Remodeling FAQ

Remodeling can be scary for homeowners who haven't done a project before.  The National Assocation of the Remodeling Industry has assembled a list questions most asked to remodelers.  Hiring a remodeler can be tricky.  Check out their website to learn what questions you SHOULD be asking!

Questions to Ask your Remodeler

Canned Food Drive

The Third Annual Snow and Jones Canned Food Drive to benefit the Harwich Family Pantry begins today!  Simply donate 5 cans or $5.00 to any Snow and Jones branch and in exchange for your donation you will receive a Snow and Jones sweatshirt.  All proceeds go directly to the Harwich Family Pantry.  Last year we donated almost $2,000 worth of diapers, formula, and food to the pantry.  Please help us make this year a success!

Universal Design- Do You Want It?

The building and remodeling industry is making a big push for Universal Design for residential construction.  Universal Design is not "handicapped accessible" design. It is design to be accomdating for everyone and incorporates a more attractive design style. Then National Assocation of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute surveyed mature homeowners and renters about what features they prefer.

Builders responded to the survery as well, citing lever-handles, wider doors and hallways, full bath on entry level floors, to be priority items.  However, homeowners valued non-slip floors, larger storage, lower cabinets, and emergency call buttons.

Sandra Timmermann, director of MetLife Mature Market Institute, says that, "The data suggests that builders will have to be more tuned in to consumer needs, but potential buyers may be somewhat shortsighted as well."

We think that homeowners and builders alike need to be aware of their options, how it will affect their design, and budget, and listen to the needs being put out there.  A full bath on the entry level is not just in case an elderly person needs it- your child  may break a leg and getting her/him upstairs may be a challenge.  Grab bars in showers do not have to look instiutional.  Grab bars are great for women shaving, for children showering, and also for people as they get older.  Kohler makes traditional, contemporary, and faucet-matching grab bars.

If you have any questions on design or how to make your bathrooms and kitchens more functional, don't hesitate to call!

Busy Busy!

We have so much going on at Snow and Jones right now!  It's hard to keep up with all the great events going on.

We just attended the New England Design Hall of Fame at the State Room and watched some amazing individuals get inducted.  As a sponsor of this event, we get to bring a table of clients and had a lovely evening with them.  Check out our Facebook page to see more pictures of the event.

On the same night, the National Assocation of the Remodeling Industry honored their members with the Contractor of the Year Awards.  Members entered their best projects and were awarded Silver and Gold Awards based on the quality of their work.  Congratulations to Snow and Jones Customers:

Thorson Restoration- Gold Award for  Residential Addition Under $200,000

Cregg Sweeney LLC- Gold Award for Residential Interiors

Capizzi Home Improvement- Gold Award for Entire Home $500,0001+

Peterson Builders- Customer Service Award

We are thrilled to see so many of our customers creating award winning projects.

We are also gearing up to host a networking meeting of the South Shore Young Professionals on Wednesday November 18 at 5:30 in our showroom at 85 Accord Park Dr. Norwell.  This is a great opportunity to meet people living and working on the South Shore, and to grow your business network.
Register for the event at http://www.southshoreyoungprofessionals.com/.

New displays are going in our showrooms every day!  Make sure to stop by and see what's changing.

We are also gearing up for our Fourth Annual Canned Food Drive to Benefit the Harwich Family Pantry.  Starting December 1, $5.00 or 5 cans gets you a Snow and Jones sweatshirt AND your money goes to the Harwich Family Pantry.  It's our favorite event of the year as we typically donate 3-4 pallets of food.  This year people need us more than ever.


What's going on with your business?

Fairmont Design Vanities

Our showrooms now carry vanities by Fairmont Designs.  The Tuxedo vanity is on display in both our Norwell and Yarmouth showroom.  At only 20", it is perfect for any tiny bathroom, but still provides some storage.  This cabinet, sink bowl, and mirror list at only $750.00, making it also an affordable option for any bathroom.  Check out the Fairmont website http://www.fairmontdesigns.com/  to see all the fabulous styles they offer.

