How It Works

“People think that it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make this look good!’. That’s not what we think design is.  It’s not just what it looks like and feels like.   Design is how it works.”

- Steve Jobs

Although volumes have been written in the pursuit of defining “good design”, the above quote, taken from page 10 of the book Design Is How It Works by Jay Greene, may be the best summary of that elusive definition that I’ve found.  Makes sense – considering the source.

However, if you think about it, this quote can be reduced to that age old adage, “Form vs. Function”. That is really what he’s saying isn’t it?  Form without Function doesn’t make good design.  It may look great, but if it doesn’t work, what use is it?

Although I never thought of it in exactly those terms, that really is at the heart of the design/build philosophy of project delivery.  Unless the architect and his team of professionals seamlessly collaborate with the builder and his team of professionals, the “how it works” part remains illusive.  Frankly, the Jurassic method of employing the architect to oversee the builder is woefully inadequate.  You would think that with modern technology that method of project delivery would be as efficient as ever.  Not so.  Technology has quickly advanced construction materials and methods at a pace and breadth beyond what the architect and builder can master together, much less separately.  Add the rapid adoption rate of BIM (Building Information Modeling) to the equation, and it becomes even more apparent the need – or better yet, requirement – for better, more efficient team collaboration.

Accepting the requirement for collaborative design/build, there is no way to execute this philosophy better than within the walls of the true design/build firm.  Separately, the architect and builder will always rest on their primal need for self preservation.  In other words, at the end of the day, the architect ultimately only cares about his reputation and his business, and the same goes for the builder.  Within the true design/build firm, this basic conflict is removed as neither discipline is more important than the other, and the client is the ultimate winner.  Finally, when the designer and builder are united in matrimony, they can give birth to their twins “Form” and “Function” and ultimately, the project (home) not only looks great, but IT WORKS great also.  Ahhhh – triumph!

Autodesk® Revit® Architecture

We have a new secret weapon here at Jenkins Custom Homes: Autodesk® Revit® Architecture.  According to the website: “Autodesk® Revit® Architecture building information modeling (BIM) software helps architects and designers gain a competitive advantage with tools that enable you to design freely, keep information better coordinated, and deliver more efficiently.”

For our residential designers, this means that “From conception to construction documentation, [they can] design projects within an intuitive environment.”  For our clients, it means it is now possible to see – and experience (through virtual reality) – their developing home before the design is even completed!  According to Jenkins Vice-President, Bethany Jenkins, “It’s pretty amazing…The design of a home can now happen faster and clients can get real time feedback.”

Beyond 3D modeling, with Autodesk® Revit® Architecture, our residential designers can produce “photo-realistic” drawings like the one seen here.  This is especially helpful for our clients who are not local.  We can email screen shots and drawings of their home as the design develops.

Except for the picture above, all of these are drawings of homes that are currently in the design phase or are already under construction here at Jenkins Custom Homes.

J.D. Power Ranks Wolf #1!

As one of their preferred trade partners, we at Jenkins Custom Homes want to congratulate Wolf Appliance for taking top honors in the J.D. Power and Associates rankings for Range/Cooktop/Oven!

The press release states that “The Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Study measures customer satisfaction in three product categories: dishwashers; refrigerators; and cooktops/ranges/ovens.  Customer satisfaction is measured based on performance in six factors: performance and reliability (including how well the appliance functions, noise level and energy efficiency); features (such as the number of settings available and appliance capacity); ease of use; styling and feel; price; and warranty…Among manufacturers of cooktops, ranges, and ovens, Wolf ranks highest with a score of 812, and performs particularly well in five of six factors: ease of use; performance and reliability; styling and feel; features; and warranty.”  Congratulations, Wolf!

Our Favorite Dishwasher: The Miele

Dishwashers are one of those appliances in our kitchens that we tend to ignore – until they stop working.  Recently, I had to shop for a new dishwasher and thought it might be useful to share a little about why I chose the Miele Optima II over the competition.

While there are many good dishwashers available, I liked the Miele because of its built-in water softener.  It is a well-known fact that water that has been softened cleans dishes better and leaves fewer spots and residue.  So Miele added a device to their dishwashers that “measures the hardness of the water intake at every stage of the program and manipulates it, when necessary, with a salt additive that makes the water optimal for dishwashing.”   How’s that for intuitive?

The second reason I chose the Miele was because it came with a quietness guarantee.  Again, quoting the website: “Remember, with Miele, your total satisfaction is our top priority. If you are not completely satisfied that the dishwasher is quieter and cleans better than your previous unit, Miele will refund the full purchase price of the product.”  No questions asked.

Finally, the Miele has a top rack just for silverware – and it holds A LOT of silverware!  Since we use a lot of paper plates in the summer time, we can end up with a dishwasher full of just dirty silverware, making this feature particularly nice for our family.

Of course, we realize there are many dishwashers to choose from – this just happens to be the one that works best for us so  we wanted to share it with you!

