Helpful tips for Hosting Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2016 by P&D Builders

Are you hosting your thanksgiving this year for the first time? Or would you consider yourself a veteran party host? Hosting and cooking this great American meal is a big milestone for a cook, but it can also cause anxiety and nerves. Here are some essential tips that will help your day go off without a hitch.

Never turn down help. If your friends and family offer to bring dishes that are vital to the meal then let them! It will help with your stress overall on the day of and they will show off their cooking skills as well.
Make as much ahead as possible. The last-minute rush is one of the most stressful parts of the day. When you are planning your menu, look for dishes that can be made ahead of time. If you are in charge of cooking all of the dishes, start the casserole and pies earlier in the week then cook them the day of.
Don’t experiment with new recipes. Thanksgiving is all about the classics, so stick with the classic recipes. Leave your brain to focus on the turkey.
Start early on the non-food prep. The food isn’t the only thing that needs prepared. You are probably pulling out serving dishes that need to be washed, extra silverware and napkins. Do all of that the week before. Double-check your serving plates and utensils and iron your tablecloth if needed!
Set the table the night before. It will make you feel so much better as you are running around doing the prep work to see a nicely set table. It will give you the peace of mind that when all the food is ready, your table is ready too.
Have the beverages ready to go. Have the wine chilling in the fridge or a premade cocktail ready to be poured. If everyone has a drink in their hand, they won’t care if dinner is served an hour later than planned.
It is okay to buy parts of your meal. Do you have a great bakery? Buy the desserts from it. Do you hate making gravy? Buy some before. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a few pieces of the meal especially if you want a more relaxing day before hand.
Relax, have fun and enjoy the holiday. People are there to enjoy a good meal and one another’s company. Do not feel stressed about entertaining. Ask for help, laugh and remember the turkey can rest for an hour while you finish everything else. Find gratitude in the busy, messy, loud and delicious holiday.

Most importantly, be thankful for the food on the table and the people surrounding you! After all that is what the holidays are about, enjoy!

4 tips to keep in mind when Building a new home

Posted on November 16, 2016 by P&D Builders

Building a home is a tremendously exciting process due to all the decisions, large and small, that you get to decide. YOU are the builder, you get to choose everything from bedrooms to outlets. When spending the money on a custom-built home, keep these things in mind.

Have as many details in place before you start building as possible. This can mean not just knowing how the floor plan will look but knowing how the rooms will be designed. The whole process is about building the home of your dreams but it can be overwhelming for some. After about the tenth round of decisions, you might start thinking enough is enough. If you have as many details worked out before hand as possible, the more and more decisions that come along the way will seem less exhausting. Our people at P&D Builders will be there to help you through each and every decision.

Think about resale value. Even if you never intend to sell your home, and plan to pass it on for generations, still consider that you might sell it someday. Life happens, you might think you know where you are going to be in 10 to 15 years but nothing is for sure. When you are building, you have to consider what other people would want as well. You may want a five-story home but another family out there might not want to spend their days going up and down stairs. A decision like that could cause you to drop thousands when it comes to selling your home.

Keep your mortgage within your means. Create your dream home, but make sure it is one you can afford. You don’t want to be drowning in mortgage payments and not be able to enjoy your new home or always worrying about if you spent too much.

At the same time, don’t sacrifice all of your amenities. Once again, life happens, if you are afraid once your kids start getting older and college comes on the radar that it will be hard to find the money to upgrade. Then throw in a few additional things that you are passionate about having in your home. Know what upgrade is a must have then wait till life slows down financially for other ones.

P&D Builders wants to make your dream home a reality, contact us today!

Preparing Your Home for Fall

Posted on October 11, 2016 by P&D Builders

Fall is here! The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are starting to change and everyone seems to be loving it. The time has come to finish up any last-minute summer maintenance projects and get your home and yard ready for follow. We have some quick and easy tips to get your home clean, warm and ready for fall (and the dreaded early winter days).

Outside

Clean out the gutters. Everyone’s least favorite job but now is one of the most important times to be doing it. A few hours of work can prevent big problems later one. While you are up there, give the roof a good look to look for any damaged shingles, flashing or vents. You should also inspect the chimney.
Turn off outdoor plumbing. When the time is right and those hopes of random warm days are over, drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems, and cover them to protect them from freezing during the winter.
Clean outdoor furniture and gardening tools. It may not be quite time to put them away yet but go ahead and make sure your outdoor furniture and gardening tools are cleaned up and ready for storage.
Plant bulbs for spring-blooming flowers. Spring will be here before we know it, hopefully. So be prepared by planting bulbs this month, as soon as the soil has cooled down, you will reap big rewards next spring. If you’ve ever planted bulbs before, select a spot in your yard that gets full sun during the day.