Architectural Photography

The blog, Surroundings, written by local Duxbury designer Linda Merrill, has a fanatasic post up now on architectural photography and some great techniques used to capture a room.  She consults with photographer Michael J. Lee about different tips, as well as highlights some great work Michael has captured from amazing designers in the New England area.  Check out her blog to learn more great design tips!

On Vacation

I will not be posting any updates again until the 19th.  I am off to get married!!!

In the mean time, if you are thinking about remodeling or building, stop by our showrooms and talk to Steve, Gail, Josie,and Rich to see new products and get design inspiration!

New Marketing Trends

At Snow and Jones, we are always looking to help our contractor customers grow and market their company.  If you need any assistance, please feel free to give us a call!  Establishing your brand as a company is a lifelong process.  Having customers recoginze your company and your service offerings takes many different avenues.  2010 looks to be a promising year, and identifying new strategies to meet the needs of your customers can be difficult.  MediaPost Publications has identified 10 trends in advertising and marketing in order to make 2010 a successful year for your company.  Check out their article on these trends, including "value is the new black" and how to create a buzz among yoru customers.

Share Your Designs

When you are trying to desing a room, inspiration can be key.  And when you create a great new project, you want to share that project and your design ideas with the world.  Kohler allows you the chance to do this with their Design Galleries.  You can view, discuss, and rate projects completed by others, as well as upload pictures and a description of your project.  It's a great way to see obstacles other people have overcome, layouts, and style selections.  If you are a designer or builder, it's a great way to get some PR for your project. Start sharing your projects now. 

Bathroom Fans

It may not be the most glamorous or stylish part of building a new bathroom, but every bathroom should have proper ventaliation.  We sell bathroom fan by Broan, and they make some of the quietest fans in the industry.  Gone are the days of the entire bathroom shaking from a loud fan.  Broan also offers EnergyStar fans, reducing your utility costs.  Check out the Broan website to see their EnergyStar offerings, or stop by the Norwell Showroom.  We have an interactive display, allowing you to see the lights and hear the noise made by the fans. 

Networking with New England Home

One of the fun parts of being in the design industry is meeting and networking with the amazing design professionals working in the Boston area.  Tonight I am going to an industry networking party hosted by New England Home Magazine in Watertown at Mount Auburn Village, a church and historic homes converted into luxury living condos and townhouses.  These residences are the eptimony of luxury outside the city, offering indoor heated parking with an elevator to the residences, luxury kitchens, amazing bathrooms, and other exciting perks.  The event is expected to be attended by over 100 designers, builders, architects, and luxury suppliers.  It's sure to be a great night meeting some of the best in the industry!

High Efficiency Equipment Trainings

Your clients are demanding efficiency in their heating equipment.  Come learn more in-depth and technical information about the Weil-McLain Ultra 3 boilers and Eternal'S Hybrid Water Heaters.  These products offer your homeowners the efficiencies and low operating costs they want, and many rebates are available.

Tuesday September 29:  Hilton Garden Inn    Plymouth, MA  Rt. 3 to Exit 5
Wednesday September 30:  Hyannis Golf Course   Hyannis, AM   Rt. 6 to Exit 6

Both trainings are at 5:00pm.  Dinner will be served.  Please email kdanielle.jones@snowandjones.com or stop by a branch to register.

Fall into a New Kitchen with Kohler

Starting September 15, we are excited to bring to you a kitchen sink and faucet promotion with Kohler.  Purchase a Kohler kitchen faucet with a list price of $500 or higher, and receive a select Kohler kitchen sink for only $100.  There are some great double and single stainless and cast iron sinks available.  This promotin runs in our showrooms from September 15- November 15.  For more information, stop by our showrooms in Norwell or Yarmouth, or email kdanielle.jones@snowandjones.com. 

Symmons Factory Tour

Rich, Josie, and I were fortunate enough to take a factory tour of Symmons yesterday. Symmons manufactures shower valves and faucets right in Braintree, MA. We were given in depth training on their valves and the tremendous manufacturing process that goes into making their products. Symmons uses the finest quality brass in their products, ensuring a lifetime of use in your home.

The factory tour included seeing different parts of the valve being made, as well as the intense quality control process that Symmons uses to ensure that the product meets their strict quality standards. Symmons employs over 200 local Massachusetts residents in their manufacturing plants, so by purchasing Symmons products, you are supporting your neighbors. Symmons products have a lifetime warranty on the parts and the finish, and are very competitively priced, with great style.

