In building our new house we set out a number of goals. The most obvious was to create a wonderful new living space of course. We carefully planned the house over more than a decade. It is going to be a very cool pace to live.
The house is also designed to draw attention to the things our company does. We built the house close to the road so it would be easily seen. Although still unfinished it already does that exceptionally well. People stop their cars often two or three at once and get out to take a look. We see them taking pictures of the house with amazing frequency. We also see them walking over to our sign and taking a picture of that too. We have already received tens of thousands of dollars of work from people who stopped, some of whom were visiting from out of province. It is working. The outside of the house has changed little since November... but good weather will be returning soon and we will then pick up where we left off.
Inside things are coming fast. The house is extremely green, with lots of insulation (six times more than a standard house) and super efficient heating and cooling. The inside also will showcase all of our skills and abilities. The router has run for countless hours creating the custom pieces that will be used throughout. The house is garnering a LOT of attention through the building industry. Contractors are taking note and we have sold a lot of signs because of this. It is working!
We have created a HOUSE BLOG on our website to chronicle the progress on an almost daily basis. Many thousands of visitors follow the entries each month, and also take the time to check out the rest of our website. As a result we have gotten calls and sold imaginative work.
The house has already garnered a fair amount of media attention. When we get the call for an interview I happily talk about the house but purposefully steer the conversation to be all about the business and the things we do. It works!
As planned the house has become a giant (but completely legal in our zoning) sign for our business. Carefully and purposely marketed I believe the benefits have only begun to be realized. It won't be long until we get to move in too!
-grampa dan
[ March 01, 2013, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
....so did you get a building permit or a sign permit?
Looks very nice. You are going to gold leaf that balcony ornament aren't you?
Can't wait to see the rest.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
I keep expecting to see Gandalf peering out the window.
Looks great!
Posted by Steve Luck (Member # 5292) on :
It really is taking shape and I love seeing your posts of the progress. One day this house will be turned into a museum of your work and will continue to inspire artists for decades. It definitely shows that you are living the dream.
You probably won't be able to sleep the first night you move in! I show alot of my friends and family your photos of your house and they are all amazed. The funniest comments are "You really know this guy?"LOL!
Sign-cerely, Steve
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
I've totally amazed watching this take shape & knew that this open up the eyes of everybody & honored just to watch & dream thank you
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
But...where is all the rust?
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
I see an awful lot of straight lines, especially inside. That must really gnaw at you. And I also don't see any bad weather. There's not 2 feet of snow.... get to work.
BTW, looks great.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Janis must have designed the hallway and since Dan doesn't drink, he can't make it look wiggly...
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Along with the house, I can't wait to see how you furnish it. Maybe,,, Furniture or,, Other Furniture Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
I said it before and I'll say it again, we are so very lucky to have Dan show us all this work. I hate to think of all we would have missed if our own Grandpa Dan did not participate in the Letterheads.
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Most people have a dream house. Dan just dreams a little differently!!!
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