Philip Guarino was intrigued by an idea he read about in an Italian publication: High-end Italian retailers are showcasing work by local artists to entice customers to come into their stores. More
Whatever your feelings on composite decking, it's here to stay. The category continues to grow, carving out a larger share of the multibillion-dollar decking market every year. But the pace of that growth has slowed: Where the early years of this decade saw annual market-share gains of 30% (in dollar terms), between 2005 and 2006 composites grew just 18% in dollar terms and in single digits in volume terms, according to John Pruett, area leader for building products at Principia Consulting. Pruett says much of the slowdown can be attributed to a rise in manufacturing costs ó Hurricanes Katrina and Rita took out Gulf Coast resin facilities, which led to higher prices. But a rash of product failures and consumer complaints have hurt, too. More
Chaden Halfhill is both a sculptor and a remodeler, so it's only appropriate that his residential designs reflect his artistic side. For this master suite bathroom, the owner of Silent Rivers in Urbandale, Iowa, created an elegant and eye-catching central tower to hold the sink and tub. More
Contractor: Mike Patterson, Patterson Builders, Gaithersburg, Md.Designer: Norman Smith, Norman Smith Architecture, Washington, D.C. Contractor and designer: Bruce Wentworth, Wentworth-Levine Architect-Builder, Silver Spring, Md. More