We really enjoyed this tour and learning more about the process of making faucets and the incredible amount of work that goes into creating them. Check out the Symmons website to view their great product offerings, and to view the website on replacing your shower trim. Over 6 million New England homes have Temptrol vales in them and the videos on the Symmons website shows you how easy it is to give your bathroom a quick fresh. Stop by our showrooms to see your options for great, stylish trim.

New England Design Hall of Fame

I know we've posted about this before, but one of our favorite events of the year is the New England Design Hall of Fame induction evening, this year held on November 4. This event is attended by the "Who's Who" of residential architecture and design of New England. People who have made lifetime impacts on New England Designed are nominated and inducted into the Hall of Fame. The actual Hall of Fame is located outside the Boston Design Center, and each inductee is honored with their own birch tree, planted in the courtyard. It adds a classic touch of elegance to the courtyard and pays great homage to those who shaped our industry.

To learn more about the Design Hall of Fame, tickets for the event, and the people who have shaped our industry, please visit the Design Hall of Fame website.

Heating Season is Coming

The weather today is gross and it's so humid it's tough to breathe. While we all complained about the constant rain, nobody wanted heat like this! It's hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. This is an excellent time of the year to get your heating system serviced before the local heating contractors get busy replacing systems. It's also a great time to consider replacing your heating system for a more efficient model.

Snow and Jones is a distributor of Weil-McLain boilers. They have a diverse product offering to fit your needs. Weil-McLain boilers come with a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, assuring you quality and warranties. Check out their great website, full of information about their product offerings and heating systems in general. http://www.weil-mclain.com/consumers/

If you have any questions, visit http://www.snowandjones.com/ for a list of our stores and phone numbers. Snow and Jones staff is very well trained on these products and providing your information to share with your contractors. Next post I'll let you know about the line of furnances we carry for warm air systems. Heating season will be here before you know it!

Meet the Showroom Staff

Snow and Jones prides itself on having a tremendous showroom staff. Our staff combines years of industry experience and product training. These trainings cover not only product offerings and styles, but technical plumbing knowledge. This knowledge really makes your selection process run quick and smooth. It is not your job to know how to make your rainshower head, handheld, and body sprays work together. We will put those pieces together for you and get all the proper pieces that your plumber will need to install your shower.

Our Norwell Showroom Manager is Steven Conneen- steven.conneen@snowandjones.com. Steve has been a Snow and Jones employee in all facets of our business for over 10 years. Steve has a tremendous technical background and has a strong base of plumbing and building contractors who rely on his knowledge base.

Richard Gacek - richard.gacek@snowandjones.com - is another constant face in our Norwell showroom- . Rich has a diverse background in the HVAC field, and now shares his knowledge of plumbing with our showroom clients. Rich also has a strong technical background, and enjoys sharing his design style with clients.

Josie MacKinnon - joann.mackinnon@snowandjones.com - works in both our Norwell and Yarmouth showrooms. Josie has a background in tile as well, which really helps add to her overall knowledge of bath design.

Gail Smith- gail.smith@snowandjones.com - is our Yarmouth showroom manager. Gail has had years of industry experience in both inside and outside sales for plumbing wholesalers, and works with a strong base of clients who depend on her technical knowledge and style.

Danielle Jones- kdanielle.jones@snowandjones.com- works in both our Norwell and Yarmouth showrooms- and also authors this blog! I handle the marketing for company, as well as work in the showrooms. I enjoy working with both our contractor and homeowner clients in creating beautiful projects.

Stop by our showrooms and get to know our staff. If you are a plumber or contractor, please rely on our staff to work with your homeowners and take the pressure of selections and style off of you. If you are a homeowner, allow us to help you make your product selections and let you leave feeling confident that you have great quality products that fit your design needs.

So What Exactly Happens at our Showroom?

Hopefully by now, I have shared a what Snow and Jones does. We work with plumbers, builders, designers, architects, and homeowners on their plumbing, heating, water filtration, air conditioning, kitchen, and bath products. Our interactions with homeowners mainly take place in our Kitchen and Bath Solutions Showrooms in Norwell and South Yarmouth.

