This place is an 11,000 square foot showroom featuring both commercial and residential setups and displays all the best of Lutron’s lighting control and shade displays. According to their site, all of the displays in this Experience Center are energy saving while enhancing the comfort and beauty of each setting.

I wasn’t able to test the energy usage but I can definitely attest to the beauty part of that
statement. It was a stunning display and I am looking forward to going back again soon!

The best news about this? YOU can go see it too! The showroom is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm by appointment only. If this is something you would like to check out, please send me an email at rhonda@burginconstructioninc.com or call me at 714-558-1094 and I’ll be happy to help you get an appointment!

We always say that nothing shows us how a customer feels about our work more than what they say about us to others. We are so very honored that the Prober family wasn’t happy with simply telling their friends and neighbors about us – They wanted to SHOW them what we can do.

With that in mind, they chose to open their home to showcase their remodel which was recently completed by Burgin Construction and our phenomenal Trade Partners. As you can see from the pictures, we had a wonderful time getting to know the kind guests who came, mingling with our partners and enjoying the delicious food!

Thank you Walt and Jeri for your kind words and support, your gracious hosting of this event and most of all, for choosing us. We are so happy that you are a part of the Burgin Family!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we decided we’d do a breakdown of the Love/Hate trends in home ownership. Enjoy!

Top 5 Things People LOVE and HATE About Their Home:

1. Kitchen - It’s the heart of the home and where everyone tends to gather so, it’s no surprise that this came in at #1. Even if it needs some work, we all love the Kitchen.

2. Location, Location, Location - It’s not just a cute saying, it’s really true. Where a house is located can make or break the homeowner/house relationship. A great neighborhood, close to schools, parks, shopping, etc. makes all the difference in the world.

3. Size DOES Matter - Now, that doesn’t mean that bigger is always better. Finding the right size house can be a big factor in whether it’s just a house, or it becomes a home. Too small and there’s no room to grow, too big and there’s too much to clean! Much like Goldilocks, homeowners want their home to be “just right”.

4. Layout/Floor plan - In the 60′s and 70′s we all wanted more walls. Everyone wanted their own space and a break from one another. Today, that’s all changed. Open floor plans are the hot trend (and have been for some time now). A flowing layout from the entry through the living room, dining room, kitchen and family area is ideal for knowing what’s happening throughout the home and keeping up with loved ones and their busy schedules!

5. Master Bedroom - What? You didn’t think Valentine’s Day would go by without this one being on the list, did you? Everyone wants a sanctuary to call their own – a place where they can relax and forget the long day they had. From the size of the room, to the bathroom layout and closet space, there are many factors that make you either love or hate your bedroom. In our experience, lots of open space, a relaxing sitting area, a spa style bathroom and large walk-in closets are the key to true love when it comes to the Master Bedroom.

So, tell me. What do you love about your home? What would you change if you could? I can’t wait to hear!

Once again we have been nominated in the Best Construction Blog competition. This contest is in its third year and is hosted by Construction Marketing Ideas. There are 30 blogs in the competition, including yours truly, and voting is open until March 30th. You are requested to provide your email address in an effort to keep the contest honest and your information is completely safe. They do not share or sell your information nor do they spam you with emails you don’t want.

So, with all of that in mind, I would like to ask you a huge favor. Would you please be so kind as to cast your vote for Burgin Construction in the 2012 Best Construction Blog? THANK YOU in advance for your support!

Now, while there are always new cool gadgets and an ever evolving list of tech inspired appliances, we have to ask ourselves what really makes a home smart. Is it just about the latest and greatest in electronics and touchscreens or, is it more than that? Here’s the Burgin Construction list of 5 things that can truly make a home SMART:

1. Smart Appliances - We aren’t talking about the kind that tell you when you’re out of milk or have a touchscreen display. We are talking about energy efficient appliances which use less power and water. This in turn lowers your carbon footprint in the world and saves you money.
2. Heated Floors - Once considered a luxury, heated floors are a very common item in homes today. They can lower heat costs and keep your feet nice and toasty on cold days.
3. Warming and Cooling Drawers - No rocket science here, just a couple of easy ways to keep foods either cool or warm. Since we don’t all have gourmet kitchens with 3 ovens, 2 ranges, and a hibachi grill, we need a quick and easy way to keep the food warm when entertaining. These do the trick and make you look like a Food Network star!
4. Efficient Space - Smart, functional design is important in any room, but especially so in the kitchen. While it isn’t going to have an impact on the world at large, it will most definitely impact you on a daily basis. A well placed island and thought-out layout will save you time and get you out of the kitchen and back to your family quickly.
5. Lighting - Often the most underrated part of any home, lighting is more important than you realize. From energy consumption and electrical costs to their impact on your health, lighting fixtures and the bulbs you use can be one of the most intelligent items in your home. The right lighting is said to set the mood, encourage movement, improve cognitive thinking, and even promote happiness.

What makes your home smart? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Once again, we have been nominated (for the third year in a row) and are honored to be a part of this great contest. Even more exciting, Mark Buckshon (founder of Construction Marketing and Ideas) wrote a wonderful feature article about Burgin Construction and our use of Social Media as well as our blog.

As you know, I love handling the Social Media for our company and being able to communicate easily with all of you. This type of recognition lets me know I am doing it right and encourages me to continue. So, thank you for all of your support and for commenting, posting, Tweeting, etc. with me!

You can see the featured article about us by Clicking Here:

And, don’t worry. We will let you know when voting for the competition is open to the public!

