Wow, where does time go? The one buzz word that doesn’t seem to fade from decade to decade this time of year is “Goal Setting”. The cliche may not fade thru the decades, but to many of us our resolutions begin to within the first month. ABD wants to reassure you that our goals do not change from one year to the next, nor by month, day, or hour. Taking care of you, our most valued clientele, is our ultimate goal. Please allow us this opportunity to share with you ABD’s Mission Statement.

 “We at ABD have the greatest desire to service our clients, our community, our industry and ourselves to levels surpassed by no one in our industry. Our commitment to treating everyone with dignity & respect, to continue to build our reputation and to put our customers first, is the guiding principle that directs all we do and is paramount in the realization of our goals.

The values we carry of integrity, fairness, continuing to learn and improve, working with peak efficiency and enjoying what we do will lead us to the fulfillment of our Mission. We are here for two reasons: To attain a level of client & employee satisfaction that is unsurpassed and to make money in the process.”

Sincerely, The Employees of ABD December 1, 1999

The employees of ABD wrote this in 1999. Six years ago we set these goals and today we all remain in unity to serve you. Bob, Rita, and the entire ABD staff commits again to you our 2006 “Goal Setting” stated with sincerity in our Mission Statement. ABD wishes you and your family a Happy New Year, one filled with blessings and a healthy, prosperous year.

Downsize... The downsize craze has hit appliances. Built-in espresso machines are popping up in bathrooms, and microwave drawers in rec rooms.

Merging Spaces... The trend towards great rooms and bathroom suites is now leading to the request for builders to carve out niche areas, such as a sitting area with comfy chairs and a fireplace in kitchens, and room for a massage table and exercise equipment in baths.

Entertaining... Plan for your summer fiestas now by creating inviting patio areas, add an hors-d’oeuvre sink to your bar, a wine cellar to your kitchen island, lighting for your deck or water feature. The list is endless...

“It’s All About Value”

Since the home is an extension of every homeowner, professional space planning is important during every life stage. That’s why we as interior designers look at activities that are common in a particular room, safety issues, and traffic flow within the room and home as a whole.

As ASID interior design consultants, we help homeowners by translating your goals, your needs and preferences into a personal design statement marked by a thoughtful balance of function and aesthetics. We can also help recommend improvements by working with you and our construction side, and evaluating each project in terms of its impact on your house as a whole. So, you only renovate what you need and can afford at the time you are ready.

To some homeowners, another consideration when deciding to redesign your home is whether or not this change will add value. ABD’s designers can help you maximize the investment in your home. It’s crucial that renovations be well-designed and well-executed to serve as an asset when it comes time to sell. We will work with you to design a plan that aims to increase the resale of your home by improving the overall look, function, and comfort of your living space while taking your needs into account.

Please call us to assist you in any of your design needs, home or office.

Rita L. Peterson, ASID, CAPS Amy Fink, Allied Member, ASID

Thank you for spreading the word and referring ABD to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances! In addition to our gratitude, ABD will blindly select one client each quarter to receive a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant as a token of our appreciation. Thank you to all of the following individuals who referred clients during the Fall 2005 quarter.

Congratulations to this quarter’s winners: George & Rachel Hass! We’re very sorry if we inadvertently missed your name. Please let us know and we’ll add you to next quarter’s list.

More Green Information Needed!

Green is a selling point for an increasing number of homeowners. But they need more information to help them make environmentally friendly choices, concluded a recent study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. The Center surveyed consumers who planned to buy a new home or spend more than $10,000 remodeling their current home. Almost half (46%) said they were eager to include green products in their projects. But only 14% said they had received information on green products, and most of those who had not planned green features said it was because they weren’t aware of the options. Many consumers also said they are willing to pay extra for green products. Over 2/3 (64%) expressed willingness to spend up to $1,000 more, nearly 20% were willing to invest up to $5,000 more. ABD strives to provide you with green options when discussing your construction and/or design project. We want to provide information on any product you may be interested in, please do not hesitate to ask. Reprinted from Sherwin-Williams “stir”

Are you a “follow-the-trends” type of person? If so call ABD for any items from the following list missing in your home, because they’re still hot ideas!

