"We had just had a baby. It was a tense time, but everything went smoothly, and most importantly, on schedule. They used the best materials and brought in terrific people."
- Doubled house size - West Lane – Ridgefield, CT
"We want to express our appreciation for the excellent performance of the Clark Construction team in restoring our home. They were able to make all the necessary fixes while retaining its historical integrity of our home, and not changing its appearance. Even for very small projects we are treated with the same attention as major ones."
- Repeat Client - Topstone Road, Redding, CT
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Everyone told us what a nightmare this would be and looking back we couldn't have asked for a better "nightmare“. One of the best things: it wasn't totally disruptive ... we were told what to prepare for and when."
- Master Bath and Family Room Addition - Rolling Ridge Road, Ridgefield, CT
"They went the extra mile to ensure that the job was done to our satisfaction. There were several reasons that I knew this job would be done right, and I am more than happy to be a positive reference as to the quality and professional job completed."
- Built-ins and Interior Remodeling - Shields Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"Clark Construction quickly allayed our fears, taking us though the proposals very professionally, step by step. Everything was perfectly coordinated and finished on time."
- West Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"They came on time and got the job done with quality craftsmanship. The building inspector even said 'you don't see work like that anymore'. I recommend them highly ... they've been wonderful."
- Addition - Marchant Road - Redding, CT
"(After a repair)... It's this kind of stand behind your product follow through that means almost more than the original job --- and certainly helps to ensure a loyal following."
- Master Bath - Blackman Road, Ridgefield, CT
"Clark Construction was referred to us and we've been using them again and again for things big and small, and we've recommended them to our friends."
- Repeat Client: West Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"It has always been a pleasure to deal with Clark Construction over the years and this experience has surpassed even those excellent experiences; as usual we’re delighted with the results. Congratulations on retaining such competent and professional employees."
- Repeat Client: Great Room Addition, Master & Hall Baths, & Basement - Wicks End Lane, Wilton, CT
"Your attention to every tiny detail throughout the job, especially during the final stage was amazing. We enjoyed working with all members of your team. The “stop-bys” and frequent phone calls keeping us informed during construction were appreciated."
- Repeat Client: Kitchen, then Baths, then Livingroom - Marcadon Road, Redding, CT
"We truly enjoyed working with the Clark Construction team. Your team was an excellent group to work with and we plan to use them again for all our home projects. Each person was friendly and answered a zillion questions, but best of all each took pride in doing their piece of the remodel. You have developed a fine team of real professionals. Thank you."
- Three Season Room and Porch - Forest Drive, Ridgefield, CT
"I know you told me to be patient and everything would work out. Sometimes it was hard, but you were right. Everything is perfect. I am ecstatic."
- Repeat Client: Kitchen Addition, Screened Porch, Master & Hall Baths - Range Road, Wilton, CT
"Another well coordinated/executed job. Very pleased with the latest Clark Construction assignment. Two in a row."
- Repeat Client - Revere Place, Ridgefield, CT
"Thanks for all the work you did. I just love the bathroom floors. I appreciate your promptness in completing all the projects."
- Repeat Client: Structural Repairs, Floors, then Skylights - Mimosa Circle Ridgefield, CT
"Our Project Supervisor was fantastic. My wife regularly commented that she didn't need to worry about what was happening at the house or about who was at the house because he was around. He kept us informed, stayed ahead of decisions we had to make, and managed our questions and concerns promptly all the way through."
- Master Bedroom Suite Addition and Garage - Lynlee Lane, Wilton, CT
"Our Project Supervisor's organization was tremendous. While managing it all, he always remained calm, which kept us comfortable! The workers at the house were all very respectful and were a pleasure to deal with. Work began every day when it was supposed to and went until the job was done. This was clearly beneficial to finishing our project in the time it was completed."
- Master Bedroom Suite Addition and Garage - Lynlee Lane, Wilton, CT
"Our Project Manager was fabulous to work with! He did a fantastic job keeping us up to date, informed and helping us to understand the modifications that were needed along the way. He is knowledgeable, professional, and very responsive when I was trying to reach him."
- Two Bathrooms, Two Fireplaces - Buckingham Ridge Road, Wilton, CT
"We would clearly recommend your company to anyone wanting to do a professional renovation without the hassle of micromanaging every element of the process that comes with this type of work. You have made it very easy to go from concept to project completion without any headaches. Congratulations for excellent work and professionalism once again."
- Repeat Client: Master Bath, MasterBedroom, Hillcrest Court, Ridgefield, CT
"You have a wonderfully professional organization and always follow through on what you promise. Please feel free to use our names with any prospects you may have."
- Kitchen and Master Bedroom Suite Modifications, Meeting Grove Lane, Norwalk, CT
"Thank you for putting together the "A" team for our project and introducing us to the Clark Construction process that made our remodeling job comprehensive and inclusive."
- Master Bath - Clearview Terrace, Ridgefield, CT
"Accolades to Gary for sticking with our drainage problem. He stuck with it, trying various methods to identify the source of water coming into our basement. He proposed some solutions, and we now have a dry basement. He communicated well with me all along the way; I always knew what was going on."
