This year, due to other obligations, we were unable to attend the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago. KBIS is the foremost trade show each year for the building and remodeling industries with lots of big product names, new product launches and an all around good time. We truly are sad that we missed it and hope to be able to attend in 2011 so that we can give you our first-hand account of the show and all the new products that will be unveiled.

In years past the biggest complaint about KBIS was the low number of attendees. From what we’ve heard and read, that definitely wasn’t the case this year. According to reports, the people were there this year but some of the biggest names in the industry were not. Some of the most notable MIA’s were Whirlpool, Bosch, Amana, Jacuzzi, Grohe, Viking, Wolf, and LG. It seems that the general public is a bit more optimistic about the economy these days than some of the large manufacturers.

This is a good sign for those planning a home remodel however. It means that many companies are still being careful with their money and therefore trying to keep their prices low for the consumer. So, this is really a perfect time to get those new appliances purchased. Aside from the new Cash for Appliances Rebate you will probably get a great deal. Keep in mind though that KBIS is also an industry test of interest. Many of those no-show companies will be looking at revamping now that they have seen the rebound in interest. In the long run – this means that prices will go up!

One very exciting note from the KBIS show is that Cosentino, parent company of Silestone, announced a new Silestone sink line. Yes, you read that right, sinks made entirely out of Silestone! These sinks have the same antimicrobial, scratch and stain resistant, and durability properties as Silestone countertops and with 39 colors to choose from, you can get one to match or compliment your counter. For more information on availability and installation contact us at 714-558-1094.

Silestone Sink Colors

As I’m sure you know, Earth Day is this Thursday, April 22nd. There is always a wide array of feelings about Earth Day, however this year there is something for everyone to celebrate.

April 22nd also marks the kickoff of The Cash for Appliances program in California! The California Energy Commission has set up a handy website to help consumers find out what items qualify and make it very easy for you to get the form and information you need. I have checked out the websites for a few other states and must say that California’s is well above the rest. It’s a very user-friendly site that provides all of the information you will need.

From my research, I found that the best rebates seem to be for refrigerators. So, if you’ve been thinking about giving your Kitchen a facelift – now is definitely the time! Just click on the picture below to go to the California Cash 4 Appliances website and get started.

Also, April 22nd, is the deadline for the new EPA Lead Based Paint certification  for contractors. If you are having any work done on your home please ask to see the contractor’s certification. You can find more information about certification and requirements by clicking on the image to the right.

If you have any questions about either of these programs please feel free to give us a call at 714-558-1094. We will be happy to help you in any way. Happy Earth Day!

Yay! Spring is finally here! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the  flowers are budding…and my house is a mess!

I’m not sure what it is, but something about the winter months turns my home into a packrat heaven. It’s as if we are unable to throw anything away during this time. Of course, the accumulation of holiday gifts, cards, school papers, outgrown clothing and more are the real issue.

My solution? Garage Sale Time!!! Tomorrow morning I will be happily sitting in the sunshine in my driveway and getting rid of a ton of clutter that I don’t need, while making a bit of money to boot. Even the kids are getting involved and will each have their own “store” of toys that they have chosen to sell. And, whatever is left will go immediately into the van for drop-off at a local charity.

Once that is all out of the way I’ll be able to tackle the rest of the spring cleaning with less dread. We’ll spend the rest of the weekend cleaning out gutters and spouts, touching up some paint, cleaning dead plants and weeds out of the flower beds, changing out the air filter and smoke alarm batteries, and touching up window caulking. Next, we will make a list of larger items that need to be handled by the professionals such as scheduling the annual A/C maintenance, replacing any torn or damaged screens, power-washing the exterior of the house and other small repairs throughout the house.

Here are a few tips courtesy of www.organizedhome.com that can help put some spring into your spring cleaning:

• Schedule a family garage clean-out. Create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment, recreational vehicles, and garden tools. Reward the team with dinner at a pizza parlor.
• Inspect, clean and repair outdoor furniture.
• Tour house exterior and grounds. Make a list of any needed seasonal maintenance.
• Inspect the roof for winter damage: leaks, missing or broken shingles or tiles. Arrange for any needed repairs early; roofing contractors can be hard to find during summer’s construction season.
• Use a sunny Saturday to scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You’ll protect wood against Summer’s heat and moisture–and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
• Clear away any remaining dead foliage and weeds from beds and lawn.
• Changing seasons, changing clothes. Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.
• Hold a garage sale! Declutter house and garage to turn trash into cash. Build your yard sale savvy here.
• Wash windows inside and out.
• Move furniture and vacuum beneath it.
• Arrange for a spring inspection of cooling systems. Don’t wait for the first hot day!