For more information on Miele dishwashers, click here: http://www.mieleusa.com/usa/dishwashers/product.asp?cat=2&model=503&series=120&nav=20&snav=70&tnav=73&oT=125

The Benefits Of In-House Design

In the custom home industry, there are basically two delivery methods: design/build and traditional bid and build.  Among design/build firms there are two delivery methods as well. There is in-house design and outsourced design. With in-house design, the architect or residential designer is on staff.  With outsourced design, the architect or residential designer works for him or herself, or for a separate firm.  In Austin, most builders outsource the design.  Shan Jenkins, of Jenkins Custom Homes, has done it both ways, and he strongly advocates the in-house design approach for a variety of reasons.  Some of his reasons, like the cost savings and time savings, are very practical.  Others, like the way the client has more control over the creative process, are less obvious to the casual observer.  Either way you cut it, however, it makes building a new home a better experience for everyone.

The practical reasons for having a residential designer in-house are the time savings and cost savings it allows the client.  In the case of Jenkins, because the designers work in the same office as the supervisors and cost estimator (not to mention the rest of the staff), they have almost instant access to the resources they need to provide cost feedback to the client on design details.  For instance, “I like that wrought iron detail but not at that cost.  Is there a way to achieve the same look with less expense?”   This means that work proceeds at a much faster pace, especially throughout the design phase.  Also, having an in-house designer is one of the reasons Jenkins can guarantee that the cost is within 5% of the initial budget.

However, a less obvious reason Shan Jenkins believes in this approach is that having the design team in-house means that the client has more control over the creative process.  When a builder outsources their design work, the client must explain his or her wishes to the builder, who then submits the change to the designer.  Quite often, what the client had envisioned and what the designer returns are two very different things.  So the client must again attempt to explain what he or she wanted, and the builder must again submit it to the designer.  After a few weeks of that type of back and forth, many clients will simply settle for what they have been given, just so they can move forward with the process of building their new home.  With Jenkins, the client is continually interfacing with the designer, which means the design evolves in real time, with the client present to give his or her input, the designer sketching each detail as the client speaks. Want to add a half bath by the door to the pool?  No problem.  The designer can sketch it in right there during the meeting on trace paper and, if it isn’t the way you envisioned it, you can correct it right there on the spot.  Shortly thereafter, the team will provide you with cost data on that additional bath.  Before any changes are made to the plan, you can decide if it’s worth the extra money.  It’s a win-win for both the client and the builder.  The synergy that is created from having everyone working together as a team to accomplish the desires of the client means a superior home and a superior home building experience.

Wine Room Considerations

Bethany Jenkins, Vice-President of Jenkins Custom Homes, in her article on wine rooms writes, “Whether you are a wine enthusiast or a novice, a custom-built wine room is the hot trend in custom home design, especially where luxury reigns. A good wine cellar creates an opportunity for great wine for a lifetime. It can also add value for purposes of resale of the home…All fine wine collections require the same basic care: climate, humidity, and light control systems to protect and preserve delicate vintages. Vapor-tight doors and easy access are also top priorities. Proper storage makes financial sense and allows wines to be purchased when they are released, at the time they are most available and lower in price.”

So when planning your wine room, keep these three elements in mind: light, humidity and temperature of the room.

Light

This one is simple: “UV light can break down the protiens [sic] in the wine.  It’s best to store wine in the dark” (source: newcellars.com).  The bottom line is to keep your wine out of direct light.  A flush-mounted fixture with a frosted cover can easily achieve this, but other options include rope lighting that is hidden up in the molding or even a smaller chandelier with low wattage bulbs.

Humidity

Storing wines in a highly humid environment is important because it keeps the cork from shrinking and allowing for the degradation of the wine.  However, high humidity also increases the possibility of water vapor damage.  According to AskTheBuilder.com’s Tim Carter, “The wine rooms love relative humidity levels of 55 – 75% relative humidity. That is frighteningly high humidity. If that water vapor escapes from the wine room somehow, it can condense on cooler surfaces in a heartbeat.”

Humidity needs to be high in the room, but also contained in the space.  Installing a good vapor barrier is the key.  This is the point at which a good builder becomes critical.  A builder who is both knowledgeable about your climate and the problems that such high humidity can cause to the rest of your house, will prove invaluable.

Temperature

According to Carter, “the temperature of the space is supposed to be 55-58F.”  Jenkins writes that, “The bigger the cellar, the harder it is to control temperature and humidity”.  However, it is a critical component.  The temperature of the room will determine how well your best wines age.  The site, newcellars.com, says that “Wine is constantly growing, never static.  The best wines are aged slowly and stored properly in a cool dark damp area…Extreme fluctuations in temperature can cause premature aging or deposits.”  There are many systems available to help maintain this constant temperature, some of which have an alarm that sounds if the temperature exceeds the range specified.  Which system works best for your space is a decision best made with the help of an experienced builder.

Jenkins writes that “Wine rooms can be designed to fit most budgets and can be built to a variety of sizes and styles. If you are designing a new home or updating an existing one, a wine room can add value and style for the simplest of homes to the very elite. Approximately 75% of the homes built by Texas’ Custom Builder of the Year, Jenkins Custom Homes, contain wine rooms.”

Once you know these basics and have a knowledgeable builder, then all that’s left to decide is how far you are willing to go in your wine room design.