"The initial design concepts were excellent... They came up with a whole range of neat ideas, incorporating existing elements which we wanted to keep. We especially enjoyed working with them because they listen. And unlike other contractors we've worked with, they stuck to the schedule. They were always on top of everything. If there was a problem, they were right there to solve it."
- Basement, two baths and a foyer - Bobby's Court, Ridgefield, CT
"From the design stage through to the last bit of trash removal, the job seemed to go like clockwork. Our neighbors commented that there was always a truck or two at the house. The results exceeded our expectations."
- Sleepy Hollow Road, Ridgefield, CT
"Thank you for an all-around-well-done job. While it’s taking us forever to get totally settled into the new space, we are thoroughly enjoying what feels like a whole new house. Please extend our thanks to the designer, with special thanks to the master carpenter for his excellent workmanship."
- Addition and kitchen - Farmingville Road, Ridgefield, CT
"We were very happy with the process, the overall quality and professionalism of all the trade partners, as well as the outcome – the rooms look great. Our Project Supervisor made sure everything went smoothly, communicated well and resolved all our questions/issues. He was proactive and identified issues before we even noticed them!"
- Repeat Client, Whole House Redo and Basement - Arrowhead Place, Ridgefield, CT
"Before they even started designing they came up with a lot of interesting ideas and solutions to our renovation problems. They were neat, helpful and wonderful to work with. They addressed all of our concerns and answered all of our questions to our satisfaction."
- Old Wagon Road, Ridgefield, CT
"Our designer was so talented and wonderful to work with. The Production Supervisor was always thorough, knowledgeable and responsive. They are Clark Construction's 'secret weapons'. It was a pleasure and we could not be happier with the results."
- Repeat Client: Great Room Addition, Basement, Master & Hall Baths - Wicks End Lane, Wilton, CT
"Of all the companies we have ever worked with in the various places we have lived, they were the best at translating the concepts to paper, showing us how it would look, and coming up with different options. We were very impressed with the quality of the design process."
- South Olmstead Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"We'd like to thank the Clark Construction team for the excellent work. We appreciated the flexibility of the design team at arriving at a variety of alternatives that enabled us to select an idea that met our design goals, yet stayed within our budget."
- Repeat Client: Whole House Remodel, and Basement - Arrowhead Place, Ridgefield, CT
"Thank you for the great job you and your staff did on our addition. Because of your timeliness we will be able to enjoy the holidays. Please feel free to use us as references as you like."
- Bedroom/Bath Addition - Conley Court, Ridgefield, CT
"What I valued most was their hands-on involvement every day and their concern for our well being. Having a house without a roof in mid-December was not fun but they got us through it with first class results. Most important was the level of comfort and confidence we felt throughout the project. The designs, the project management, and the orchestration of the trades people were all reflective of an experienced professional organization."
- Second story addition - Signal Hill Road, Wilton, CT
"A very pain-free process, especially considering the size of project. Among all projects we have done here and in England, this was the easiest by far. Production was great. The crews were fantastic."
- Kitchen Addition - Bryon Ave, Ridgefield, CT
"My wife watched you at the Fairfield County Home Show. She said that you treated everyone the same (regardless of whether they looked like they had money or not). Score one for you. What impresses me is that you do what you say you will do and when you say it will be done. Very unusual. You obviously understand “word of mouth” advertisement. My wife is impressed with your professional culture."
- Kitchen - Salem Road, Wilton, CT
"Your staff was the best part of the experience. Their design ideas and responsiveness were exemplary. In addition, the Project Supervisor’s great work was very much appreciated. We believe that the quality of the job can be attributed significantly to him."
- Two Story Addition - Ramapoo Road, Ridgefield, CT
"The designer understood my budget, and I got everything I wanted. He knew how to guide and make sure the result was not overwhelming. He was so easy-going, and knowledgeable."
- Kitchen Addition - Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, CT
"You were all fantastic to work with and have set the bar high for all the other workers and contractors of any sort that I might work with in the future. Thank you. I love my sunroom and the garage (with car lifts) is perfect."
- Garage and Sunroom Additions - Pelham Lane, Wilton, CT
"Clark Construction’s team demonstrated excellent attention to detail, was organized, good communicators, and they were trustworthy. Their commitment to customer satisfaction was evident throughout our various projects; they went above and beyond expectations throughout. The carpenters were super; timely, and friendly. We always trusted Clark Construction in our home and their workmanship was nothing short of superb."
