When the Mackeys (Big50 2007) were looking for space outside of their cramped San Jose, Calif., office to display products, they gazed across the street at their outdated 1964 house and realized that they could remodel it to highlight not just products but the company’s craftsmanship and green focus.
“We really wanted to showcase our products and workmanship, but the nice thing is we got an updated home in the process,” Debbie says.
The project involved expanding and updating the kitchen and enlarging the master bedroom to create space for a home theater. Green features include a sustainable deck material, reclaimed lumber, on-demand hot water circulation, solar hot water, lighting controls, rigid insulation in the vaulted ceiling, and radiant floor heating. The master bedroom theater has automated features with a remote control that operates the shades and ceiling projector.
The remodel took about two and a half years to complete because the Mackeys originally thought they could do the work themselves at night or on the weekends. “When it began dragging on and on, however, we actually hired Daniel Mackey Construction to do the remodel. At that point the work moved quickly and efficiently,” Debbie says.
Paying retail prices for the products would have put the cost for the remodel at $493,000. However, the firm is a dealer for some of the products used in the project, and it received trade discounts from several suppliers who knew the house would be used as a showroom.
The Mackeys have hosted groups from their church, and receptions for employees, past clients, and realtors, and are planning one for designers and architects. They recently hosted a party for 50 National Association of the Remodeling Industry colleagues that was sponsored and catered by appliance manufacturer Dacor, whose products are used in the kitchen.
The house has won some design awards, and Daniel Mackey Construction has already sold two jobs from showing the house to prospective clients. “One former client wanted an exact replica of the library room,” Debbie says.