If you find that you have some projects that need a professional’s touch give us a call at 714-558-1094. Happy spring!

With New Classes at Purcell Murray (daytime & evenings now available…)

Showroom Location for Classes: 15400 Graham Street, Suite 102, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Friday, April 16^th 11:00am – 1:00pm $58.00
Linda Steidel - “For Every Season There is a Salad”
The Launch for Linda’s Latest Cookbook (Cost of class includes book)

Menu:
Orzo Salad with Shrimp, Roasted Peppers, Corn & Grilled Portabellas
Soufleed Goat Cheese Tomatoes & Savory Greens with
Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Crusty Pizza Bread with Gorgonzola Caesar Salad
Chocolate Chip Macaroons

Saturday, April 17^th 11:00am – 1:00pm $40.00
Cathy Dyla - “Dine & Learn Featuring All Brands”

Menu:
Herb and Lemon Roasted Salmon on bed of Roasted Potatoes
Sautéed Arugula and Spinach
Carrot Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Icing & Sugared Pistachios

Friday, April 30^th 11:00am – 1:00pm  $48.00
Linda Steidel - “Spring in Tuscany”

Menu:
The sunlight in the Spring casts a soft glow over the hills of Tuscany.
Menus are fresh, innovative and delicious.
Prosciutto & Grilled Asparagus with Whole Grain Mustard
Chicken Pepperonata with Creamy Semolina and Roasted Mushrooms
Zucchini with Lemon-Thyme Crumbs
Warm Chocolate Cakes with Mascarpone Cream

Saturday, May 8^th 11:00am – 1:00pm $40.00
Cathy Dyla -  “Dine & Learn Featuring All Brands”

Menu:
Mothers Day Luncheon
Waldorf Chicken Salad in Butter Lettuce Cups
Smoked Salmon Napoleons
Spring Pea Soup with Scallions
Lemon Blackberry Cake

Thursday, May 20^th 6:00pm – 8:00pm $58.00
Linda Steidel - The “Farmers Market”:  Meet Me at 3^rd & Fairfax
The Fairfax market opened in 1934.  It began as a dirt lot of farmers to sell fresh produce and has become a dining paradise.

Menu:
Salmon Tempura Salad with Kiyoko’s Dressing
Sea Scallops with Blackberry Puree & Shitake Risotto
New York Strip Steak with Cognac-Mushroom Sauce
Lemon Cornmeal Cake with Lemon Glaze & Crushed-Blueberry sauce

Thursday, June 10^th 6:00pm – 8:00pm  $58.00
Linda Steidel – “Fathers Day”

Menu:
It’s Fathers Day!  Gather the Family and salute Dad with his favorite food
Shrimp Chopped Salad with Edamame, Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado,
Corn and Applewood Smoked Bacon
Grilled Skirt Steak with Artichoke-Potato Hash & Black Olive Aioli
Double-Chocolate Bunt Cake with Ice Cream

Saturday, June 12^th 11:00am – 1:00pm  $40.00
Cathy Dyla - “Dine & Learn Featuring All Brands”

Menu:
Seared Pork Chops Roasted with Balsamic Fig Sauce
Potato Cakes with Chives
Braised Lemon Dijon Asparagus, Carrots and Green Beans
Sour Cream Vanilla Pound Cake with Fresh Berry Sauce

Friday, June 18^th 11:00am – 1:00pm $48.00
Linda Steidel - “Cooking with John Besh: New Orleans”

Menu:
John Besh is the best of a new generation of New Orleans Chefs.
He grew up on the bayous and celebrates the food he grew up with.
Chilled Tomato Soup with Tapenade
Pan-Seared White Fish with Corn
Orzo & Crabmeat Macque Choux
Strawberry Flambé over Lemon-Ricotta Filled Crepes.

Classes are subject to change. Reservations with credit card confirmation are required and should be made no later than 72 hours prior to the class. Cancellations must be made 72 hour prior to the class to avoid charges.