Inside

Prepare your furnace. Visually inspect your furnace and replace the furnace filter before turning it on for the first time. If you want, you can go the extra step to get it professionally looked at before it gets too cold.
Clean the fireplace and chimney. Clean out the fireplace, make sure the flue is operating properly, and that doors and shields are sound. Then, stock up on firewood!
Keep the warm air inside and the cold air outside. Inspect your windows and doors. If you are feeling cold air come in through the cracks, the weather stripping isn’t doing its job. Now would be the time to re-caulk around the windows and door casings if needed before you spend too much on your heating bill.
Light the way. Bring as much light into your home as you can for the colder, darker months. To accentuate natural light, clean your windows and blinds, especially in rooms that get a lot of sunlight. Add lighting to darker spaces easily with new lamps and consider replacing tradition incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.
Create a mudroom or drop zone. As the weather gets colder, it is going to require more layers. If you do not have a designated mudroom, it is time to think about creating an area where those coming and going from the home can drop their things or extra layers. Also put down an indoor/outdoor run to protect the floor.

These are a few quick and easy projects to begin preparing your space for all. Once you have checked a couple of these off the list then it is time to sit back and enjoy the season in your warm home.

2016 Parade of Homes Recap

Posted on September 26, 2016 by P&D Builders

On behalf of P&D Builders, LTD. We want to thank everyone who came out to this year’s Parade of Homes. There were 16 homes in this year’s parade so we want to especially thank those who stopped by our house, we know it was easy to get tired looking at all those beautiful homes!

For those of you that did not have a chance to make it out this year, we are going to give you a quick recap! Our complete photo gallery can be found here.

Complete details of the home:

5,294 sq. ft.
5 Bedrooms
6 Full & 1 Half Baths
3 Car Garage
$978,750

Our must see feature:

Glass floor with a spectacular view into the custom-finished wine cellar below.

Some of our outstanding features include:

Strong corporate commitment to our award-winning “Certified” Energy Star Program
Home design resulting from a partnership between the build team and the client’s vision
Open-air, two-story, totally-enclosed garden courtyard entry
Extraordinary custom wine cellar with glass ceiling above
Sensational upper foyer with Juliet balconies overlooking garden courtyard entry

Each year, the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio hosts the Parade of Homes. This year’s parade was the largest since 2005 and features 16 luxury homes ranging from $799,000 to $1.3 million. The entries were judged on 15 different categories this year. A couple examples of some of the categories are: curb appeal, special features, best kitchen and many more.

We are pleased to announce that we took home two different awards! We got the gold in the First Interior Impression category and the silver in the Exterior Architecture category. You can read about all the categories and award winners in the full article found here.

Once again we just want to thank all those companies that played a part in the design and decoration of this year’s home and thank all of those that came out to the parade!

Contact Information

Home Design
P&D Builders Design Team
(740) 201-8079

Interior Design
Nth Degree
(614) 855-8533

Landscape Design
Simes Landscape, Inc.
(614) 332-0335

Sales Contacts
Dan Dillon
(614) 207-3490
Ed Snodgrass
(614) 565-5705
Jason Cordle
(614) 207-3506

2016 Parade of Homes Preview Party

Posted on August 22, 2016 by P&D Builders

The 2016 BIA Parade of Homes will be hosting their annual Preview Party again this year. This offers guests an exclusive look at all the Parade has to offer and allows guests to tour the event’s 16 high-end, luxurious homes before the parade is open to the public. The Preview Party features a progressive dinner, along with beverage pairings by Cameron Mitch Catering Company.

The event will be taking place Thursday, September 1st from 6-10 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the BIA Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Mid-Ohio charities. Tickets are $85 a person, then raise to $95 a person after August 24th.

For a chance to win 2 FREE tickets to the Preview Party from P&D Builders, enter HERE.

The winner will be announced Friday, August 26.

Purchase tickets for the event here. The Preview Party can be your exclusive first look at all 16 of the entries in this year’s parade along with enjoying tons of good food and drinks. We hope to see you there!

2016 Parade of Homes Entry

Posted on August 10, 2016 by P&D Builders

Verona developed by Vince Romaneilli

Find directions to the event!

Verona is located just east of the Columbus Zoo on Powell Road (SR 750). From I-270, take the Sawmill Road exit and travel North approx. 4 miles on Sawmill Road (which will turn into Sawmill Parkway). Turn left (West) on to Powell Road (SR 750) and travel approx. 0.7 miles. The entrance to Verona will be on your right (watch for signs).

