By Nick Harper, MBA Senior Director of Strategy and Policy

Dec. 19, 2016—Earlier this month, the Master Builders Association recognized several individuals for their contributions to the Association at our annual Winter Gala and Installation of Officers. The event took place Dec. 8 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

The MBA honored three members who have been integral to our accomplishments in 2016 with Member of the Year Awards. Bonnie Geers of Quadrant Homes was named Builder Member of the Year; Joseph Irons of Irons Brothers Construction was named Remodeler Member of the Year; and Duana Koloušková of Johns Monroe Mitsunaga and Koloušková was named Associate Member of the Year.

All three of these members were recognized, in part, for their contributions to our Association's advocacy efforts on behalf of housing.

Bonnie has long been a trusted voice in housing policy and land use discussions at the MBA, regularly testifying before city councils and planning commissions in support of our industry's positions on housing issues. She has also chaired the Association's political action committee, the Affordable Housing Council, since 2014.

As our Association's 2016 President, Joseph Irons has emphasized the importance of Building Synergy Together. This concept of working together as a team and reaching out to build partnerships in the community is a vital element to the advocacy work we do at the MBA. Joseph has also been a tireless advocate for workforce development, stressing the importance of encouraging young people to enter the trades and the need to support them with adequate funding for career and technical education.

Duana has always provided thoughtful input on housing policy and land use issues, engaging with the Housing Policy Committee and the AHC. She also served as co-counsel on the MBA's behalf on a case concerning the city of Seattle's ‘qualifying lot' design review ordinance. In a decisive victory for the MBA, this bad ordinance was overturned.

In addition to the Member of the Year awards, the MBA honored Don Davis, retired director of government affairs, with an Exceptional Service Award. This award recognizes members and staff for their many years of professional leadership and exemplary service to the MBA. Don served the Association for over 32 years, advocating on behalf of housing and working to promote a better climate for housing. Among his many accomplishments, Don developed the fundraising concept behind our Association's "Just Ten Percent" program, which encourages members to donate 10 percent of their GRIP or ROII returns to the Affordable Housing Council to help support housing-friendly candidates and causes. To this day, having contributions to this fund is a critical element in our success on lobbying on behalf of the residential building industry.

The Gala concluded with the presentation of the MBA Hall of Fame award, which this year went to the late Myra Williams. Myra was honored for her outstanding achievement in member recruiting, which certainly contributed greatly to our Association's membership growth. But more than that, Myra was acknowledged for being such an active and engaged member. Her strong enthusiasm for this Association was, and still is, an inspiration to others.

It was also great to see Mark Huber of Huber's Custom Building honored with the Spirit of Service Award and Anthony Maschmedt of Dwell Development recognized with the Built Green® Moving the Market Award—both very well deserved.

Congratulations to all the award recipients! These individuals offer an important reminder of the positive accomplishments that can be realized by simply being willing to step up and lead by example.

Thinking about incoming President Mike Walsh's theme for 2017, "Elevating Our Influence," I'd like to encourage all of us to find ways to engage more with the Association. Whether it's advocacy, community stewardship, or some other area, there are lots of ways members can get more involved in bringing about positive changes for housing and the community.

Photo credit: Alabastro Photography

By MBAKS Content Strategist James Slone

A home is not truly complete until its unique details are set in place. Crystalline shower doors, eye-popping accent walls, and ornate tile floors transform mere rooms into showpieces offering a lifetime of delights.

It’s not easy putting on the finishing touches. Tile, glass, and paint may be surfaces, but the work they require is anything but skin-deep. I spoke to three trades professionals to find out how they make functional spaces extraordinary.

Bath project showing off the painstaking work, masterful skill, and artisanal creativity that goes into Mohler Design’s vividly eye-catching tile creations. Photo credit: Cindy Apple Photography

Mohler Design—Striving for Happy Customers

There is nothing like a glimmering backsplash beckoning from the kitchen or intricately patterned entryway tiles inviting you home. Since 2001, Mohler Design has offered exquisitely detailed tiling services throughout the Seattle area that make everyday spaces stand out.

Founder Bill Mohler tells me that when he started the company in 2001, “It was just me and two other installers.” But skill, talent, and ambition quickly attracted a highly skilled team of craftspeople united by a passion for creating inspiring designs for kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, and an array of other surfaces.