For More Information Visit  www.purcellmurray.com or Call (800) 294-0644 EXT.500

Earlier this week we learned that the Burgin Construction Blog has been nominated for the Construction Marketing Marketing Ideas Best Construction Blog Competition! 39 blogs from across the nation were nominated for this competition and voting ends at 5pm on Sunday, February 28th, 2010. This is a huge honor for our company and it shows us that we are providing a service to our readers that they find informative as well as entertaining.

I have to say, I don’t think I’ve been this excited in a very long time! While Burgin Construction is a fantastic organization that has been honored for their outstanding service and workmanship many times over the years, this nomination is more dear to my heart. I truly love working for this company and enjoy reaching out to our friends, colleagues, and clients each week through the blog. And, before I very blatantly begin to beg for your votes in the competition, I want to thank each of you for taking the time to read our blog and providing your feedback. It is really a highlight of my week and I look forward to being able to share this communication with you for many years to come! Now the begging will commence 

To vote for the Burgin Blog as the “Best Construction Blog” please go to: http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com/the-best-construction-marketing-blog-competition/ and check off Burgin Construction, Inc. (we’re the 9th one down), fill out the info, and then submit. The only information you have to provide is your name and email address and if you don’t choose to be contacted by them or be on their mailing list you will not be. They are a highly reputable group and strictly adhere to their privacy policy.

Thank you again for all of your support!

On April 22nd California’s “Cash for Refrigerators” program begins. The State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is funded by $300 million from the federal stimulus package but is governed by each individual state. California has been approved for $35.3 million of these funds.

According to the California Energy Commission Website many of the specifics are yet to be determined, however rebates of $50 – $250 are possible for the replacement of old appliances. All appliances must be Energy Star listed and a list of the specific appliances eligible is expected to be released soon. The new cash4appliances website is expected to be launched on March 1st.

If you’re thinking about a remodel and plan to replace your outdated appliances this is definitely the time to start planning. Once the details of the program are released and the dates for eligibility are set, the funds are expected to go very quickly, just as they did with the Cash for Clunkers program. Planning now for that remodel and purchasing the appliances as soon as the criteria are released is the best way to ensure you receive your rebate. If you have any questions about the program please contact us at 714-558-1094.

Like most everyone else, we are looking back over the past year and thinking about what we are thankful for. And, while we are always thankful for our customers, employees and trade partners, that is more true this year than in any other. The economic issues that country and our state have faced have cost so many a great deal. Thanks to YOU, we are still here after 20 years and we want each of you to know that you are greatly appreciated!

Here are the things that some of the Burgin Construction team members are thankful for this year:

“I am thankful for my family and friends. In a year that has been filled with struggles they have all been there for me more than I could have ever expected.” ~Rhonda

“This year I am most thankful for our employees and trade partners. They have all pulled together to make our company look great and to provide our clients with the very best in service and quality.” ~Brad

“I’m thankful for my wife and our new baby boy. It’s been an eventful year and I’ve learned that family is the most important thing.” ~Eddy

“I am thankful for the many opportunities both personally and professionally that have come my way this year. I am truly blessed to have the network of friends and colleagues that I do, many of them through Burgin Construction.” ~Shannon

“I’m most thankful this year for my friends and family who are always there for me.” ~Tom

Earlier this week I was laid back and relaxed about the Thanksgiving holiday. Just my husband and I and our two girls. A nice, quiet, family Thanksgiving. I had planned out a simple menu with all the necessities and not a lot of effort required on my part. It would be a wonderful day with no hosting duties, nowhere to go and I was in complete control!

Then, my fantasy bubble burst. I ended up extending a last minute invitation to some friends of ours and their two girls. My Thanksgiving has now doubled in size and duties and, honestly, I’m a wreck! There are a hundred extra tasks on my list now for this week and a much larger menu. I have more cleaning and decorating on my to-do list and actually have to make sure everyone looks presentable at the table!

Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy, elated even, that we will have guests for the holiday. I come from a large family and Thanksgiving was always a HUGE event with more than 20 people each year. To me, it really isn’t Thanksgiving if I’m not making a huge meal, playing hostess and spending time with family and close friends. Though it puts more on my plate (literally and figuratively!), I’m very much looking forward to next Thursday.

In the interim though, I must put on the gloves and battle through the preparations and to-do’s in order to make this a perfect holiday for everyone involved. Here are some tips from Kohler and Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS – Susan Serra Associates, Inc. that can help make it easier whether you’re expecting a large or small group at your table:

Crowd Control- The crowd is at once fantastic to have around, and often, truth be told, in the way. Plan your seating strategy in advance.

