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KITCHEN Confidence – Downtown Magazine – Spring 2018

If the best thing you can say about your kitchen is, “It’s functional,” it may be time for an update. It’s easy to be swept away by home design shows where happy couples go from sledgehammering dated cabinets to a fantasy chef’s kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances and a massive island in just 30 minutes. The reality is usually far from the reality television. But, with a little preparation, a pre-determined budget, and a knowledgeable team of experts, it is possible to turn a ho-hum kitchen into a welcoming space for eating and entertaining. Duce Construction Corporation president Rory McCreesh explains what you need to know before you dive into a renovation project. What are some of the most common challenges New Yorkers run into when designing a new kitchen? Designing around and maintaining access to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services. Also, space is never enough. New York is an incredibly dense city where every single inch has to be maximized— this is achieved through early collaboration between the design team, construction team, and the client. Often there’s additional space hidden behind walls and ceilings, but preplanning is key. Bilotta Kitchen & Home recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and Jim, Maria, and Regina Bilotta are still as hands on as their dad was when the firm first started. “An anniversary is a good time to reflect back on who we are and what has made us successful so we can continue to capitalize on our strengths and talents,” says Regina. A carpenter and builder of suburban homes, Jim Bilotta, Sr. launched the business in Mamaroneck, New York in 1985 and with his family, grew it into an international brand with added locations in New York City and Mount Kisco. The family says it’s their emphasis on the five “P’s”— people, product, projects, partners, and performance—that have made the business stand out from the competition. “Every kitchen tells a different story about who lives in the home and how it is used,” says Regina, who advises clients to “think ‘big’ and imagine everything you want in this kitchen because it will become the heart of your home.” Inside Bilotta’s showrooms, clients can find a wide range of products at every budget, for both single-family residences and multiunit developments. The company offers their own eponymous line of cabinetry as well as styles from Artcraft, Rutt, and Wood-Mode. “[We] are all in this together with one common goal: to create something beautiful, timeless, classic, and functional for our clients,” says Regina. “With this group we’ve gathered, you can’t miss!” In addition, Bilotta offers design and execution services. “Our reputation is built on trust,” says Regina. “Our reward is creating kitchens for three generations of the same families!” DT bilotta.com ============ How do you best handle telling your clients when something just isn’t physically possible? We tell them the truth as soon as we find out and we’re always ready with a plan b and a plan c. What are some small updates you can do to keep a kitchen trendy and new? Caulking, oiling, and tightening hinges and hardware, re-grouting stone and tile. You can also change out light fixtures, hardware, or plumbing fixtures, or redo flooring and paint. What’s one difficult renovation challenge you have faced? We had to build an 18-month project within 8-months of onsite access. Months prior to starting, we met with every tradesperson and planned and rehearsed every step of the job. We created graphs, time charts and scripts for every trade to follow. By the time the eight months began, everyone knew exactly what to do and when to do it. Once your new kitchen is in, how do you best maintain it? Basic maintenance, keep things clean, fix chips and scratches right away before water and dirt make it worse. Grease from cooking attracts dirt and will make maintenance hard. Good exhaust and washable materials are also key to keeping everything clean. You’ve also started a company to help with maintenance management—how is it helping homeowners? They don’t have to source new staff or companies—they trust us and know our staff. Clients don’t even need to think about maintenance; it happens automatically. It also helps if they need any new construction services. They can access our highly trained technicians any time for any job. Having a tried and tested reputation gives them confidence. They know we really have their best interest at heart. DT Source: Downtown Magazine, Spring 2018 Download the Downtown Magazine Article – Spring 2018 – KITCHEN Confidence