September 3 – 18, 2016 (rain or shine)
12pm – 8pm Monday – Saturday
12pm – 6pm Sunday

no entry one hour to close

At 5,294 sq. ft., the home has 5 bedrooms, 6 full & 1 half baths and a 3-car garage. Features include:

Strong corporate commitment to our award-winning “Certified” Energy Star Program
Home design resulting from a partnership between the build team and the client’s vision
Open-air, two-story, totally enclosed garden courtyard entry
Extraordinary custom wine cellar with glass ceiling above
Sensation upper foyer with Juliet balconies overlooking garden courtyard entry

You can purchase your tickets for the event online, and save $2, or purchase them at the door! This is a year you definitely do not want to miss!

Summer Staycation Projects

Posted on July 27, 2016 by P&D Builders

Have you and your family decided not to take any big trips this summer? That is totally okay! That means more time around the house so you can finally get to those projects that have been hanging over your head for the last few months. If you have an extra 12, 24 or 48 hours of free time in a long weekend provides all you need to reenergize, refuel, and recommit to that straggler project on your to-do list.

Devoting your time off to tackling a highly anticipated home upgrade or a lengthier maintenance project can pay off all summer long. Squeeze any of these summer projects into your time off, and every weekend to come will feel more relaxing.

Painting Interior Trim

A quick and easy way to get a whole-room update is to paint your trim. Painting baseboards, chair rail, window trim, and crown molding in either complementary or contrasting tones to your walls really can wake up ordinary rooms and hallways. Start off with a liquid sanding product so that the new paint adheres well. Then apply two of three light coats of interior latex enamel paint, allowing a full day of drying time between each. For an ultra-smooth finish, buff lightly with micro-grit sandpaper and follow with tach cloth before each successive coat.

Backyard fire pit

Extend your outdoor hangout time by offering light and heat into the evenings is one you won’t regret – especially when it’s too easy to skip. The fire pit doesn’t have to be a large, lavish model to be a place for guests to hang out. In fact, you can assemble an attractive one in just a day from a kit with no-cut blocks from your home improvement store. Then stack the blocks end-to-end to form a perfect circle, then stack them two or three high and slip on an iron fire pit ring. Prepare for your patio to be the hottest spot in the neighborhood!

Organizing the Garage

A couple extra hours are all you need to take all that garage clutter and turn it into an organized and functional space. Here are a few storage strategies to take advantage of:

Attach wall brackets to hold lawn tools and folding chairs.
Install ceiling hooks to hang bicycles.
Suspend shelves from above to store scrap project under lumber and large plastic bins.
Wherever there’s a blank wall, hang pegboard and a slew of hooks to sort out your small hand tools.

Most importantly, think in sections. Designate one area for gardening items, another for tools, and additional zones for various hobbies. That way, when you need something, you’ll be able to find it and return it when you are done.

Replacing worn window screens

A soft breeze through the bedroom window can be most refreshing on a cool summer night – but not if every bug can come through the ripped screen into your space. Ripped screens are something that can hinder the exterior appearance of your house as well. Replacing those damaged, torn screen is an inexpensive, easy way to improve the interior feel of your house and the exterior look.

7 Quick Tips to Improve Your Kitchen’s Look

Posted on July 6, 2016 by P&D Builders

Your kitchen is used every single day; it is the heart of your home and also a major selling point. Completely remodeling your kitchen is a great way to keep it up to date but also expensive. If you do not have the budget right now, here are a few cheap changes that can transform the look of your kitchen.

Remove, recycle and refresh. If the doors on your cabinets are old and ugly, take them off and create an open shelving option for your kitchen. This is a great opportunity to update the hardware on your drawers and cabinets. What is worn down in the kitchen can usually be painted or refinished to give it a modern look.
Add more storage. Either declutter your space or add more storage. These options include adding hanging racks, open shelves and cabinet organizers to store the essentials.
Change out lighting. Depending on the age of your kitchen, you will most likely have pendant lighting or fluorescent overhead fixtures. To bring your kitchen into the modern age, consider replacing some of those fixtures with recessed alternatives or LED lighting. Even just replacing the bulbs is cheaper, easy to install and saves energy.
Upgrade your faucet. Do you have an old-fashioned faucet? Is it time for a change? Instead of replacing the entire sink, just changing the faucet can give the kitchen a whole new look. Think about energy-efficient alternatives like low-flow faucets to save you money on your water bill, or adjustable, restaurant-style varieties for the chef in the family.
Hide your counters. Old countertops can suffer through the years. If you have worn countertops but don’t have the budget to replace them. Find creature ways to hide their blemishes. Add decorative cutting boards, hide them under appliances or apply a fresh coat of paint.
Paint your cabinets. Painting or refinishing your cabinets is another inexpensive way to change the look of your space. It is less expensive than buying new ones and at the same time it refreshes the appearance of your entire kitchen. Don’t paint them any weird colors though, and avoid bright hues.
Add a backsplash. Backsplashes can be customized based on the color scheme of your kitchen. It is as easy as buying tiles at a local home improvement store and using caulk and grout to install them in the design or style you want.