“We pride ourselves on education and training and making sure all our [tile] setters are updated on current installation methods,” says Mohler. “We work with all types of tiles from classic to modern to genuinely unique designs.”

Custom work is a pleasure for Mohler Design and the company never lacks for exciting new projects. “We typically complete over 100 a year,” Bill explains. A project can require as few as one installer, or several if it’s a large custom build. Either way, “It is essential that we work together with other contractors to ensure that projects run smoothly and on time.”

For Bill, there’s never a dull moment working with individual homeowners or designers and builders on a diverse spectrum of projects. “Our projects can vary greatly in size and detail from a small backsplash to a large custom home build with tiling in multiple rooms.”

With two decades of experience and a reputation for excellence, Mohler Design has established strong working relations with the finest tile and stone distributors in the industry and have collaborated with top designers, builders, and general construction firms in the area.

Bill takes great pride in the company’s long-standing relationships throughout the community. “We have been honored,” he says, “to work on some very cool projects over these past 20 years.” Quite a few have netted significant accolades, including several Trades Excellence in Remodeling Awards from MBAKS.

Awards are great, says Bill, but they’re not the biggest motivator. “When all is said and done, we strive to ensure our clients are happy.”

Distinctive Glass—A Legacy in Glass

“We ask a lot of questions, listen carefully, and do our best to help the client get what they envision. It’s so fun to see [a client’s] dream bathroom completed with a really nice shower door or mirror. It puts that finishing touch on their home.” The effort involved is worth it but takes time.

“An average shower door takes about four to five weeks to fabricate, but some custom showers can take as long as eight. With sales, estimating, production, and installation, it takes seven to nine different people to finish an install. We complete about 15 per day.”

The company has a sixth sense for what the customer wants, and experience means they can deliver. “We have 10 employees who’ve been with us for 20 years,” says Brian. “What makes the company is the quality of people we have working with us.”

Brian’s passion for glass is a family legacy. “I’m a third-generation glass guy,” he says. “My father and grandfather were lifelong glass guys. Both of my boys are now in the industry and love it. My co-founder and business partner Dennis Vogt started in the 1970s.

“Dennis and I had a vision of being known for the highest-quality glass work in the state. We try very hard for that.” Now, says Brian, they’re doing it in more than one state.

A longtime Distinctive Glass employee Matt Dunston recently opened a new location in Arizona to bring the shop’s high-quality work to the Grand Canyon state. “It is doing very well, and we are excited about what the future will bring.”

Hedlund Painting put the finishing touches on this stunning Kirkland update with gorgeous interior and exterior paint that makes the home seem lighter than air.

Hedlund Painting—Picture-Perfect Finishes

A house is just a structure before you add paint. With vivid colors and tactile textures, Lynnwood-based Hedlund Painting transforms mere collections of floors, walls, beams, and ceilings into homes brimming with vibrancy and life.

Their luminous work has won numerous awards, including several Best of Houzz Awards and Angi Super Service Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Hedlund Painting doesn’t just paint. They offer a full range of services, including interior and exterior staining, cabinetry refinishing, millwork, drywall repair, and wall texturing—and they do it all on point. But the power of their work is about more than mere craft and artistry. It’s also a matter of pride.

The company’s success, says owner Christopher Whitman, lies in their dedication to customer service and quality results. With years of experience painting thousands of households, the company has developed highly efficient work processes that keep projects on-time and on-budget.

Their website declares, “We are not looking for a single job; we build relationships that last.” This is accomplished by “showing up when we say we will, respecting the job site and everyone we interact with, and by being honest and ethical.”

To ensure that the end result meets or exceeds client expectations, Hedlund maintains strong lines of communication with clients, emphasizing punctuality, cost-effective technique, and perfect finishes.

Whitman says that Hedlund’s team, both office and field staff, work closely together. “Office Manager Carmen oversees internal operations while Charlie, Rigo, and Zak provide estimates and other customer-facing services. Vince and Erika handle day-to-day field tasks such as scheduling the crews, material orders, and onsite customer relations. All in all, it’s a team effort and we strive to emphasize that to each other and our clients.”