- Repeat Client: Kitchen, Baths, Bedroom Addition – North Valley Road, Ridgefield, CT
"During the entire journey, the employees at Clark Construction were compassionate, considerate, patient and supportive. We are grateful, and the results were incredible!"
- Master Bedroom Suite Addition - Riverside Drive, Ridgefield, CT
"We are extremely pleased with the finished product, and everyone at Clark Construction made the whole process as pleasant as possible. They did their best to disrupt us as little as possible while still doing their work. Finishing the project ahead of schedule was a real bonus!"
- Family Room Addition - Appletree Lane, Wilton, CT
"We've done two projects with Clark .. a finished basement and a sun room. Next time I have a project to do, I only need to make one phone call ..... to Gary! What you get from Clark is the complete deal. From great design guidance to flawless execution the construction operation and an office staff if you have any questions or need to get a hold of folks. I have talked to many of the contractors and they show a great amount of respect and loyalty to Clark as well, which also speaks highly of them."
- Repeat: Sunroom and Basement - Rising Ridge Road. Ridgefield, CT
Food is the glue that holds together any gathering. From a small group to a large crowd, when dinner is served, everyone is happy.
This doesn’t mean it’s simple to pull off a successful dinner party. There are plenty of details to consider. A dinner party that looks easy is the mark of a good planner. Here are some tips for planning a successful dinner party.
Make a decision on the tone of the evening. Is it casual or formal? Intimate? Festive? Lighthearted? Will you have a sit-down meal or buffet?
You need to be clear in your own mind about the atmosphere you want to create for your guests. This is the foundation for building the dinner party.
Adding a party theme makes it more interesting to the guests. Maybe you’re going to have a wine or dessert tasting, pot luck, a cooking demonstration, or holiday theme. Do you want the guests to come in costume?
Once you’ve chosen the dinner party theme, you can plan your decorations, which includes lighting, table settings, accents, centerpieces, linens, and anything else that will help you set the scene to drive home your theme.
Also plan ahead for music, which creates the perfect backdrop for your evening. Build a playlist or hire musicians, but don’t overlook this important detail.
A dinner party invitation can be as casual as a phone call, text, or email, but if you want your dinner party to become an event in the eyes of your guests, create a memorable invitation.
You can go for a traditional invitation or use one of the many online resources for something more unique, like TinyPrints, Shutterfly, and Vistaprint.
Evite is a great source for creating and emailing professional looking invitations.
You know your theme, so use that to build your menu. Take into consideration any dietary concerns—vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, and people with food allergies. If you’re not sure, ask them to specify their needs in the RSVP.
Menu planning for a dinner party can be stressful—if you let it. Approach this step as you would design a room. Start with a signature piece and build around it. Do you have a signature dish? What would accent it?
If you need some help, you can find complete menus at Epicurious and or find inspiration at AllRecipes.
An important tip: Test your recipes before the dinner party to make sure you like them. Don’t use your guests as guinea pigs!
Are you the chef for the evening’s menu or will you have help in your kitchen? Are you hiring a caterer or maybe bringing in a personal chef for the event? Remember that it’s more important how the food tastes than who did the stirring, sautéing, baking, etc.
If you want help from certain guests, ask them in advance for their assistance so they’re prepared, or request they bring their specialty.
Plan ahead for the table setting, from the dishes and linens to the salt and pepper shakers and serving pieces. Make sure you have all the items you’ll need. Just to be sure, set your table a night or two before.
Place your serving dishes on the table (including the utensils) with a note as to what will go in each. Decide where to place hors d’oeuvres.
If you will be using coasters, have them handy.
Map out the evening well ahead so you have an organized party planning schedule to follow. Any food you can prepare in advance will free up your time the day of your party.
Plan to call any guests who have not responded two days before your dinner party.
Make a note of what time each menu item needs to be removed from the fridge or freezer, placed in the oven, or put on ice.
Also list the times and temperatures of anything that will be cooked in the oven so you know how to juggle its use.
If you’re going to have fresh flowers, purchase them the day before and look for blossoms that aren’t open yet.
Place them in a vase overnight so they’re in full bloom for your party.
A successful dinner party is the result of careful planning. If you want to host an entertaining event, you need to take control. Don’t let the details overtake you.
Bon appétit!