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Get to Know your North Peak Team

(the Holiday edition)

The holiday season is a great time to relax a little bit and have some fun with our coworkers, friends and family. Here at North Peak, we know a thing or two about fun! You can learn a thing or two about us, get a few gift ideas, and have some fun of your own with our holiday “get to you know you” blog post!

the last minute shoppers

Question: Which of your coworkers is likeliest to wait until the last minute to finish Christmas shopping?

Everyone here knows Jeremy and Kevin are the most likely to wait until the last minute! In fact, Kevin was so sure of it that he wrote down his own name!

Here’s the breakdown:

Kevin, Linda and Matt all believe Kevin is most likely to wait until the last minute.

Geno, Jeremy, Mike and Levi all said Jeremy is the most likely wait!

Jeremiah claims Vinny will be…and Kristin is leaning towards Levi.

Best holiday hack

Some of these were new to me! Don’t worry, we’ve included links when possible!

Kevin – Lightkeeper Light Tester Gun (available at hardware stores and probably on Amazon)

Geno – (I love this one) – Volunteer to make a food you love so you don’t end up getting forced to make something you hate!

Jeremy – Spiking the wife’s hot chocolate! Ha!

Matt – Use hot glue to hang lights where traditional clips won’t work

Dennis – Never take the lights down!

Levi – Just stay home

favorite winter outdoor activity

Levi – staying warm!

Jeremiah – Sledding

Kevin – Skiing or snowboarding with the family

Linda – Hiking

Geno – Snowboarding

Jeremy – Ice Skating

Matt – Hunting

Mike – Skiing

Dennis – Hunting

Vinny – Hocky

Kristin – Snowman Building or Sledding

We’re a pretty outdoorsy bunch around here!

favorite holiday flavor

We are all in on peppermint around here! Jeremiah, Linda, Geno, Kristin, Matt, and Mike all listed peppermint as their top (or one of, along with chocolate) holiday flavor!

Kevin went for cinnamon, Vinny for nutmeg, and Dennis for pumpkin…specifically, pumpkin bread. Yum!

Levi beat us all with Kahlua and Prime Rib!

favorite holiday treat

We want to know yours too!

Jeremiah – Rice Krispy treats

Kevin – Peanut butter cornflake cookies

Linda – Enstrom’s Toffee

Geno – Toffee

Kristin – Mom’s English Toffee

Mike and Matt – chocolate peppermint bark

Dennis – Chocolate Covered Cherries

Vinny – Homemade Tapioca Pudding (Vinny, can we get that recipe, please?)

Levi – Making Mom’s recipes

favorite holiday events

When it comes to holiday events, most of us are homebodies and enjoy parties with our closest friends and family.

Jeremiah – the kind of event where you stay home

Kevin – Powderhorn for New Year’s Eve

Linda – Parade of Lights

Geno – Family Dinner

Jeremy – Parades and Football

Matt – Gingerbread House Building

Mike – Friends and Family Parites

Dennis – Hanging out with the kids

Vinny – Family parties

Levi – Boozy Parties

Kristin – Every year we host a gram cracker house building contest with our family and friends. It is always fun to see what designs we come up with.

Christmas Eve Dinner with all my family including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. There is always delicious food, silly games, and good conversations.

Beautiful christmas decoration at Brea Neighborhood, Los Angels County, California

Benefits of Planned Outdoor Space in your Commercial Construction Project

When designing your new commercial building project, it’s important to consider every aspect of design from energy efficiency to employee satisfaction and comfort. One area of commercial construction designs that has become increasingly important since the COVID pandemic is designing welcoming outdoor spaces for employees.

Why outdoor space?

While working from home during the height of the pandemic many employees had more access to sunshine and outdoor spaces than they do in a typical office setting. In order to meet emerging employee needs, adding this type of space in your office building is crucial. Let’s not forget the added benefits of vitamin D, stress relief and endorphin boosts that can come with spending time in nature!

Types of Planned Outdoor Space to Consider

Rooftop gardens or workspaces are a great way to find outdoor space in the middle of a city. Shade structures, covered areas in case of rain, and plentiful seating and greenery can make your employees feel at ease.