These showrooms feature large displays of faucets, shower heads, toilets, whirlpools and baths, vanities, kitchen sinks and faucets, and more. We have working steam showers, air baths, and fully functioning showerhead displays.

Here are some tips to make your showroom visit the most successful possible:

1. When visiting the showroom, it is helpful, but not necessary, to schedule an appointment. A dedicated showroom associate will clear time to help you make your selections.

2. Please bring any plans and dimensions that you have available. This includes both width and depth of your tubs/showers/vanities, and the width of your kitchen cabinets. There is no "standard" size and there are so many selection possibilities. It's time consuming for you when you select a 72x42" tub, tell your contractor, and realize you need to come back to change your tub size to a 60x32". Same with your kitchen cabinet- certain size sinks only fit in certain size cabinets. It is disappointing when you get your heart set on a 33x22'' double bowl sink, but only have a 30" cabinet. Measurements allow you to make selections you know will work, and save you from making a second trip for changes.

3. Ask your contractor when he needs the items on site. Product lead time vary, and knowing when you need your items may change the products selection choices.

4. If you have any magazine pictures or anything you really want, bring them in! We can help you create your design around inspirations that you may have.

5. Ask your plumber for the rough-in dimensions of your toilet. Measuring from the wall to the bolts on the floor will provide you with your rough-in dimension. 12" is standard, but older homes or some homes where there were special construction considerations may have 10" or 14" roughs. Also measure how long of a toilet you can fit. If you have a door swing or wall close to the toilet, you may not be able to fit certain toilets. For example, a lot of elongated toilets are 30" long overall, and that may not fit in your bathroom, allowing us to look for smaller toilets.

6. Consider any finishes or colors you may want to use in your bathroom. While Brushed Nickel and Oil Rubbed Bronze are popular, warm, finishes, they do add 40% to the cost of a faucet versus a Polished Chrome. Colors of toilets/tubs also run more than a white.

7. Pick 3 Priority Items for Your Project: You may have your heart set on having a beautiful cross handle faucet in your bathroom, a pot filler in the kitchen, and a nice handheld in your shower. By picking priority items, this allows you to know which products you want to make an investment. For example, that pot filler may cost $1,000, but we can find you very moderately priced, attractive, quality faucets for your childrens' bathrooms, to help you offset those expenses. Picking priority items allows us to work within your budget.

8. Share Your Budget: Building and remodeling can get pricey. Between the flooring, tile, moldings, hardware, etc., you have a lot to purchase in materials. By establishing a budget, you help your sales associate direct you to items that will fit your design, quality, and budget needs.

9. Ask your builder, contractor, or plumber who will be purchasing your items. Some builders/contractors/plumbers will handle the purchasing of the items for you. You will leave the showroom with a selection bid, and your contractor will call and order the items, handle the delivery, and often warranty the installation of the product. Others would prefer that you purchase the fixtures directly. Both of these are options in our showrooms, but knowing how your project will run will make this process run smoothly.

10. Know the name of your builder AND plumber: Often our clients know their builder, but not the plumber. The plumber often ends up purchasing the product, and we often end up needing to speak with your plumber to share your selections, lead time, and any specifications/installation information. So ask your builder who he will be using for a plumber!

Please stop by our showrooms and let us help you create the project of your dreams. In our next post, I will introduce our showroom staff and share with your how our plumbing expertise really provides a great additional resource for your project.

The Casual Gourmet

Snow and Jones never throws an event unless The Casual Gourmet of Centerville is available to cater. The Casual Gourmet provides superior customer service, amazing and DELICIOUS food selections, and has been incredible at helping us with everything from small breakfast events to large sitdown dinners. The Casual Gourmet values the needs of their clients and truly are consumate industry professionals.

Snow and Jones is a big believer in supporting local businesses and we ask that you take a minute to vote for the Causal Gourmet as "Best Cater" in the Cape Cod A List competition. You will be asked to register to vote, but there are 75 categories to select the best of the best of Cape Cod. http://capecodalist.cityvoter.com/contests/cape-cod-a-list/4735/weddings/caterer

Voting ends this weekend so vote now!!!

