WOMEN LIKE US

Since March is Women’s History Month we wanted to highlight some facts related to women at work including some statistics regarding women who, like us, work in “nontraditional jobs.”

Women at Work Prior to the 19th century, most women who earned a living worked as seamstresses, took in laundry, or kept boardinghouses.  By the turn of the century women were primarily limited to factory labor or domestic work.   Some women; however, worked in professional jobs such as writing and teaching.  According to Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia: During wartime women have served in the armed forces. In the United States during World War II almost 300,000 women served in the Army and Navy, performing such noncombatant jobs as secretaries, typists, and nurses.

Today, women constituted nearly half of all employed persons in the United States.  Only 6.2 percent of employed women worked in nontraditional occupations in 2008.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics more than one-half of all working women are clustered in 25 of 504 job categories.  Excluding teachers and nurses, most of these categories are among the lowest-paid “traditionally female” occupations.

What is a nontraditional job? According to the United States Department of Labor a nontraditional occupation for women is one in which women comprise 25 percent or less of total employment.

Examples of nontraditional jobs for women: Paramedics, police officers, detectives, architects, chefs, barbers, automotive, clergy, computer and office machine repairers, engineers, park rangers, welding, railroad conductors, machinists, truck drivers, fire fighters, building trades, aircraft pilots, construction occupations (like ours), and small engine mechanics. Why do women want nontraditional jobs?

According to AFSCME here are some of the reasons women aspire to hold nontraditional jobs. 

• Better pay — 20%-30% more than women in traditionally female jobs.

RAMMED EARTH REVIVAL

Rammed earth is another natural material making a giant comeback. From tiny hut-like dwellings in the dry regions of Africa to the wet northern European region—this ancient technique has been used around the globe since 5,000 B.C. Using natural materials such as earth, chalk, lime and gravel—the rammed earth technique can be labor-intensive to construct. Wall construction begins with a temporary wooden frame that acts as a mould for the desired shape and dimensions of each section. The earthen materials are then dampened, poured into the sturdy mould, and compressed into batches that are gradually built to desired size. The result is a solid, durable, sustainable wall of earth.

One wonderful characteristic of a rammed earth structure is its ability to regulate temperature—absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. Another huge bonus is that rammed earth structures last indefinitely. That’s right—forever. Finally, it’s estimated that rammed-earth structures can be built for around two-thirds the cost of a standard frame home (after all, dirt is dirt cheap).

Today, it estimated that around one third of the world’s population live in mostly low-rise earthen dwellings in less developed countries. However, in more urbanized areas with sustainably-oriented architects at the helm, rammed earth is experiencing quite a revival. Regardless of vicinity—rammed earth is a wonderful earth-centric way to leave a lighter footprint.

Pictured here is a wonderfully modern interpretation of this very ancient technique by Kendle Design. This glorious Quartz Mountain home captures the stark beauty of the Arizona Dessert.   For more visit kendledesign.com.

AU NATUREL MAKES A COME BACK

Using natural materials in the construction of buildings and homes is nothing new. Elements like bamboo, straw, rammed earth, adobe (sun-baked mud brick) and thatch were all vital in the making of almost every kind of pre-historic building structure. Sustainable materials were in abundance just waiting to be harvested and used—nature at your fingertips. Everything was DYI. If you wanted a home you’d gather what was nearby, get ingenious, and build something solid.

Of course that was prior to the breakthrough of iron and steel and factories and full-time jobs and the transportation boom and the information age. Well folks, the pendulum always swings. There is renewed interest in incorporating those same natural materials into building construction. Not only do they lessen environmental impact but they also offer uniquely random characteristics not found in common material; for example—the stunningly beautiful, inherent surface details of a rammed-earth wall or the sculpted pattern of a troweled adobe floor.

Sustainable Award-Winning Home: Elamang Avenue by Luigi Rosselli

The irony of this swinging pendulum is this: using natural elements like dry vegetation and heather for thatching and straw bales for insulation were employed because they were accessible and low-cost to everyone. Back then the weaving and building and harvesting and dry stacking was up to the common man. Now, a thatched ecologically friendly roof (for example) is actually cost prohibitive because of its labor intensity (assuming that you wouldn’t be thatching yourself) and is thus the choice of more affluent folks. As with all new products and services, eventually the costs will come down and utilizing natural materials will likely become the expectation rather than the exception.

Stay tuned for more on rammed walls.