Aromatherapy & Light Therapy Tubs Concrete Countertops Heated Floors & Towel Racks Hidden Appliances Home Theater Systems Lighting & Electronics Control Systems Outdoor Courtyards with firepit & grill Tankless Gas Water Heaters Wine Rooms / Cellars

Last issue, I spoke to you about the “Certified Graduate Remodelor” (CGR) designation that we at ABD promote and the commitments to professionalism that we feel makes us one of the best design-build companies. This issue I will address the design side of ABD by talking about being a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Now this may sound easy: pay your dues and become a member, but that is not how ASID functions. One truly has to EARN the designation, and we are proud that Rita achieved the difficult accomplishment in 1989 and became one of the few area designers to pass the qualifying exam. Before one can even sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, one has to have an approved formal education, and several years of documented employment in the field.

In 1989 this difficult exam had only a 17% first-time passage rate. The exam covers a wide-array of areas from space planning, code knowledge and life safety of the public to material contents and architectural and art history. Rita’s commitment was certainly a personal goal, but in the long run we hope you understand that ABD believes in professionalism at the highest level, thus ASID is only one of many reasons you will want to be a member of ABD’s client family.

Some people call professional designations “alphabet soup”. We at ABD call it our pledge to you that we will always be professional, strive to be the best at providing the latest techniques and products, and above all work within the professional ethics of our governing associations.

If at any time you want to learn more about our professional designations or our associations, please let us know.

Save money on your next paint project by calling ABD today. Get ahead of the spring rush, and commit to hiring our highly qualified paint staff by February 28, 2006, and we will pass on a 10% total savings. Call 225-2323 to request an appointment for an ABD representative to come to your home or office and give you a price. Mention this ad to receive your 10% discount.

We hope you are enjoying our personalized 2006 desk calendar! We had so many great client project photos to choose from, that we had a hard time selecting projects to feature! So a grateful thank you to all of our clients! If for some reason you did not receive a calendar, or you wish to receive another, please call 225-2323 while supplies last.

Too often, products claiming to be “universal design” end up being “handicapped design” instead. While counters and cabinets can always be placed at heights customized to the user(s), it can still be a challenge to find a onesize- fits-all solution when users vary greatly in size and/or ability.

Luckily, ADAS’ ApproachTM line for kitchens innovatively addresses the needs of all users, without compromising quality or style. Merging universal design with good looks, Approach for the kitchen offers adjustable height as an accessibility alternative, with push-button controls that smoothly and quietly raise and lower kitchen counters, sinks, cooktops and cabinets.

The Approach system is designed for installation in new construction or in renovation projects, moving counters, sinks and cooktops through 8” of vertical travel, and cabinets through 20”. The Approach Sink and Approach Cooktop (gas or electric) accommodate cutouts up to 31” wide and are recommended for use with shallow basin sinks with rear drains to provide maximum knee clearance for seated users.

Reprinted from ASID ICON, the magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers

Having Joined ABD team recently

Duane Carstens
Estimator / Construction Manager
Joined ABD team November 2005

Duane was born in Nebraska, and has been in the construction field all of his life. He has owned his own construction company and has extensive experience in both new home construction and remodeling projects.

Jeff Henry
Drywaller/Carpenter
Joined ABD team July 2005

Jeff started doing drywall in 1969 in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Colorado in 1970 and accepted employment with the largest drywall contractor in Loveland, working on the Foothills Fashion Mall in Fort Collins. Following that, he began to commute to Denver as a carpenter foreman, running a 30-40 man crew and working on nearly every highrise in the area. Next, he returned to the Loveland / Fort Collins area, working for various contractors before beginning his own business where one of his clients was ABD.

Amy Childers
Marketing Coordinator & Operations Assistant
Joined ABD team October 2005

Amy grew up in Iowa and moved to Wyoming to attend the University of Wyoming, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. She has spent the past 10+ years marketing several non-profit organizations, and now is excited to transition into the for-profit world! She enjoys graphic design, advertising and web design

Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, & Rita Peterson, ASID, CAPS, are inroute to attend the International Builders’ Show, in Orlando, Florida as we write this newsletter. With more than 1.5 million square feet in exhibits, we can’t wait for the show to open to learn about the new and exciting products to bring back to you!

Beyond the unparalleled array of product exhibits, the IBS hosts educational seminars, networking opportunities, and a tour of the “New American Home” featuring an idea house showcasing innovative new products, building techniques, and design ideas. More after the show...