New Product- Kohler Flipside Handshower

The Kohler Flipside Handshower has four rotating spray faces that allow a completely unique showering experience. The Flip design spray head is sure to make your showering experience totally different and fun!

Yarmouth Honors Fallen Marine

Lt. Nicholas Xiahros of Yarmouth was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. His wake is being held today and funeral tomorrow. The town and businesses of Yarmouth have posted signs and ribbons all over town honoring Lt. Xiahros. Snow and Jones thanks all of our troops for their service and thinks it is great to see people being so supportive of our soldiers.

BusinessConnector- Get your business out there!

You're on Facebook, you may Twitter, you have a profile on LinkedIn. Another great outlet to promote yourself and your business is BusinessConnector.biz. Operated by Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine, this site lets you create a company profile and connect with other businesses on the Cape and the South Shore. With the ability to post pictures, videos, blogs, and press releases, BusinessConnector is another terrfiic way to create visibility for your company.

Watch for Unlicensed Contractors

As the economy slowed, construction slowed and this resulted in layoffs across the industry. Homeowners are now coming across "contractors" offering bargain rates to remodel their homes. These contractors are often unlicensed, uninsured, and not legal to perform work in your home. Their prices may seem incredible, but you are risking work that may not be performed to the standards you need, and this may result in you having to hire someone to come correct the work.

Recently, 42 unlicensed contractors were busted in New York. Homeowners often face legal battles trying to recoupe money from unlicensed contractors. Make sure your contractors are licensed and insured, and check references! A remodel is a big investment- treat it as such!

Remodel v. Diamond Studs

85% of women would select a $5,000 room remodel versus a pair of diamond stud earrings. More than half (51 percent) of women dislike the décor in at least one room in their best friend’s home, but only 55 percent of women would tell them. Ladies, any thoughts? Read more....

New Displays

Stop by the Norwell showroom to see new Kohler, Grohe, and Symmons displays. There are tons of new kitchen and lavatory faucets, as well as several new sinks. Be sure to see the Botanical Gardens sink, featuring a hand painted layout of flowers in black, as well as a tiny ladybug providing a little pizzaz! The new Evenweave apron front sink is sure to be a big hit here in New England.

New displays are coming soon in Yarmouth as well.

Save the Date

http://nedesignhalloffame.com

Snow and Jones is a proud sponsor of the New England Design Hall of Fame.

Martha's Vineyard Decorator Showhouse and Garden

Looking for something interesting to do this summer? Take a trip to the Vineyard and while you are there, stop by the Decorator Showhouse and Garden. Through the collaboration of interior designers, landscape architects and other Island trade specialists, the Captain Thomas Mellen House has been transformed into a show case of artistry, craftsmanship and whimsy. More than 35 Vineyard craftsmen and decorators will transform each of the rooms to reflect their interpretation of Edgartown's unique style. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the home and gardens as well as participate in the demonstrations and lectures planned throughout the summer under a tent on the house’s grounds.

To learn more about the home and hours of operations, visit the showhouse website http://www.marthasvineyardshowhouse.com/.

Design Ideas- What to do?

Sometimes the hardest part of a building or remodeling project is assembling your ideas together into one design. A great way to get ideas for your projects it to take peaks at completed projects, cut/print pictures, and bring them to your designer/builder/architect/plumbing showroom. Together, your team can pull your concepts together into your ideal projects.

Kohler works with industry publications and assocations to create "Idea Homes", incorporating different plumbing, kitchen, furniture, and paint products together to create themes. On the Idea Homes website, you can look at completed homes and view a list of fixtures, furniture pieces, and even the paint colors used. This site is so helpful in assembling your ideas!

2010 HGTV Green Home to be in Plymouth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. [July 7, 2009] HGTV will build its third annual “green” home in The Pinehills, an innovative master-planned community located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The 2010 HGTV Green Home, just eight miles north of Cape Cod, will be a custom-built, shingle-style cottage with approximately 2,100 square feet of living space. It will feature construction and design elements that are known to contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier living environment.

