Fortunate Contest

Can a hail storm lead to a $60 million dollar a year firm? It did for K-Designers. Brothers Lee and Larry Judson went to Casper, Wyoming in 1978 to help rebuild the city after a huge hailstorm damaged many buildings thereso many that local contractors could not meet the demand from insurance firms. Lee and Larry intended to stay for 6 months, make some money and move on. Instead they stayed a year, got their operation down pat and went on to open a second office in Billings, Montana. K-Designers is now one of the largest exterior remodeling firms in the western U.S..

Although the siblings never intended to create a nationwide brand, they hit on a system that works and the firm took off, growing to over 900 employees in 11 offices serving 18 states. One key to K-Designers success has been doing one thing and doing it well. K-Designers focuses exclusively on exterior improvements and works directly with a handful of manufacturers, so they are able to deliver and install quality products economically and at a fair price.

Turning K-Designers into a national brand wasnt what the two had in mind, but thats what happened. It was the result of having a clear focus, well-organized systems and strong relationships with manufacturers. The firms development enabled them to acquire greater pricing and service from manufacturers, and today everything they buy, down to the nails, is direct from the manufacturer. The result is attractive, cost effective work.

“All the neighbors compliment how great the whole career looks”, says Tom Opatz, a satisfied K-Designers siding customer in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. “It will also save us a lot on cooling and heating and, of course, no more painting so well have more time to do other things more enjoyable.”

While the construction field as a whole has been contracting for the past few years, K-Designers has been growing via a three-pronged plan of acquisitions, widening the product line and reaching out to its customer base of 100,000 with special offers. K-Designers is actively seeking qualified people in many states to join their team.

K-Designers have a long history of home remodeling experience. The Company began with four employees in Casper, Wyoming in 1978. By 1986, they expanded to the West Coast, with Sacramento, California their new home. Due to continued growth, they moved to larger headquarters in Gold River, California in 2004.

K-Designers 11 Western U.S. locations offer a myriad of product lines for home remodeling projects. The Company believes providing a broad choice to their clients aid them in making the best remodeling decisions. Through the Company’s relationships with premier suppliers, their clients can choose from a plethora of exterior siding, eaves, windows, garage doors, security doors, and much more.

K-Designers also provide their clients expert in-home consultation. Upon booking an appointment a client can have a design pro discuss with them the nuances of what a home remodeling project entails. A client receives expert advice, tips, pricing, and an explanation of how the entire remodeling project will unfold. The design professional will focus on the specific needs of the client as pertains to their unique home environment.

The Company engages in custom design to meet customers’ needs. They centralize on using the nicest quality materials, which help their clients add resale value to their homes. A client receives product and labor warranties in writing. K-Designers also provide flexible financing options. This is so a potential client can take on a home remodeling project with peace of mind from a financial standpoint. This is in addition to being secure in the knowledge that experienced professionals are performing the work on their home.

With a long history of working with a myriad of home designs, K-Designers extend their experience to homeowners considering remodeling projects. Their focus is providing expert design and trade professionals along with quality products from premier suppliers. Their desire is to ensure that home renovation projects come to realization just as homeowners envision.

These days living in a loft is all about good interior design. Originally it was a cheap alternative to a house, but today loft living is considered very luxurious. Empty warehouses and industrial pavilions have become key elements of interior design. Keep in mind that it is possible for those trained interior designers who are facing the prospect of decorating a loft, may also be facing the doubts that plague anyone who is preparing to decorate a new home, thus furthering the stress of decorating an unfamiliar space.
These are large spaces, in which the industrial air is the main character to be highlighted. The “cold” materials used hearken back to the original industrial purpose of the space. Thanks to its brightness and the absence of boards, the floors of polished cement, help magnify spaces. Different shades of concrete stain can be effectively utilized in defining “spaces” with in the loft setting. It’s often to smart to go with intense color selection, but stick within a chromatic palette. You can also utilize bright colors like reds, oranges, and greens for kitchen and bathroom spaces, as these will contrast with the coolness of the concrete, and enhance the feeling of the loft.
When you are considering furniture, it is better to go with a select few larger pieces. Many small pieces will make the place seem disorderly at a glance, and give off the feeling of clutter. A loft should be open, giving the sensation of emptiness, with few belongings and a fast paced life.

All three national exams of the past are being condensed into one exam, which beginning in 2009 will be reachable online thanks to the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC) board.

Just this last decade, it was required that three national exams (CQRID, NCIDQ, and two parts of NKBA) along with an addition Codes and Regulations Exam of California (CCRE) be completed and passed to allow for one to carry the title of being a Certified Interior Designer. Prior to that time, there was only one officially-accepted exam across the nation. Not only were these exams necessary, but so was the education and experience as described in detail in the 5800 Section of the Business & Professions Code.

This change was effected because California interior design certification needed to fall in line with Section 139 of the California Business and Professions Code; it was also intended to open the field to those with experience but no formal training.

In addition to passing the examination, students and candidates will need to meet all of the other requirements in order to become a Certified Interior Designer. For those who wish to take the current CCRE, CCIDC will continue to honor those who have previously taken one of the current national examinations by providing the current CCRE for an extended period of time.