Katrina – Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Trip

It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since we set out for Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to help with post Katrina reconstruction. We met some great people while we were there that were doing some amazing work. Although we were only there a week we feel that we made an impact on a select number of lives.

On February 11, 2007 Neil & Joel traveled to Mississippi with about a dozen members of the Chicagoland NARI Chapter.  While there we worked with a religious organization, City Team, that responds to natural disasters around the world.  There were about fifty volunteers there that week all living in a tent city on a baseball diamond about four blocks from the Gulf.  We took cold showers, ate great food prepared by local volunteers and learned a lot about people.  How they come together from a tragedy and how they truly care and help each other.

Over the week we split up and worked on three different homes.  We met the homeowners that were still living in their FEMA trailers almost two years later.  The conditions even that far out were still a mess.  It was great to be able to finish three homes the week we were there and see the owners get their lives back.

To remember and reflect we wanted to share some of our photos from that trip.

Residential Elevator Completed In Naperville

We recently completed work on a residential elevator retro-fit in Naperville.  Our clients were very happy to take their first ride in their new elevator.  Health problems have made navigating the stairs a real concern for them.  The new elevator was buy no means a luxury, but a real necessity to staying in their current home.  Having lived in the home since it was built 20 plus years ago, moving was not really a consideration for them.  The elevator gives them the ability to stay in their home for many years to come.

The largest challenge with this project was finding a place to put a six foot square elevator shaft through all three stories of the home.  Luckily there was an existing spiral staircase that we were able to remove and put the elevator shaft in its place.  By adding windows in the shaft walls and in the cab itself we were able to keep the light flowing through the home so that the new structure did not create a dark and foreboding feeling in the family and kitchen areas.

The cab interior makes a real statement and adds a level of class and sophistication to what could have turned out to be no more than a painted box.  Luckily the clients saw the value in upgrading the cab interior and it turned out great!

In addition to the elevator, we also repainted quite a bit of space on the first floor of the home as well as replaced the old outdated oak flooring with some great bamboo flooring.

This was our third project in this home and one that will make a lasting impact.

Blizzard of 2011

The blizzard did it’s best to shut down the Chicago area, and it succeeded for one day. However, we are back up and running today. I was out assessing the damage from the storm. Thankfully I didn’t find any. However, even though the door was closed, we won’t be using this toilet until somebody gets out a shovel!

Thankfully, we had a shovel and broom handy.  This toilet is now 100% functional!

All Crimson remodeling projects have a toilet on site so your bathroom can remain private and not be used by a crew of workers!  Less cleaning and stress for you.

Naperville Elevator Project Wrapping Up

It will only be a couple of days before our clients are enjoying their new elevator.  This has been a relatively short project for us, but it will have a huge impact on the daily lives of our clients!

Our clients struggle with physical ailments that hinder their ability to use the stairs in their home.  This new elevator will give them the freedom they have been lacking in their own home. No longer will they need to plan their day to minimize trips up and down the stairs.  As an added bonus, the new structure for the elevator and the cab itself are quite attractive and doesn’t make the home feel institutional.  Quite the opposite.  The cab is made from raised oak panels and stained to match the nearby cabinetry in the kitchen.

Also as part of the project we installed all new bamboo flooring throughout the kitchen and family room where the elevator is located.  It has made a dramatic difference in this space.  And it will make a dramatic difference in their lives.

Naperville Family Room Renovation

Old fireplace surround refurbished into new contemporary design!

The old fireplace was straight out of 1980 and no longer fit in with the rest of  the client’s updated home.

It was a big ugly stone box that had to go. The new fireplace is much smaller in mass but still is able to be the centerpiece of the room. 

 The mantle top is made of a solid cherry board and the tile is a green/grey limestone.

In addition to the new mantle the fireplace and chimney was also rebuilt.

The interior of the firebox and the exterior brick work were suffering from years of water damage. The oak flooring is also new and matches the existing hardwood in the kitchen.

Progress On Downers Grove Second Story Addition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo shows the part of the addition which includes the new family room.

Electricians and HVAC contractors are currently working on the addition,

 and drywall will start to be put up in about two weeks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here’s a side shot of the progress on the new living room.

New Second story Addition in Downers Grove

Work on a second story addition began in Downers Grove this month. All told, 1,100 square feet will be added in new additions to the house. This shows the original look of the house before the start of the remodel.

 

 

Included in the addition are 3 new bedrooms,1 new bathroom along with a family room. As well as the laundry room will be moved from the basement up to the new addition.

 

 

 

 

 
You can see in the photo to the left a new wall is being added for one of the bedrooms that will later be built. Shown in the picture below is how the house looked on Thursday afternoon.

 

 

 

New House Old House Home Show At Pheasant Run

For the first time Crimson will have a booth at the Old House New House Home Show.  This year’s event is September 25th and 26th at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.  The show will feature over 300 businesses in the remodeling and building industry.

Stop by and visit us.  We will be in booth 907.  Be sure to bring your remodeling questions!

Crimson Selected As One Of The Top 500 Remodelers In The Country

Crimson was recently selected as one of the Top 500 Remodelers in the country as selected by Qualified Remodeler Magazine.

It’s always an honor to be selected for this list.  The annual list is published each year and recognizes firms on six criteria;  sales volume, years in business, association membership, certifications, awards and community service.

Crimson was selected as number 493 on the list which is still quite an achievement for a company of our size.  The number is not as important to us as is the recognition of our industry peers.  We continue to offer great service to our clients and it’s nice to be acknowledged for our efforts!

Neil Judges Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards

Neil recently spent two days in downtown Chicago where he was one of five judges from around the US to judge the 2010 Master Design Awards from Qualified Remodeler magazine. While helicopters and movie cameras whirled outside the hotel filming the new Transformers 3 movie the panel slaved over 300+ entries in 22 categories.

It is quite an honor to be selected as a judge for this competition.  Neil took the job very seriously and did his best to give each entry the respect it deserved.  Projects entered in the competition ranged from construction details such as a floating stairway to a $28 million whole house renovation of a 40,000 square foot home!  Some of the highlights included a 75 foot curved pergola to a complete restoration of a Greene and Greene home in California.

It wasn’t easy, but in the end they had to pick one project as best in show.  The results will be revealed in the October issue of Qualified Remodeler.

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