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	Photo: Kee Photography

Heaven Sent

A Happy Homeowner's Tale Of Remodeling Done Right

    This is the story of a home remodel from heaven: No cost overruns, no shouting matches, no lawsuits, no divorces.
    Not that problems didn’t arise when we set out to double the size of our 1,500-square-foot Alameda bungalow and still keep the character of the 1920s-era house. We struggled for two years over plans. We found several architects we loved—all of whom were too busy to take our project. Contractors told us our budget was ridiculously small and pressured us to scale back.
    Then all of a sudden, it was like someone sprinkled fairy dust.San Francisco architect Dirk Stennick drew the vision we had in our heads after just one conversation: a two-story, set-back addition with two bedrooms and two baths over a family room flowing to a patio and backyard. We worked so well with Berkeley-based Alward Construction that by the time our master builder, Vince Boley, packed up and left, we felt like we were missing a member of the family. Joy and Jerry Wilkins of Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins Inc. created a period kitchen with a red island for pizazz.
    Looking back now, I can say the smooth process wasn’t an accident. First, as do-it-yourselfers for many years before embarking on the giant remodel, we already had the shouting matches and money fights with contractors, and learned from our mistakes. Second, we found professionals who stressed communication and working relationship above all—even money.
    When we moved to Alameda in 1990, our first project was a 1912 Arts and Crafts bungalow on the East End that had sand for a foundation and a souped-up 1960s look inside. Everything was avocado green and harvest gold. I peeled wallpaper and painted. My husband demolished his first kitchen and built his first deck. When we finally had the house fully restored and ready to sell, my husband had these words for me: “No more fixer-uppers.’’
    But there it was: A run-down jewel of a bungalow on an ample, overgrown lot in the heart of the Gold Coast, perfect for expansion. After heavily lobbying my better half, we took on fixer-upper No. 2.
    By then, I knew enough about home construction to be dangerous. I decided to be the “general contractor’’ for the five months it took to make the home habitable. I fought with the heating contractor because the furnace blew dirt from the crawl space into the house. I fought with the carpenter because the French doors he installed leaked pools when it rained. I fought with the plumber because he forgot to hook up the bathtub, leaving water to drain under the house for weeks, until we discovered the problem. By the end of the ordeal, only the painter and I were on speaking terms.
    But soon we moved in and embarked on phase two: the expansion. The problems and frustrations started immediately. When we found ourselves after a year without an architect or contractor willing to take on the project for the money we could spend, I decided that I would be the general once again.
    Longtime friend Jerry Wilkins told me not to, warning that I would end up in a fight with all my subcontractors. (How did he know?) While he agreed to do the kitchen, he suggested Berkeley contractor Keith Alward for the other rooms, adding: “He’ll be the best value for your dollar.’’
    The first time we met with Alward, he eyeballed our budget and said he could do something in that range. The second time we met, we sat on the couch in his Berkeley home/contractor’s office while he talked about good relationships. Besides being a builder, he holds a doctorate in psychology and writes child development textbooks. “Only in Berkeley,’’ I chuckled to myself. It was no joke. He stressed trust and working together. I left the couch with an overwhelming feeling of calm.
    Vince Boley, our project manager, only inspired more confidence. I barely lost sleep over the budget—because Boley did. When the price of lumber spiked and the framing of our house came in way over budget, he scoured for ways to make savings so that the project would come in on the money.
Boley was more of a stickler for perfection than we were. He tore out mistakes we couldn’t see. He re-mudded drywall spots I didn’t notice.
    Yes, the process was still exhausting, but it seemed easy because I never doubted we would end up with something beautiful. We love entertaining in our new expanded home, which has room for lots of friends. The Wilkins and the Alward team have all come by to celebrate. Boley and his wife helped us dance in the New Year 2006 under a disco ball in our new family room. In October, Alward won an award for our house: first place for residential edition from the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for Remodeling Industries. Boley took home the trophy.