08 Sep April 2018
Willis Sinclair Homes
“The Lowcountry’s Premier Custom Home Builder”
Kandie (age 6) explaining the finer points of reading to George (age 1½).
24 Gabriel Road
Lodge, South Carolina 29082
843 846 2500
April 2018
Number 50
From the desk
of Bill …
This is our 50th newsletter. I hope you find them useful. If there is any subject you would like for us to address, please let me know. We have copies of most of the back newsletters. If you would like one, please contact us.
When you were young, how many letters did you get from your grandfather? You probably received about as many as I received – very few (as in none). I decided about ten or twelve years ago to change that for our grandchildren.
On most Sundays, I write letters to our grandchildren. I begin as soon as they learn to read. I don’t write individual letters, but group them by gender and age. Right now, I write 9 different letters to 21 grandchildren. This past week, three grandchildren learned to read, so they were added to the list (making it 21).
I write about all sorts of subjects:
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military vehicles and airplanes,
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tools,
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my youth and experiences,
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being elegant,
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building houses,
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animals,
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parks,
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historical events and biographies,
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being kind and respectful,
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common courtesies and such.
(I am up to about 775 different subjects now). It takes several hours to research something that might interest a 17 year old boy or a 6 year old girl, for example. Sometimes, I make and send a crossword or hidden word puzzle. It is like many things: it takes time, but it is worth it.
I look at the letter writing as an opportunity to be a good (I hope) influence and perhaps get the grandchildren thinking about things that never occurred to me until later in life. If just one benefits, it will all be worth it.
One of my high school dreams was seeing Yellowstone National Park. I was in my mid 60s before Kandy and I made the trip (compliments of our son). That got me to thinking about taking some grandchildren on trips to see what a great nation we have.
A couple of years ago, we took four of our grandsons on a tour of National Parks in the West. They got to see bison and all sorts of wild animals. They saw Old Faithful erupt. They saw the Grand Canyon and many other places.
We have another trip scheduled for this coming June with four more grands (2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons). This time, we will follow (roughly) the Pony Express route west from St. Joseph, Missouri to western Wyoming and then go north to Yellowstone.
I am not writing this to boast. I am just an ordinary guy trying to make a difference in the lives of my grandchildren.
How are you investing in the lives of your children and grandchildren? If you wait too long, it will be too late.
This rambling is off topic, but I need to remind myself occasionally why I do things. Sometimes it is difficult to see the forest because there are so many trees in the way….
Remodeling a kitchen?
Kitchens and baths are very important rooms in your house. They can give your home an up to date feel or a dated feel. This month, let’s consider kitchens.
How does your kitchen look?
Floors
Start with the floor. Is it worn or damaged? Maybe it is just old or dated looking. How would a new tile floor look in your kitchen? Would wood flooring add to the ambiance?
Cabinets
Probably the first item that makes your kitchen feel dated is the cabinets. Styles change and often a quick look at the cabinets in a kitchen will tell you how old the kitchen is.
This kitchen was functional, but needed freshening. The cabinets were a bit “tired” as were the appliances. The floor layout was not the best either.
How do your cabinets look? Are they scuffed or worn? Do the drawers still open and close nicely? Do your drawers have the soft close hardware so they don’t get slammed? Do you have the correct mix of drawers and shelf space? Do your drawers have useful dividers? Perhaps all your cabinets need is a fresh coat of paint or maybe they need replacing.
Do you need an island in your kitchen? Maybe you want an island removed to open up your workspace. Both are usually possible. We would be happy to discuss this with you or point you in the direction of a competent cabinet designer.
This is the other side of the “before” kitchen. The work flow was not the best.
Cabinet Hardware
Maybe all you need to do is change your cabinet hardware (knobs and pulls). Can you think of a material or style you would like better than what you have?
Counter Tops
Counter tops come in many materials and styles. Granite, quartz and other stones are popular. Most homes don’t use solid surfaces (Corian) except in the laundry or utility rooms. If you would like to talk about the advantages of different types of counter top material, call us.
Look how bright and fresh the new kitchen looks. Items can be displayed and easily located behind the glass cabinet doors. The sink is now centrally located.
Back Splashes
What sort of back splash do you have in your kitchen? There is an amazing variety of materials you can use for a back splash.
After the remodel, the new floor gives the kitchen a feeling of cleanliness. The lights add to the overall ambiance.
Appliances
After your cabinets, appliances telegraph the age of your kitchen. Not only do older appliances look, well, older, but they are also not as energy efficient as newer ones. Often newer appliances are also quieter and do a more efficient job than older appliances.
Plumbing
Rearranging plumbing can be a bit more complicated than other changes particularly if your home is built on a concrete slab. Getting water to sinks is usually not a problem, but gravity demands drains go down. If there is not a drain pipe nearby, it could be a problem.
One of the nice new features that kitchen faucets have is that of the touchless turn on and off. You simply wave your hand under the faucet and the water turns on. Think how nice that would be the next time your hands are oily or dirty and you reach for a lever or knob to start the water flow.
Size
Is your kitchen too small or the wrong shape? Although it is a bit more involved, sometimes walls (if they are not load bearing) can be moved or even removed. What about your kitchen? Is it large enough for you to be creative?
Windows
Lighting is good, but nothing beats natural light. Would a new window help in your kitchen? Maybe one could be added (of course, structure has to be considered). Think about it. Would a new or larger window be just what your kitchen needs?
Lighting
Dark kitchens look dingy. How is the light in your kitchen? Often lighting can be upgraded without too much trouble. Under counter lights provide you with a shadow less, bright workspace. Overhead can lights will also brighten your kitchen.
Can we help you?
If you need someone to discuss kitchen ideas, call us. No charge or obligation on your part, of course. Our numbers are listed in the box below.
Call us. We can help.
Willis Sinclair Homes
We want to earn your unconditional recommendation.
Willis: 843 599 9056
Abbey: 843 599 2302
Bill: 843 846 2500
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