planks.

While S.E.A. contributed all the materials, and S.E.A.s close group of subs donated their skills everyone at S.E.A. contributed their own time and labor. We are not only proud of our Play House, but of our entire staff of carpenters, project managers, and sub-contractors.

Next, we plan to contribute a day of working hands-on, as a Company, at the homes of those who benefit from funds raised at 2011’s Dreams Happen event. We can’t wait!

SEAs core team.

SEA's contribution of time, labor and materials ushered Spy Lair into reality.

Left to right: Rich Alfano, Jose Moreno, Edgar Luna, Emilo Garcia, Steve Hirsch