The Sketchbook

Romance in the Workplace

2012-02-14T20:16:20Z

It’s often been said that you should “do what you love”. People spend a lifetime trying to find the job that they are happy doing everyday. In most cases it leads to frustration and the exact opposite of what they’re seeking…unhappiness. After all work is work. It’s often about meeting deadlines, performance, and results. With all of that comes pressure and stress. If pressure and stress make you happy then you are one of the few people that will find happiness almost effortlessly in the workplace. But if you are like most people, pressure and stress are going to lead to unhappiness.

Instead of spending a lifetime trying to figure out how to do what you love, why not decide to “love what you do”. Love is a choice. You are the one that chooses who you will love in life and the thing that you love doing. Circumstances can certainly affect your feelings and attitude but in the end you are the only one that decides how you will respond to the circumstances and what your attitude will be. Once you choose to “love what you do” you will quickly see the effect it has on the people in your life. Employers and coworkers will better respond to you thereby creating a healthier culture in the workplace. Clients will notice and enjoy doing business with you. Even your family and personal life will benefit from your choice to “love what you do.”

In the end the choice is yours, you can either have a dysfunctional relationship with your job, or have a healthy, thriving romance in the workplace.

Jonathan

New Year, New Look, New You

2012-01-18T20:52:40Z

At the close of this past December we were preparing for the New Year by organizing the office. We were cleaning house. After organizing the office we still had a lingering feeling that the job was not well done and not complete. I proposed painting the walls. From this one proposal our office got its very own facelift.

Here is a look at the before:

This bookshelf was the first thing to go once we decided to paint. Deb, one of our designers, pointed out that this bookshelf was

bad fung shui. She explained that something that is placed overhead could subconsciously weigh on you, giving you a feeling of pressure. Jonathan had definitely felt this pressure after nailing his head on it one day.

One of the main things we decided to do was give the office a face-lift. This came in the form of a fresh paint job. The walls were used and abused and it was evident.

We wanted to also give the office a little bit of our own flare. We pride ourselves on being informed on the newest trends and being on the edge so to keep with that we decided to have an accent wall that was a reflection of that. This years new color palette Tangerine Tango inspired our accent wall! Not only was it our inspiration, but after some research into fung shui I found that orange has a lot of yang energy. Yang energy helps to strengthen concentration. It also helps to encourage creativity. And lastly it is the color of organization. Which is what we first started out pursuing when we started cleaning house.

Just like we have a new look for 2012 you can create a new look whether it be in your office or home. You can start out by giving your space a fresh coat of paint. This is a simple and cheaper way to freshen it up. If you feel like doing a more consult your local library or the Internet for some information on Fung Shui. Use this to help you rearrange your furniture.

Valli & Valli Affordable Luxury

2011-12-20T17:47:17Z

Bentwood Luxury Kitchens Introduces STRATA

2011-12-20T17:40:25Z

Bentwood is excited to offer you a beautiful new finishing technique- Strata! This finish technique is a great addition to our already diverse palette of finish effects and styles. Whether the finish is a stain or a paint, Strata’s linear waves can provide a beautiful natural element to a structured contemporary décor.

The Strata technique removes the softer portion of the wood grain to give a varied dimensional effect. Different woods will have their own unique appearance. Currently, the Strata technique is available on Rift Cut White Oak, as well as a new wood selection, European Conifer. The Strata effect enhances the grain of these two woods in dramatically different ways.

The Strata technique underneath a painted finish is especially striking. Lighter colors are accentuated by shadows, and darker colors are accentuated by the gloss of the finish.

As we introduce Strata, we are only offering the technique on select doors with select finishes. If you have questions about Strata or any other woods or finishes, please call Our Office at (757) 453-6644.

Style and quality or convenience? Can I get it all?

2011-12-02T19:46:19Z

As a new edition to the team I have been thrown into the blogging mix.

So for being the newbie to this industry I have been slowly learning the trade. It is evident if you have just walked into our show room that we are not just selling a product but we are selling quality and style. If you have not been to our show room yet, you need to!

I recently got inspired for this post when I was doing some laundry. For me when I go shopping for additions to my wardrobe the main two things that I look for are style and quality.