- Repeat: Kitchen, Master Bath, Hardwood Floors - Cobbler's Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"From hardware to tile to paint to wood type, their design instincts are the best I have ever experienced and their ability to make a master bedroom into a masterpiece is not an exaggeration. We could not have been happier with all aspects of the final design. "
- Master Bath, Cobblers Lane, Ridgefield, CT
The need to set up excellent spaces for working at home has skyrocketed in recent years. Many businesses are increasingly willing to allow team members to work from home, and freelancers know that nothing beats a killer home office for a lifestyle that’s both productive and creative. To get a leg up on forging a great work-life balance, here are six tips for creating a successful home office.
The ideal home office is a dedicated space, ideally a dedicated room with that purpose with minimal distractions and good access to natural light and air.
There are several reasons for this. When you first started working at home, you might have been able to get away with sitting your laptop open on the couch or at the kitchen table. Psychologically this is problematic though, as you're more likely to get into and stay in the mood for working when you're in surrounds that you associate with work.
Secondly, if you can close the door to any and all paperwork when it is time to relax means that the dining room table and kitchen counters are no longer loaded with paperwork. Plus it allows you a similar separation to " Leaving your work at the office". Even a clever "pocket office" - a built-in closet where you can put your work at the end of the day can have the same effect if you don't have the luxury of a full room for your home office.
Thirdly, researchers have found that telecommuters' family demands interfere more with their work than the other way around. Family members who would be reluctant to interrupt someone in the work place had no such reluctance to interrupt at home. Having a distinct office space may make the boundary more distinct, and help minimize those intrusions.
Just because it's a home office doesn't mean it needs to be uncomfortable. The best home offices are ones the incorporate good feng shui and ergonomic principles. You're worth it.
Be creative with your desk. Big desks with giant leather chairs are for big formal offices. A smaller writing desk or work surface, or an adjustable height work surface may be better suited to your at home office style. Consider stand up desks that allow you to sit or stand during the day as your work flow permits. Sitting all day just isn't good for you, and one of these desks can allow you to make a significant change in your life. Make your own counter out of a material you love, and you'll love working at it.
The right chair is super important, so don’t skimp. Get a comfortable chair and make sure you adjust it to the right height. There are many chairs available that offer adjustable angles, heights and head rests. While you are working, take lots of breaks to rest your eyes, clear your head and stretch your body – at least once every hour.
Splurge for a great monitor, keyboard and mouse. Ideally, clone your office work station at home a same keyboard, same mouse, same monitor, same layout. It allows you to smoothly transition from one to the other.
If you're working on an iPad or tablet, extras such as a snap-on keyboard or Bluetooth speakers make work life easier and more comfortable. Make sure you've allowed for plenty of handy outlets in the room layout for plugging in everything for recharging.
My home office looks out a triple glass door at the backyard. An efficient office doesn't have to be bare and sterile. Surround yourself with thing you love to look at, whether it is art prints, photos, sculpture or plants ( which improve air quality). When you are happy your productivity increases.
Organize your stuff to keep yourself sane. People who work from home are likely to spend the vast majority of their work hours online, with files in the cloud. With box.com and a scanner, you can keep all your documents easily accessible, regardless of where you are, even from your iPhone in the middle of nowhere. Your files will be maintained on line, and synced to multiple desktops/laptops as you wish.
But even the most web-based worker occasionally needs to interface with the physical world. If you have a real office and an at home office, part of working at home typically means picking up your paperwork and taking it to the office. Keep these aspects of your work day in mind as you design your home office.
An expandable folder or binder with tabbed pockets can compactly keep your papers organized, as can a wall-mounted tray system. Color-coding helps too. Treat yourself to some of the innovative, practical, space-efficient products for sorting and storing files.
Invest in colorful Pentaflex folders and a briefcase you love. If you find yourself working on-the-fly, in the train, or in multiple locations, a well organized briefcase will help keep everything in line, and is an extension of your home office.
When you work remotely, chances are that you will do some FaceTime or video conferencing. It's fun to work in your pajamas, but keep the fuzzy slippers under your desk and the view behind you as simple as possible.Adding built-in cabinets, shelves and bookcases can be a great way to maintain a clean look and provide a place to get papers out of sight when you have a meeting or video conference.
If you don't want to commute, but still need a quiet place to think, away from the comings and goings of family life, consider a detached home office. It can be similar to a guest house; your own private work space just steps from your door. It can be a room over a detached garage. These spaces combine the convenience of a home office with the physical and psychological separation between "working" and "relaxing" that is often missing when you work from home. If you don't have space for a full room, consider a Pocket Office, a workspace carved out near the high-traffic areas of the home, often in a closet with the door removed of in an alcove. It may be the hub for home management as well as your "office"; paying bills, coordinating the family's schedules and keeping everyone organized.
Working from home in your pajamas with a cup of joe in hand is something many of us dream of. Carving out some space for a home office that welcomes you with plenty of work area, lots of storage and wonderful natural light is the first step in the transition to a better work/life balance.