“The Pinehills is the perfect community for our third annual HGTV Green Home because it allows us to showcase the latest cost efficient, accessible and eco-friendly approaches to living that can be incorporated into any home,” said Jim Samples, president of HGTV.

Viewers can enter for a chance to win the HGTV Green Home Giveaway grand prize package during the entry period from April 16 – June 4, 2010.

“This will be our first HGTV Green Home in a New England location, which gives us the chance to demonstrate the best building products and practices uniquely suited for the charm and challenges of a northeast climate,” said Jack Thomasson, HGTV House Planner. “As an added bonus, The Pinehills offers desirable features and amenities such as beautiful wooded lots, walking and nature trails, a swimming pool, three championship-caliber golf courses and the many attractions of The Village Green with its shopping and health/fitness facilities.”

Starting next April, fans can visit HGTV.com for a virtual tour of the home or they can see a televised tour during the HGTV Green Home 2010 special on Sunday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

“We’re honored that HGTV has selected The Pinehills as the location of its 2010 HGTV Green Home,” said Tony Green, managing partner, Pinehills LLC. “The Pinehills community is based on a vision that protects the natural environment in a variety of ways - from preserving 70% of the land as open space to providing miles of walking trails to connect neighborhoods to shops and services at The Village Green. The HGTV Green Home will be constructed by MacKenzie Brothers, one of the outstanding custom home builders at The Pinehills.”

HGTV Green Homes are always fabulously constructed homes that combine tremendous design with the latest in green products. Kohler and Rinnai are always featured in HGTV Green Homes, and are carried by Snow and Jones. Stop by a showroom to learn about how you can incorporate green products into your remodel or new home!

To learn more about the HGTV 2010 Green Home, visit : http://blog.hgtv.com/greenhome/2009/07/07/hgtv-green-home-2010-location-revealed/.

Wet Rooms- Too European for New England?

The Wet Room is a popular bathroom design layout in Europe, and become increasingly popular in the United States. A wet room is typically all tiled, with all faucets/fixtures open. Showers may have a glass panel to block general splashing, but the room is really open. This makes a small bathroom seem much more spacious and open.

Some cautions for a wet room-

1. Make sure you have a reputable contractor/plumber who can work the drainage correctly.

2. A handshower is a must- cleaning the tile room will be a breeze with a handshower.

3. Consider resale value- a wet room is a great luxury feature, but if this is the only bathroom in your home, another homeowner may not be comfortable with the open layout.

Our vote is that a Wet Room is not too modern for a New England home, and creates a unique bonus in your home. This design style is also great for a bathroom off a pool, near a mudroom, or anywhere where it would be easy to hose off children.

Remodeling Tips

Thinking about remodeling your kitchen or bathroom? You'll definitely want to create a space you'll fall in love with, one that's tailored to your individual style and functional needs.
If you're planning on selling at some point, you'll also want to consider including features that are likely to please prospective buyers and ultimately offer the greatest return on your investment.
Want the best of both worlds? Read what the experts say about making changes that are likely to offer the best payback down the road.
Get the biggest bang for your remodel buck:

• In the Bathroom


• In the Kitchen

Looking for a great remodelers? Visit http://www.naricapecod.com/ or http://www.emnari.org/ to learn more about the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and certified remodelers in your area.

Share and Get Ideas with Kohler

Kohler introduced a great design gallery this year where homeowners and designers can share projects where they have used Kohler products. On this site, you can upload your own project to share, as well as rate and discuss projects completed by others. This is a terrific way to get ideas for projects, as well as learn what you like and what you do not like. Visit the Share Photos to learn more and start gathering ideas!

Twitter - StacyStyle

There are so many people on Twitter, updating the world on what's going on in their lives or within their company. One of Snow and Jones's favorite Twitterers is Stacy Kunstel, the homes editor of New England Home magazine. Stacy works with a variety of publications around the country and is always posting great ideas and industry inside news. Check her out at http://twitter.com/stacystyle.

Duxbury Beach Home

Snow and Jones had the priviledge of working with Vince Grechen of Circa Home Furnishings and his clients on their Duxbury Beach vacation home. This complete tear down has been so creatively designed with a great layout for entertaining, and is accented with terrific bright colors, providing a true vacation atmosphere. This home features the Kohler Margaux series of faucets in the bathrooms, and Kohler Ballard vanities.

