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Stretching Budgets
Another example of being green within the client’s means is Otogawa-Anschel’s ongoing Larson Project (see “In the Works,” next page). During its first phase, Kraus was asked to create a bedroom in what typically is an undesirable location: space over a garage.


“We insulated the bejesus out of that with a very dense spray foam, partly and obviously to keep out any chemicals and fumes that would rise up from the garage, but also for climate control because, after all, a garage is a big pocket of air suscep- tible to huge temperature swings in a climate where the temperature is in the 90s dur- ing the summer and can be 40-below during the winter,” he explains.


As in the case of the Massman project, Kraus asked the homeowners for their want list and accommodated it, plus additional functions that the clients’ didn’t expect would make the cut, like a make-up station in the bathroom. The engineered wood floor of the bedroom is veneer made up of scraps leftover from the creation of solid wood flooring, and the granite counter top in the bathroom is a remnant from a granite yard.


The biggest difference between Massman and Larson projects is that Otogawa- Anschel is both the designer and the builder on the latter project, a state of aff airs Kraus prefers.


“Before I worked with Michael, I was at a firm where we’d do the drawings and then the homeowners would put the project out to bid,” he says. “That kind of situation is always a cat and mouse game in terms of staying apprised of the materials that are actually being used.”


“With design-build, we know exactly what we talked about with the homeowner, and we can communicate that down to the tiniest detail to our building staff ,” Kraus continues. “The other thing is, over time, designers tend to cre- ate their own language and their own short-hand for things, and our carpenters speak in those same terms. That teamwork approach and level of communication between all members of the team really heightens the homeowner’s peace of mind.”


Such a long-term approach suits Kraus just fine.


“When we look at a phased project, we basically get everything planned out and leave some of the work, like purchasing plumbing or lighting fixtures, to the homeowners themselves,” Kraus says. “I think one thing the economic crisis has done is caused people to get even more creative about how to stretch a budget. Less is more.”


 


The new bathroom features low-flow faucets, recycled tile in the shower, a Toto dual-flush toilet, and a Minnesota-made, Cambria quartz countertop. The linen cabinets are made from a former pantry, the elements of which were saved during an earlier kitchen remodel done by the homeowners.


 


IN THE WORKS
When it comes to the projects the company is working on currently, designer Greg Kraus says the key words are “kitchen” and “attic.”



Kraus says one approach he’s taking with clients is to suggest that they make the most of their money by focusing on one small detail in a larger scheme and making that their focal point.


Case in point: Kraus recently installed a metal roof on a home as part of a green makeover.


“The nice thing about a metal roof is that it is about a quarter of the weight of an asphalt roof, it’s fire resistant, and it will last three to four times as long as an asphalt roof,” he says.


“The other thing is that metal roofs, unlike asphalt roofs, don’t retain all that heat. And last, because they’re cut to fit, there’s a lot less waste involved when a metal roof is installed,” Kraus adds.


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