All too often we think of a house as just a building, a place to go at the end of the day. But, when you really think about it, a house is much more than just mortar and bricks. It is, as the definition states, where our domestic affections are centered.

As humans, we are very unique in that we place a strong sense of emotion into our home. It is much more than just a shelter. Because it is the place where we spend quality time with our friends, family, pets and the things that mean the most to us, it holds a very special place in our hearts.

We invest a lot of time and money into our homes in an effort to make it the ideal place to live. From luxurious Bathrooms to professional grade Kitchens packed with the best in high-end technology, we want the biggest and best. Even more than that, we want to make sure that our home reflects our personality and is, in a sense, an extension of our family.

Here in the Burgin household we love family time so the Family Room is the center of our home. We recently added new furniture and, whether it is watching television, playing games or just talking, you can usually find us all gathered there.

For many of course, the Kitchen is the heart of the home. It never fails, when we are working on a Kitchen remodel it either starts out as or becomes a very emotional situation. We’ve seen it all from tears to laughter and everything in between during projects. The one constant is that it always ends with a smile and a hug of thanks as, through our work and love of what we do, we become a member of that family.

So, this week we want to thank all of our customers and clients who have invited us into your house over the past 23 years. We are so grateful that you entrusted us with one of your most important things…your home.

We’d also like to know, what is it that makes your house a home? Is it the people, the decor, a specific room? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Now, normally I’m the blogger, tweeter and poster, but this time Brad decided to take the reins. I reluctantly gave in and let him have the keyboard so, sit back and enjoy Brad’s list of his favorite new Home Improvement products of 2011!

1. Kwikset Smart Security Locksets - provides the flexibility to re-key your locks quickly and easily without even removing them from the door!
2. Delta Touch₂O Faucet - Hands-Free Technology. Your entire Touch₂O_.xt Technology faucet acts as a sensor so the water starts flowing instantly and effortlessly. It senses your presence within 4″ and automatically shuts off within seconds once you remove your hands. It not only helps conserve water, it’s perfect for repetitive tasks like washing your hands.
3. Accident Proof Shower - Jason International’s TZ3260 shower base ($1,820; jasoninternational.com) has no lip on which to trip, and a linear stainless-steel drain to avert overflows.
4. Panasonic WhisperSense Ventilation Fan - Features Exclusive Dual Sensor Technology that reacts to both motion and humidity, automatically turning the fan on when needed and off when not. No effort is required…. the fan does all the work for you.
5. Energy Efficient Lighting Choices - Beginning in 2012 big changes will start happening in the world of light bulbs. The good news is, there were many new options introduced over the last few years and improved in the past year that can get the job done just fine. From halogens and hybrids to CFL and LED’s – there’s a wide range of choices and all will reduce energy useage and your carbon footprint.
   
6. Kerdi-Board from Schluter - Kerdi-Board is both the framing and backer board for a tub surround or shower. Made from foam and reinforced on both sides, it’s the perfect foundation for tile.
7. The Lazy-Shoe-Zen by Rev-a-Shelf - This storage solution gets your shoes off the floor, out of the dust bunnies, and up to a browsable level. Various sizes hold from 12 to 25 pair of shoes.
8. Prestige Condensing Tankless Water Heater by Rheem - Rheem Prestige Tankless models use condensing technology that allows them to be the most efficient whole home tankless water heating solution available from Rheem. Why keep 40-50 gallons of water hot when you don’t need it? It’s expensive to continue to heat and re-heat water when you’re not home or not using it. Rheem’s Prestige tankless design offers convenience and low cost operation.
9. AirRenew Drywall by CertainTeed – AirRenew® Gypsum Board is for use in interior walls and ceilings and is specially designed to offer a healthier living and working environment by improving indoor air quality and offering peace of mind for generations. AirRenew takes VOCs out of the air and converts them into safe inert compounds. Once they are captured in the board, they cannot be released back into the air. M2Tech® technology also improves indoor air quality by providing enhanced moisture and mold resistance.
10. Benjamin Moore Studio Finishes Chalkboard Paint – Create a fun, functional chalkboard in any room of your home with blackboard paint that is erasable, washable, and durable enough to stand up to lots of little hands. The ideas are endless. Paint the inside or outside of your kitchen cabinets. Turn your office wall into a giant notepad. Greet your friends with an entry way full of personalized notes. Give the kids extra drawing room by painting the playroom tabletop.

As we move into a new year we want to thank everyone who has had a hand in our success during 2011 and that includes you! Your support has helped us tremendously and we can’t wait to see what is in store for the next year.

We wish you and yours all the best and look forward to working with you in 2012!

Have a Safe and Happy New Year – Cheers!

]]> http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/wishing-you-a-very-happy-new-year/feed/ 5 http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/from-our-family-to-yours/ http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/from-our-family-to-yours/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:07:36 +0000 Rhonda http://burginconstructioninc.com/blog/?p=378 This time of year is a time for reflection and gratitude for each and every person who has played a role in our lives over the past 12 months, no matter how small. Fortunately for us, there are entirely too many of you for us to do so in person. So, though it may seem impersonal, please accept this as a thank you for each and every one of you.

We could not accomplish all that we do without our wonderful Trade Partners and Vendors. We would never be able to provide the service and excellent quality work that we do without our amazing staff. And, we would have nothing to show for all of our hard work without our fantastic customers and their trust in us.

Thank you all for your part in making Burgin Construction a successful company. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday and we look forward to working with you in the new year!