This home will be featured in the 2009 issue of Southern New England Home magazine. To obtain a copy of this magazine once it is released, please email kdanielle.jones@snowandjones.com.

DTV- The Ultimate in Custom Showering

The Kohler DTV and DTVII are the ultimate in custom showering. These showering systems allow you control 8-10 outlets of water at the same time. You can pre-set your temperature and showerheads that you want to come on, and can control the flow through a digital control. The DTVII allows you to add a media module to control music with speakers in your shower, hooked up to your sound system, Ipod, or computer. You can also add the Ambient Rain Panel, which provides different light themes, such as "Rain", "Thunder", or "Morning", as well as custom light arrangements. Steam can also be added to this system. To explore the DTV systems, please visit the Kohler DTV website.

Eternal Water Heater Trainings

Snow and Jones is proud to be the only distributor in New England of the Eternal Hybrid Water Heater, the newest in technology in the water heater market. This product produced instantaneous hot water, but also has a small water reserve, allowing more water flow for more extended periods of time.

We will be hosting technical trainings for the trade on the following dates:

Tuesday June 16: 85 Accord Park Dr. Norwell, MA

Tuesday June 23: 167 White's Path. South Yarmouth, MA

Wednesday June 24: 126 Long Pond Dr. Plymouth, MA

Trainings will run from 4:00-6:00pm and pizza and drinks will be served. Please stop by a branch for more information.

Tub/Shower Blowout Clearance

We have some rock-bottom prices on Kohler tub/showers. Please stop by a branch to see the list. The Norwell and Yarmouth showrooms also have amazing deals on clearance faucets right now!

Become a Fan on Facebook

Facebook has become an overwhelming internet sensation. People are spending a lot of time reconnecting with friends and family, sharing photos, and now, making connections with new businesses. Become a fan of Snow and Jones on Facebook and find even more ways to stay connected! Trainings, events, and other create information is available here, and lets you stay connected with our other customers and staff.

Connect with us now!

It's Like an IPod for Your Shower

Taking a shower got real interesting in the past two years. Both Kohler and Moen have introduced Digital Shower Valves. These valves operate your shower providing you with complete custom options for your shower. Today we will look at the Moen ioDigital Valve, and later look at the Kohler DTV valve.

The Moen ioDigital valve allows you to have an on/off button for your water, and a digital temperate control. One version allows you to control multiple shower outlets, including handhelds and body sprays. A more simple version just allows you to control one showerhead. The third version functions with your whirlpool tub fill. All setups are available with a remote, allowing you to turn on the shower from your bedroom, or elsewhere in your home. Check out the ioDigital website to view this product in action and in a few weeks, stop by the Yarmouth showroom to see the ioDigital controls.

Simple Tips for Refreshing Your Bathroom

When Cape Business and Cape Health and Wealth Magazines needed an expert source for an article on refreshing bathrooms, they came right to Snow and Jones. A complete remodel of a bathroom can be a large projects, but there are some simple and low-cost ways to "refresh" your bathroom. Refreshing your bathroom can make it a more enjoyable space for you, as well as add features that other homeowners are seeking, increasing your retail value. Check out the article and stop by our showrooms in Norwell and South Yarmouth to let our sales associates show you some great options for you bathrooms.



Also, stop by the Creative Specialities by Moen website. They have tons of great accessory styles to match any bathroom, all at affordable prices!

New Product Update- Kohler Island Kitchen Sink

Designing a kitchen now includes incorporating a variety of materials and finishes into your workspace. A kitchen island can often become a great focal point of a kitchen and provides functional storage space and a work area. The new Kohler Iron/Occassions Island features a Cast Iron top that will not scratch and will provide you a lifetime warranty against chipping. Cast Iron is a 93% recycled material, allowing you to incorporate "Green'' into your kitchen.

The island has an integrated sink and is pre-drilled for your faucet. It is extremely easy to clean. The top comes in a wide variety of colors to match any decor. The island itself has stainless racks and a stainless tower to conceal the plumbing. This island could make a great addition to any kitchen.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Snow and Jones wishes our customers a happy Memorial Day. We also want to thank all the troops for their work in serving our country. Snow and Jones is an avid supporter of Homes For Our Troops, a tremendous organization that builds homes for wounded soliders. Please visit their website to learn what you can do to help. Have a great weekend!