From the moment they contact the client, Hedlund initiates a “very friendly and informative” process. “When conducting the walk-through, we provide the client a detailed and organized list of their requests and our tasks.” The client agrees to the work to be completed before a single brush is dipped.

“Upon agreement, the task list is given to the project managers who execute all the details and tasks discussed during the initial walk-through.” The work is always aligned with the customer’s wishes. What they dream up is what they get.

Christopher loves the process. “I have a lot of fun helping clients achieve the changes they’re looking for. Painting as a whole is a reasonably cost-effective way to make huge aesthetic changes in your home. I personally find making that connection on a personal basis very rewarding.”

For Hedlund Painting, that human connection is the real finishing touch.

Q: I’ve spent a lot of time at home since the pandemic started. Lately, my smallish house feels cluttered and claustrophobic, and it’s affecting my mood and energy level. What can I do to feel better?

A: Your home can profoundly affect your health and well-being, and we’re spending more time in our homes than ever before.

Over the past few decades, science has revealed a strong link between our surroundings and our overall health. It’s become clear that we need to give our home environment a serious health check to ensure our own long-term wellness. Here are a few tips to transform your home into a more positive space.

Let nature in

Despite how we live today, we’re still children of nature. The health benefits of acting on this knowledge are well-studied and undeniable. When we’re close to nature, everything works better. It calms us and reduces stress. In natural settings, we concentrate better and heal faster. When we remove nature from our surroundings, things fall apart.

Bring in nature by minimizing the barriers that separate exterior from interior. If you can increase the size of your windows, or add more, do so. Replace heavy drapery with solar shades that open up the view and admit more natural light. Invite nature in by adding landscaping just outside your windows and bringing plants, herbs and living walls into your home.

Invest in your outdoor space if you’re able. Make your patio or deck more inviting with comfortable furniture, outdoor heaters, rugs and soft fabrics. Replace a solid door with glass, or add a sliding door to improve access to garden paths and outdoor spaces.

Shed stuff

We often have too much stuff. The psychological burden of clutter and chaos is greater than you might think. It might seem counterintuitive, but having too much stuff can result in depression, a sense of isolation and an inability to focus.

Reducing and decluttering are not easy but can be achieved if you tackle rooms and tasks systematically. The hard part is the mental shift required to commit to keeping only things that give us joy or that we truly need.

In terms of decluttering, drawers and containers are the most efficient form of storage. The secret of effective storage is keeping containers visible and “filing” them vertically, as you would with paperwork, to ensure that you can easily see and access what you need. Not knowing where things are is its own source of unhealthy frustration and stress.

Of course, decluttering is of no use if you continue accumulating more stuff. Stores encourage you to buy more, but you can decide what you actually bring into your home.

Light appropriately

Our ancestors’ only source of light was the sun. As a result, natural light is the heart of our circadian rhythms and essential for our overall health. It regulates our metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and cognition. It is easy for artificial lighting to work against our natural cycles.

While we can’t control sunlight, we can control the type of lighting in our homes and the tone and color of the light we are exposed to. Every room should have different types of light — general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting — preferably controlled separately and dimmable. This allows flexibility for different activities at different times of the day and night. Most importantly, it allows you to simulate natural sunlight.

Pay specific attention to the color (also known as temperature) of light bulbs. To increase productivity during the day, set overhead lighting to a bright, blue-white light. In the evening, when you want to relax, you can switch to lamps with soft, warm light placed at eye level.

Improve air quality

We breathe in air continuously, but unless our sense of smell tells us that something is wrong, we hardly ever think about the quality of the air. Many irritants and harmful gases are odorless and can cause serious health problems without our realizing it.

To improve air quality, become mindful of what you bring into your home. Many household products like air fresheners, disinfectants, aerosol sprays, and art materials (paints, solvents) contain harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Choose paint, flooring products and building and furniture materials that are formaldehyde free. Read product labels, ask questions and choose reliable manufacturers for everything you bring into your home.

While we cannot control everything, there is still a lot we can do to ensure that our homes improve the overall health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones.

Mia Hannom is the owner of In Form Design, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of the MBAKS’s more than 2,600 members, write to homework@mbaks.com