Conversely, the last thing I ever shop for is convenience. By this I mean the care of the product. There is always that feeling of relief, when I need something cleaned and I see it is machine washable. The convenience of how to care for the product is equally important, but generally is the element that is overlooked. We are making it a priority to not leave this element out at Hudson’s Luxury Building Boutique. This has even lead to a project that I myself have taken on. I have been compiling a database of recommend care instructions from our various vendors. The finished project will be a Care Manual that we can reference and use as a tool to assist our customers well after they have purchased their new items.

So like the task of compiling care instructions I am sure you or maybe someone you know maybe facing the task of prepping their house for the Holidays. It is the season for family and friends to come together. One place that receives the most action is the kitchen.

So how do you clean and take care of your cabinets? We consulted Woodharbor. They are one our vendors who provide cabinets and doors. So if you have Woodharbor cabinets or are considering them in the future I suggest taking note.

You can start this task the old fashion way with some soap and water.

- Use a soft cloth and a solution of water and mild dish soap.

- Follow this with drying with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind:

- Always wipe with the direction of the grain.

- Clean any spills as soon as possible – blot rather than wipe.

- Do not use your dishcloth to clean your cabinetry or doors.

- Do not use harsh cleansers, detergents, commercial cleaners or abrasives.

- Do not use wax or silicone-based polishes.

Now you are ready to take on that task of prepping your kitchen and you can confidently tackle cleaning your cabinets and have them looking pristine for your holiday guests.

Complete 2011 Ad Campaign

2011-11-22T13:59:18Z

Our amazing cabinet ad ran this past spring.

Here is the window ad that ran over the summer.

: Door ad that is currently running. Pick it up in this months issue of Distinction!

Replace or Reface? That is the Question

2011-11-18T18:47:40Z

Pricing is always an issue, but today it seems more critical to the average home owner. The cost of cabinets can be a very pricey item and, therefore, a determining factor in a buyer’s decision. When customers ask for advice about cabinetry encourage them to focus on durability rather than cost. It is folly to save $1,000 today, only to be forced to remodel again in five years. We can often save the homeowner from making mistakes and, in the long run, save him or her thousands of dollars.

To meet a wide range of remodeling budgets, the cabinet industry provides a number of solutions within semi-custom and custom cabinetry. In addition, homeowners may choose to replace doors and drawer heads only. To meet customer budget criteria, he recommends semi-custom cabinets as a smart alternative to custom. Semi-custom cabinets can offer many features found in custom cabinetry designer and true craftsman installer can work as a team with semi-custom cabinets and make them look really good.

Selection is part of design and only the client knows for sure what they like or don’t like. The biggest challenge is that some clients aren’t sure whether they’ll like it until after everything has been installed. A good designer will ask questions, show photos of finished cabinets, and use door samples to find what the clients like and don’t like.

We prefer to design a quality kitchen within a budget in mind. There are many ways to create a personal touch without adding a large expense.

Momentum

2011-11-21T14:37:31Z

Almost everyone has been to a sporting event and watched as a series of events has caused a team that seemed to be on their way to losing the game suddenly turn it all around. Clearly, the team was being defeated and the score was a direct reflection of that, but in a moment’s time it was as though a light bulb turned on, a magic wand was waved, something began to click. The team had gained that wonderful phenomenon known as momentum.

Though momentum is often experienced and talked about in relation to sports, it is certainly not reserved for sports or activities alone. In the business world and your personal life momentum can be the very thing that causes you or your business to be successful, achieve your goals, and exceed your wildest expectations. Momentum by its very definition is about movement and gaining. At times momentum can be elusive and hard to gain and often times very easy to lose once obtained. If you find yourself or your business in a rut chances are it has been a while since you’ve experienced momentum or tried to gain it. What might be even worse is that you never knew momentum was something you should be after.

Keys to gaining and maintaining momentum:

1. Never give up.

I know it might come across as a cliché, but never is it truer than when dealing with momentum. The moment you give up, momentum becomes impossible to achieve. When those sports teams gain momentum and come back to win the game they where losing, it all started with the fact that they hadn’t given up.