Snow and Jones Gears up for NARI Pig Roast

Snow and Jones is very excited to host the June meeting of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Cape Cod. NARI is a terrific organization of remodelers, dedicated to improving their education and customer service.

This Thursday June 4, 2009 meeting begins at 5:30pm. Members will network, then be join for dinner. The pig roast is being catered by Tommy Akers, and remaining delicious dinner items like shrimp and scallop kabobs and "Create Your Own Burgers" are being catered by The Casual Gourmet of Centerville.

After dinner, architects David Sharff and Pav Wilkinson will present a plan they have constructed for a family home, and explain why design is so important. We will then break into roundtable discussions featuring:

Designing a Heating System: April Johnson, Weil-McLain

Selecting Color- Sue Pike

Appliance Finishes and Design- Mike Trembley, KAM Appliances

Showering, Valves, and Faucets- Irivn Johnson, Grohe, Inc.

Finishes and Design- Jayne Pelosi, Renaissance Interior Design

Snow and Jones hopes that you can join us for this meeting. If you would like to attend complimentary as a guest of Snow and Jones, please email kdanielle.jones@snowandjones.com.

Tremendous Quality and Style at Competitive Pricing

Grohe faucets are a top of the line faucet. Grohe faucets feature industry leading quality materials, construction, finish plating, and style. For years, getting a faucet of this quality meant paying a premium price. Grohe has now made available several faucets with the same great Grohe parts, but at extremely competitive prices.

The Grohe Arden faucet (pictured above) featurs a solid brass spout and the Grohe Starlight Chrome or Brushed Nickel finishes. A list price of $209.00 in chrome makes this faucet a true bargin! Grohe faucets have a lifetime warranty on the parts and finish, making this faucet a lifetime investment.

Check the Grohe website to see their other great selections, as well as some competitively priced faucets, such as the Eurosmart single lever faucet and the Euphoria handheld showers.

2009 New Kitchen and Bath Product Updates- Kohler Honed White

The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is an exciting time of year for our industry. Vendors typically premier their new products at this event and this year our vendors have some extremely new and innovative products. For the next few weeks, we will share with you some new products that are sure to be popular among designers and consumers alike.

The biggest introduction this year by Kohler was their new fixture finish, Honed White. Kohler describes Honed White, "Like stone that has been smoothed and softened by time, Honed White places enduring warmth and sophistication at your fingertips." This new finish is a matte white finish, matching honed stone finishes that are so popular among architects and designers, yet has the functionality and cleanliness of vitreous china. This finish is exclusive to Kohler.

Honed White will be available in the new Reve suite, as well as some popular toilets and sinks. Stop by the Honed White website to learn more about the color, the products available, and see videos and images. Please call our showrooms if you have any questions about the new products by Kohler.

Join us at an Earth Day Festival Sunday!

Snow and Jones is proud to be a sponsor of the South Shore Natural Science Center's Earth Day celebration. This day features terrific family activites, including arts and crafts, nature walks, animal demonstrations, and more. Snow and Jones will have a table featuring enivormentally friendly plumbing and heating products. Please contact us for complimentary tickets!

The Design Process- Where to Shop?

Making selections for your new home or remodel can be overwhelming. Just picking a builder or a designer can be a huge process, then comes the product selections. There are hundreds of brands of all sorts of products and the amounts of materials you need to pick can be numerous. A great place to start is your local, specialized home magazines. They have great local resources to find everything you need. Snow and Jones can give you suggestions on where to start, and our showrooms often have issues of local magazines you can take complimentary.

Our first suggestion on where to start for advice is the New England Home Magazine Gold Guide. This pocket reference book lists local suppliers, builders, architects, designers, and specialty craftsman that all have well known reputations for excellence in service and products. New England Home is always a great resource for design ideas and inspiration as well. Stop by or call Snow and Jones Kitchen and Bath Solutions showrooms for the newest issues, or for your own copy of the Gold Guide.