Duce Construction Corporation Opens New Location in Glen Head Long Island

Duce Construction Corporation is proud to announce that it has recently opened a second office/warehouse in Nassau County, providing easy access to trade shops and vendors from Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester & Upstate New York. Duce is a full‐service builder & Construction Manager specializing in building and renovating high ‐ end luxury homes, apartments, and estates. After 30 years of servicing our clients both in Manhattan & the suburbs from our Manhattan headquarters, Duce is returning to its roots in Long Island to revisit some of our earliest works and provide excellent local service to our clients in & around Long Island’s Gold Coast. Old Westbury, Glen Cove, Muttontown, and Roslyn will now all be easily accessible for our expert staff of craftsmen. This new, more central location for all areas in Long Island, Connecticut and Westchester is what our clients have been asking for. We already do a fair amount of work in these locations but now with greater and more convenient access to top artisans and craftsmen in these areas, our ability to provide building excellence will be even greater. Rory McCreesh, Founder To see some our recent projects, located in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, visit our website, and to watch a brief intro into who we are and what we do, watch this short video.About our founder: Rory comes from Ireland, from the Ring of Gullion, in the County of Armagh. He was educated at the Marist and the Newry Technical College. Rory came to New York in 1985 and began his career as a carpenter. He worked his way up to becoming a foreman and then a general foreman due to his strong leadership qualities, expertise and knowledge. In 1989 he started Duce Construction Corporation and began to renovate homes in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, NY. Today, Duce specializes in constructing, building and renovating high‐end homes and apartments in Manhattan, Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey. Many projects have been highlighted in top architectural and home magazines such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Classic Home, Interior Design, Metropolitan Home, House & Garden, Bathroom Trends, Elle Decor, Home Video and various other trade related publications. In addition, Duce is proud to be featured in the article “Best Building Pros in America” in This Old House Magazine, October 2004 Issue. A concerned participant in New York’s Irish community, Rory has been honored by multiple associations including The Armagh Association in 2003 and The New York Irish Center in 2009. Rory received a Proclamation from the New York City Council in 2009 and again in 2013. Rory was honored by the Irish Voice as one of the top fifty best business leaders in 2010 and in 2011 the Irish Echo honored him and Duce Construction for being one of the top fifty best Irish businesses in New York 2011. Rory was honored by the New York city Emerald isle Immigration center in 2013. He is a continuing contributor to the Kip’s Bay’s Charity and GLAAD and is a board member for the prestigious Downtown Magazine. He has patented a multi‐purpose hand tool (US Patent WO/2005/018880) which is currently being marketed to high‐end contractors and construction firms.For more information contact: info@ducecc.com

The Homeowner’s Guide to DIY HVAC Maintenance

If you’ve ever had the air conditioning stop working in the heat of summer or the furnace break down in the dead of winter, you appreciate the importance of HVAC maintenance. However, maintaining your HVAC system does more than prevent temporary discomfort. Timely maintenance reduces monthly energy bills and extends the life of your HVAC system so you save money over the long term; it also prevents a deadly carbon monoxide leak or fire. While some HVAC jobs are best done with the assistance of a professional technician, there are certain HVAC maintenance tasks that homeowners can handle themselves. Monthly Check the filter The general recommendation is to replace your HVAC filter every 90 days. However, there are several common contributors to poor indoor air quality that may result in needing to replace your filter more often, including: animal allergens, cleaning products, hobby products, beauty and personal care products, and gas appliances. Get in the habit of checking the filter monthly. If it looks dirty, dark, or clogged, go ahead and replace it. Take note of the air filter size before throwing out the old filter. You’ll need that information to buy the correct replacement filter for your system. Also, keep in mind that some filters last longer than others; pleated filters, for example, typically last for 90 days, while fiberglass filters only last for around 30. Clear around outdoor units Leaves, twigs, pollen, and more can accumulate on and around your outdoor air conditioning unit. It’s important to clear this away regularly to keep your system running. Aim to brush debris off your outdoor unit weekly while mowing the law and cut back grass and weeds to maintain two feet of clearance around outdoor units. If you want to hide your outdoor unit without affecting its performance, follow Consumer Reports’ landscaping advice. Clean vents and registers Dirt, dust, and pet hair loves to settle in a home’s vents and registers, especially if you have floor vents. Clean these areas as part of your regular chore rotation to prevent build-up from blocking air flow. Vents and registers can be cleaned by removing the grille with a screwdriver, gently vacuuming the entrance to the vent or register, and washing the grille before replacing it. If you’re wiping down grilles without removing them, use a dry microfiber cloth instead of water to avoid smearing dust around. Every Three Months Replace the filter If you haven’t already replaced your HVAC filter, now is the time to do it. Turn off your HVAC system, remove the old filter, and use a rag to dust the area before inserting a new filter. When installing the new filter, keep in mind that HVAC filters have a front and back side. It’s important to insert your new filter properly in order for it to be effective. After replacing your air filter, turn the system back on and take note of the date so you can schedule the next replacement Wash outdoor units Despite monthly clean-ups, your outdoor air conditioning unit accumulates dirt over time. If you don’t clean it away, the dirt will eventually infiltrate your system and impair its performance. Before tackling this job, shut off the power to the outdoor unit. Use a screwdriver to remove the access panel and set it aside. Then, gently use a shop vacuum to suck dirt and debris out of the unit, taking care not to bend fins or coils. After you’ve finished vacuuming, use a garden hose to rinse down the unit and a wet rag to wipe fan blades clean. After you’re finished, replace the access panel and restore power to the unit. While DIY maintenance extends the life of your system and saves you money, it’s not a replacement for professional HVAC servicing. Superpages.com recommends that homeowners have their HVAC system professionally maintained either once or twice per year so a trained technician can handle all the tasks that aren’t suited to DIY. These include lubricating moving parts and inspecting and replacing belts, refrigerant, drain lines, and electrical and gas connections. Professional servicing keeps your system running at optimal performance, saving you money and keeping your family safe.