HERE COMES THE MODERN AMERICAN FARMHOUSE

Image Published by Dwell and originally appeared in Ozark Original

When my partner and I received the blueprints for our Winona Park modern farmhouse our hearts literally pounded. Turns out we both had secret desires to work on a layout of this nature. There’s something curiously optimistic about the generous open space that readily draws you in. It turns out we’re not the only ones who are jazzed about the Modern American Farmhouse. These spacious and gabled architectural archetypes are springing up among cornfields, neighborhoods and suburbia across America.

Historically American Farmhouses were designed to work on large acreage. Families stayed in one room at a time while the additional rooms were being built. The style offered a woodsy functionality worth waiting for. Plans were as varied as the Regions upon which they were built. Earthy and chic, from shot-gun style to a more industrial flair, one thing is certain—the Modern American Farmhouse is here to stay.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MODERN AMERICAN FARMHOUSE:

• Wood siding on the exterior
• Wide or Wrap-around porches
• Simple roof structure, metal roofs are increasingly popular
• Mostly two-story
• Composed of basic shapes (usually rectangular) to allow for expansion
• Double hung windows and shutters
• Usually built on larger pieces of property
• Often accompanied by out buildings, barns and garages

Wouldn't you agree the Modern American Farmhouse is here to stay?

FIVE THINGS WE DO REALLY WELL

The topsy-turvy economy of recent years has forced many businesses to reconcile with their true nature. We feel that capitalizing on the inherent strengths and talents that naturally exist in your business is the best way to set your services apart. Whether you own a quaint café or a king-sized franchise—knowing your strengths (and weaknesses) is the lifeblood to any business success. Below are five things we KNOW we we're good at:

BEING RELIABLE

If we say we’ll meet you somewhere at a certain time you can count on it. We always live up to our promises and obligations. A home renovation can be a costly endeavor and we don’t take it lightly. We earn our clients trust by never making promises we can’t keep.

STAYING NIMBLE

The advantages of running a small company are many. We think one of the most important advantages is our ability to execute swift changes. It costs big companies big time and big money to make changes that we can do with a phone call. We’d rather spend time being productive on our job sites than burn time at endless strategy meetings where consensus is rarely reached.

DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

Fortunately we have solid relationships with everyone we work with. Over time, we’ve cultivated our “go to” real estate agents, bankers, sub-contractors, and architects and have them all on speed dial. Building strong business relationships takes time and follow-through. But strong business relationships in any business are pure gold.

HAVING A DISTINCTIVE BRAND

From face-to-face contact to social media—we work hard to ensure that our unique brand message is delivered consistently. We recently added this blog in order to let everyone know a little bit more about Level Craft. Who we are—Debbie and Virginia. What our aesthetic is—simple, clean, functional, warm, modern, and natural. And what we represent—quality, detail, and craftsmanship.

MAKING NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS

At Level Craft we know the importance of adjusting our strategies and pricing when a course correction is required. We keep a finger on the pulse of our finicky and temperamental market so we can adjust our pricing accordingly. Being willing to change helps us remain competitive within our sometimes temperamental marketplace.

COMING SOON WINNONA PARK MODERN FARMHOUSE

We have a beautiful 4 bedroom 3 ½ bath modern farmhouse underway in the Winnona Park area of Decatur. This house is turning into a real showpiece. A stone’s throw away from Agnes Scott, it epitomizes the phrase “modern farmhouse.” With red weathered brick porch piers and highly sustainable standing seam metal roof—the exterior of the home is a sleeker interpretation of the classic farmhouse. Metal roofs like this are preferred by the US Environmental Protection Agency because they help to prevent solar heat gain thus making them “cooler.” They also provide a very unique aesthetic effect to the home’s exterior.

Inside are hardwood floors throughout, a spacious and open living space and 9’ ceilings. Shaker-style cabinets built from reclaimed wood rescued from another local historical home are a unique kitchen feature. Stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and an eat-in peninsula make the kitchen both functional and fashionable. The masterbath boasts an über-cool reclaimed clawfoot tub. Other desirable elements are a functional fireplace, oversized laundry room, generous closet spaces, mudroom, and a full basement for storage.

The home sits on a very large lot with a screened in back porch and fully fenced landscaped back yard. It’s truly an urban oasis—accessible to shopping and commercial areas yet set back generously from S. Candler Street thus preventing extraneous street noise. We are in the process of deciding between grey owl, harbor grey, campfire smoke or very light chromium for the exterior color. The choice could be yours if you’re interested in this very special property and want to arrange a pre-market preview by contacting Lewis & Redwine Realty at 404-897-1595.