Teamwork- Assistant chefs are our friends. Plan in advance what you may need help with. Be flexible. You may wish to assign tasks to a certain family member.

Plan Ahead- “Planning ahead and visualizing all of what you need and when you may need it, is a very big step toward stress-free entertaining.”

And just a few tips from me that always seem to help me maintain my sanity during holiday gatherings:

Make Lists- Lists can be your biggest asset when planning a gathering and will help you to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Allow Guests to Bring Items- Split the cooking and purchasing and it will save you time and money. Don’t require guests to bring anything (after all, you invited them!), but if they offer, jump on it!

Let the Kids Pitch In- They may not be able to help with much of the cooking  but they can definitely help in other ways. Ask them to do some of the special chores that we all try to get to when planning a gathering such as: wiping down baseboards, cleaning the fronts of cabinets and dusting. Putting them at the table with some crafts to do for decorations is a perfect way to keep them out from under your feet and get fantastic, cheap decorations for the meal! Have them create a centerpiece, place cards, and other cute items. You can get some great ideas from Disney’s Family Fun website.

Every happy homeowner believes that they have the best of everything. No matter the age, condition or functionality, we all spend much of our time defending our love for our homes. We talk about how the fixtures are great because they’ve been going strong for 25 years and still no leaks! Or, we adamantly argue how the chips in the tile give the house a “personality” and the tiny kitchen that barely fits two is “homey” and brings us closer together. Many of us defend our homes almost as strongly as we would our children – “Remodel? We wouldn’t think of it! It’s perfect just the way it is!”

The Herrons however knew it was time for a facelift. Sure, they loved their home. But, they knew they’d love it more if they could enjoy it more. Have a bit more space to move, update the appliances to add functionality, replace the old and worn windows and doors to add energy efficiency and finally take advantage of that spectacular lake view!

After talking to their designer Joni Owen they met with the construction company she had referred them to – Burgin Construction. They all worked together to create the perfect design and layout and bring the Herrons’ dream home to life. From the beautifully detailed DeWils Cabinetry to the gorgeous Caesarstone counters and everything in between their dream took shape. The new layout and structural changes opened the space up and allowed the rooms to flow perfectly.

Now the Herrons can enjoy their newly updated home and all of it’s amenities. But, most of all they can enjoy not having to justify their love of their home. One walk-through and a look at the breathtaking view and all of their visitors will understand that they really do have the best! Have a look for yourself by clicking the photo below and touring our new Featured Project!

Yes, I know. For all of you who grew up in the 80’s I’ve just managed to get a song stuck in your head that you never thought you’d have to hear again. And, while you may hate me for that, I’ll try to make it up to you with rest of this blog!

Recently, while researching new materials and trends for bathroom showers, I came across the Ebbe Square Shower Drain. Now, while shower drains have never been the most exciting portion of a shower, these really caught my eye. Not just for their looks, though they definitely stand out and add a touch of luxury, it was the lack of screws. You heard me, no screws!

My bathroom cleaning pet peeve has always been taking out the screws on  the drain cover (please oh please don’t let me lose one down the drain) and prying it off in order to clean the cover or clean out the drain. Ebbe drains include a uniquely designed twist and pull “grate puller” which is used to quickly and efficiently remove the grate for easy cleaning or replacement. Brilliant!

That alone was enough to sell me on the product but there are many other features that make these unusual square drains a hit:

• 10 finishes – polished chrome, bright brass, black chrome, brushed nickel, antique pewter, polished copper, oil rubbed bronze, brushed bronze, polished nickel and satin nickel.
• Square shape – It’s easier to cut tile to a square drain than to cut, nip and grind to fit a round one. Simple cuts are easily made, and waste little precious time. Ebbe drains are sized to match standard ½”, 1”, 2”, and 4” tile without cutting. When cutting is needed, cuts are straight saw cuts. No grinding to match a radius. Consider the how much easier mosaics will be to install.
• Grout Locking Perimeter Edges – One of the most distinct features of the ebbe drain body is its heavily undercut Grout Locking Edges. These features insure that the ebbe drain is thoroughly attached to the surrounding mortar and structure.

If you’d like more information on the Ebbe Square Drain or need help in planning your bathroom remodel please give us a call at 714-558-1094.