2. Get active and do something.

Momentum is about movement. The moment you decide to get up and get moving you increase your likelihood of obtaining momentum by 100%. You cannot gain momentum by sitting still and the more active you become, the probability and frequency of gaining momentum greatly increases.

3. Plan a course of action.

You have to have goals and a plan on how to achieve them. The sports team’s goal is to win the game, and they have spent countless hours practicing and planning how they will achieve victory.

4. Get around people that have momentum.

This one is huge for gaining momentum. Often times it is one player that creates a spark on the team that energizes even the players sitting on the bench. Momentum is contagious and just by being associated with people and other organizations that have momentum can result in your business and you personally gaining it.

5. Don’t become complacent.

Complacency is the number one way to lose momentum and lose it fast. The moment you think you don’t have to keep working hard and going that extra mile, or that what you are doing is good enough, chances are your momentum is already lost or getting ready to go.

6. Be spontaneous.

Just like during a sporting event, one play often times gains momentum. The same can happen for your business or your personal life. Try new things, go to new places, attend new events. You never know what you might hear, see, or whom you may meet that ignites a thought or establishes a relationship that leads to gaining momentum.

7. Stay focused.

Another way to lose momentum quickly is to get distracted. Keep your head in the game and stay focused on your goals and the plan that is in place to accomplish those goals. Often times things will come along that will sideline you and cause you to second-guess yourself and your dreams. Learn to identify those thoughts and dismiss them as quickly as possible. The sooner you get refocused the sooner you can get back to maintaining your momentum or regaining it.

When you understand the power and benefit of having momentum and strive to not only gain it in your business and personal life but to also notice when you lose it, you will have an extremely useful tool in building success. Evaluate if momentum is currently on your side and take the necessary steps to get it, keep it, or take it back.

– Jonathan –

We’re BAAAAAAACK!!

2011-11-18T18:27:58Z

Our blog site has taken a hit here in recent months, but it’s time to get things fired up again. It has been a busy fall thus far and we are looking to close out 2011 in a very strong position. Moving forward into 2012 we will be sure to keep our blog more up to date with bi-weekly posts from each member of our team. Since we last posted, there have been some changes to our team. In this post, I am going to give a brief summary of the HLBB team. Some information you will more than likely already know, but there are some new team members you probably wont know much about.

Jonathan and Nicole Hudson are the ones responsible for creating HLBB. They started Hudson’s Luxury back in 2009 with the goal of being Hampton Roads premier place to buy building supplies for personal homes. Their vision for the business has launched us to the place we are today. Both of them combined had only written a few posts last blogging season, but they are looking to change that this time around and keep you all up to date with what’s going on in those visionary brains of theirs.

Deb Carson was a new addition to the team in the last blog run, but has now become a HLBB veteran. She has a couple of posts under her belt and is looking to expand her “.com” influence! She is our resident kitchen designer and has a flair for design that is unlike anything this area has ever seen. We will certainly be featuring some of the projects she has completed in upcoming posts! If you see something you like, shoot her an email and let her know!

Our newest member to the team is Chris McCallum. Chris has worked in the field for the majority of his career in the business but has made a decision to team up with HLBB to both expand his knowledge base and be able to better serve our customers! His knowledge of woodworking makes him a valuable asset when it comes to design capabilities and customization ideas. He truly helps bring HLBB to the cutting edge of everything we are able to do!

With a background in criminal justice and Israeli Defense tactics, Brittany Boller is the “Office Law.” She makes sure we are all behaving properly. With the amount of fun we like to have, she has by far the hardest job of all. But with her determination and drive, she makes sure we all stay on task and meet deadlines. She has been giving me a hard time about this blog for over a week now. But thanks to her, it is being posted on time! So look to see continued on time posts because of her! She also plays a large role in our accounts department.

So aside from me, that is our team! Look to hear more from each of us in upcoming months! We are excited to be back in the blogging game and really hope you will share what you read here with your friends, families and coworkers. We plan to be informative and funny. We want to inspire you to dream bigger and keep you focused! So check back in a couple weeks for the next post from Jonathan!

– Rory

Random Photos

2011-08-23T20:17:49Z