EASTSIDE FAVORITES

We were thrilled to see Atlanta’s Westside featured in April’s edition of House Beautiful.  Along with areas like Chicago’s Lincoln Park, New York’s Flatiron District, and San Francisco’s Sacramento Street, Atlanta’s Westside “Design District” depicts the transformative and creative energy of this city.  The Westside once “blighted with abandoned warehouses,” is now dotted with über-chic boutiques and smartly modish housing.

No offense to the awesome Westside but we thought we’d give credit where credit is due and give a shout out to just a few of our “Eastside” favorites.

Located in the heart of downtown Decatur, Heliotrope offers unique and light-hearted home and personal accessories.  This is our go-to place for one-of-a-kind gifts.  If we’re looking for something truly unusual we’ll check out what’s new at Kudzu Antique Market.  From Folk Art and collectibles to garden art and Fair Trade goods—if we troll the aisles long enough we always find something we simply can’t live without.

Inman Park’s City Issue (pictured in this posting) is another homegrown Eastside favorite. Specializing in vintage and modern furnishings from the 50’s through the early 70’s, mid-century modern design has experienced a huge resurgence. Jennifer Sams, owner of City Issue speculates “In the past ten to twenty years mid-century modern has become more appealing because the simple, clean lines and spare design provide balance.”  Among the myriad of whimsically sleek mid-century modern treasures you’ll find at City Issue are sectional sofas, arc lamps, a pair of Danish “Penguin Chairs,” wall clocks, magazine racks, wool rugs, crystal candle holders, cocktail tables, cabinets, and credenzas.  For a full list of City Issue inventory check out www.cityissue.com.

SAVE TIME + STOP PROCRASTINATING

We all do it. Put off phone calls. Delay scheduling medical appointments. Wait until the evening of April 14th to do our taxes. We find reasons to avoid doing even the smallest task. The experts actually have a phrase for it—“postponement problems.” The reality is procrastination can be costly both in business and in personal life. I don’t know many people who have the luxury of procrastination these days. And as business owners procrastination could literally affect our livelihood. So we take this procrastination business seriously. Here are some tips that help us to stay on point:

Tackle your biggest task first. Finishing the largest task on your to do list will give you an extra jolt of energy. You can then parlay that momentum into completing the rest of the items on your to-do list.

 Reward yourself. Procrastination comes from a lack of motivation. Well, the best way to self-motivate is to reward yourself for buckling down. The experts call it “positive reinforcement.” Whether you’re a human or Pavlov’s dog—positive reinforcement is the best way to transform inertia into progress. Try it. You’ll be amazed at how motivating a chocolate bar or a glass of red wine can be.

Find your flow. When you have a deadline, fixate on getting the nuts and bolts of your project done first. Find your flow. Flow is that time when you’re totally absorbed in what you’re doing and making great progress. The worst thing you can do during this time of flowing productivity is to stop what you’re doing and critique. Get the lion’s share of the job done first. Go back later when the heavy lifting is done for critiquing or editing.

Break your project into smaller chunks. It’s easiest to stall out on larger projects since they require more steps. Break your large project into smaller chunks. Make a check list. Post it somewhere visible. Marking off items will help keep you motivated and focused for the duration of the project.

Turn off those negative tapes. When a to-do list looms it’s easy to get those negative tapes rolling in your head. “How will you ever get this done?” “Why did you wait until now to start this project?” It can really turn into a mind game. Swap those nagging tapes with ease-inducing ones. Replace “Why didn’t you start this sooner,” with something positive like, “Completing tasks is something I do well.” It may sound a little head-shrinky but it totally works. It’s hard to work under stress—especially when it’s self-induced.

Make a check list. An old fashioned check list is still one of the best tools for getting things done. Placing a big check or x next to a completed task feels good and energizes you for more work.

Create a distraction-free work space. If you’re already having difficulty getting work done any distraction will easily pull your attention away. Don’t set yourself up for failure by being ear shot of the TV, barking dogs, noisy neighbors or any other distraction. Create a place where interruption is highly unlikely. Put on some noise-cancelling headphones if necessary. Stuff your iPhone under a pillow so you can’t hear it. However, if you insist on keeping your iPhone near add RescueTime—an app that blocks certain or all incoming texts, alerts, messages, etc.

“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” 
― Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

“Someday is not a day of the week.” 
― Janet Dailey (American Novelist)