All of these are simple, inexpensive changes you can make to your space to give it a much needed makeover.

Must-Have Home Organization Tips

Posted on June 15, 2016 by P&D Builders

Organization is the key to success for most homes. It is important to make changes that you will actually use to make your home more accessible and productive. If you are going to invest in these items, whether they are big or small you have to think about using them. Here are some of Dorothy the Organizer’s favorite items.

Matching Hangers

This seems simple enough, but picture your own closet at home right now. Do you even have ten of the same hanger? It may seem like an unnecessary and expensive change but matching hangers will provide you instant gratification. They can turn even the messiest of closets into a visibly appealing, organized hanging system. Ditch the wire hangers, assortment of colors and different brands. Pick a central brand and color to be used throughout the entire closet. You will notice a difference right away, trust us.

Decorative drop zone

We all walk in after a hard day at the office or busy day with the kids and immediately drop everything in our hands. This is an opportunity to organize and decorate your space at the same time. Dorothy suggests selecting a decorative bowl or plate. Pick a small or medium-sized one so it does not overwhelm your entryway. The point is to see something when you walk in the door that is beautiful and can double time as an organizing tool. Say goodbye to clutter by the doorway, your family members and guests will both appreciate this one.

Hooks that attach to hinges

These clever hinges take advantage of unused space behind the door. While this secret storage idea doesn’t require investing much time or money, it is a great little space-saving tool that most doors can accommodate. Installation is easy. Just pop the door hinge pin and drop the hook in. these hooks swivel for easy access in the bathroom (for towels), in the bedroom (for robes or belts), or in the office (for earphones with cords). You can find the product here:

http://www.householdessential.com/ecommerce/Hinge-It%C2%AE:-Behind-the-Door-Towel-Bars-and-Hooks.cfm?cat_id=700

Slide-out cookware storage

If you tired of navigating through a cupboard of pots and pans while cooking, this may be the solution for you that will also be easy on the eyes. Consider installing a pull-out cabinet cookware organizer, designed to fit any standard-depth base cabinet. The organizer is fully adjustable, has removable hooks, and accommodates different shapes and sizes of cookware. By extending the organizer outward you will avoid having the bend, stretch or struggle to access cookware.

Under the stairs storage

Do you have storage area under the stairs that is going unused? If you answered, yes, you are one of the many do not worry. Two of the main problems with this type of storage is that it is dark and hard to navigate around. Here is a solution for both problems. Slide-out drawers and cabinets bring our stuff directly to us in the well-lit, easy-to-stand in hallway – plus it’s effortless to see all at once what you’ve got stored.

These are just a couple suggests to help your home be more organized. If you want more tips, DorothyTheOrganizer’s full website can be found here:

http://www.dorothytheorganizer.com

Easy Tips To Make Your Home More Eco-friendly

Posted on May 25, 2016 by P&D Builders

Incorporating green practices into your home can be easier and cheaper than you think! We aren’t talking higher priced changes such as solar panels or buying a new ecofriendly car. We want to help people start out with the small, easier changes first then tackle the other ones when they feel they are ready!

You can have an eco-conscious home without building one from the group up. From switching the LED light bulbs to installing a toilet that uses less water, there are a number of ways to make your home a little greener.

First things first, changing the light bulbs you buy is such an easy solution that will save you money in the long run. LED light bulbs have a longer life and use less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes so they are perfect for any space.

Repurposed materials is another way to make your space not only more ecofriendly but can also be a great addition to your interior design. Countertops, tables, headboards, flooring can all be repurposed and give your space a sense of originality. Some examples of materials that could replace your countertops would be recycled steel or reclaimed wood. Environmentally friendly flooring options are not so hard to find. Flooring made from cork, linoleum and bamboo are not only renewable materials but also assist in home insulation efforts. Linoleum, in particular, is known for a long lifespan, which is always great to hear!

Water conversation is something every household could get better at. Even if you don’t want to make any large purchases right now, changing your habits of long showers and leaving the water running when you brush your teeth are two ways to not use as much water that you can do for FREE. It can even save you money on your water bill! But if you want to take water conservation to the next step, Stealth System toilets (www.niagaracorp.com/stealth) uses less than one gallon of water per flush. An average toilet uses three gallons per flush. Another great fix would be purchasing tankless water heaters which skip the inefficient and wasteful process of reheating hot water in a tank. They heat on demand so no energy is wasted keeping water hot. You will see savings in energy costs and you will save on water usage because you will no longer be running water while waiting for it to heat up.

These are a couple simple changes you can make starting as early as today to make your home more ecofriendly and energy efficient. Help the environment, one change at a time!

A full-service custom design homebuilder with a 50+ year record of stability, diversity, progressive ideas, & passion.

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