Sunrooms or solariums are a great way to stay enclosed but provide that feeling of warmth, and a “conservatory” like feeling. Filled with live plants and discreet, beautiful privacy screens, employees will feel comfortable taking a private call or brainstorming their next creative project here.

Courtyards are an excellent way to use space that is already available between buildings or off of alleyways.

Additions to consider

Be sure your outdoor space is WI-FI enabled and that the technology works well in the outdoor space.

If appropriate, set quiet hours for your outdoor spaces so that large meetings or casual gatherings don’t interrupt others’ workdays.

Water features will provide a peaceful backdrop and may bring birds to your outdoor space.

Live plants and foliage can also contribute not only to the beauty of your space but also to the natural world by providing pollen for bees and insects too.

If you’re ready to talk more about a commercial remodel and how to incorporate planned outdoor space in your commercial construction project, contact us.

Remodeling Commercial Office Space

Remodeling your office space is a project worth the time and investment. Many business owners do this because they want their office space to feel sophistocated and more appealing to customers. If you need some guidance on how to create a fresh look for your office space, you have come to the right place! These are some reasons why remolding commercial office space is a good idea.

Attract Customers

First impressions are everything. New clients can tell when businesses try to make their offices look beautiful and professional. Walking into an office with good style gives the customer the belief that they are at a company that cares about its reputation.

Help With Competition

If there are businesses around like yours, making those changes sets you apart. Not every enterprise prioritizes revamping their office’s look. So, what better time than now to begin the remodeling journey that distinguishes you from the competition?

Create An Enjoyable Work Environment

You will be spending a lot of time in your office. Why not make it the office of your dreams, where you and your employees enjoy coming to a creative/calm/focused/productive atmosphere. A wonderful ambiance to work in enhances productivity and satisfaction for you and your employees.

Structural Changes:

To go beyond a fresh coat of paint and new décor, there is the option of doing structural changes. These adjustments can enhance efficiency and functionality in the office environment.

A Coxy Kitchenette: A staff kitchenette does not have to be fancy. However, having a designated place for staff to enjoy their breaks is a thoughtful gesture. Providing these amenities communicates that you value your team’s well-being.
Adding an Extra Bathroom: It is convenient and provides more flexibility for office expansion. If you plan on hiring more employees, they will be happy to know that there is more than one bathroom, even in a small office space.
Converting One Room into Two: If you are unsure what the best strategy to utilize an empty large room is, why not turn it into two? This way, you can have a closed conference room for meetings and the other space used for a breakroom or private office.
Soundproof Strategy: This can be done by purchasing autistic panels. These panels have sound-absorbing technology, perfect for eliminating distractions.
Renewable Energy: A popular option to implement would be adding solar panels to generate sun and power your office. Solar can also heat the building.

Bonus: Tips for Remodeling

First, there are a few steps to add to the list of changes that can make the space stand out.

Hire a Designer

Having a professional eye assisting in such an important project is always a good idea. Since you are investing in your business, it is worth paying someone who can help make those critical design decisions. They can also help create a budget to ensure what updates must be included in the remodeling process.

A Splash of New Paint

Instead of the same old white walls, try a fun new color! It can be bold or straightforward; just go with your style preference. If you are hesitant to try color, pick a neutral color and one daring option as an accent wall. Having a fresh coat of paint can lighten the mood of your office and cultivate an inviting area for clients to enjoy.

Update Light Fixtures

Replacing those old lights with modern ones can bring in more light that goes with your theme. These small changes make massive differences in the overall appearance. If you choose LED light bulbs, the cost to keep them off will be less.

Buy Comfortable and Trendy Furniture

Before settling on any purchases, contemplate the style that appeals to your vision and fits into the office’s overarching theme. You can choose a simple neutral shade for a couch and add colorful pillows for some flair. Consider what size and how many necessary furniture pieces will fit into the office space. We want the freedom to have a nice flow and not be boxy.

If you’re ready to consider a remodel of your office and need the help of a general contractor, contact us!

Homework Stations: 5 ideas for your custom home

Back-to-school season is here and that means it’s time for your kids’ rooms to turn into part-time homework stations. If you’re building a new home, now is a great time to start thinking about that! A custom home can truly mean that: it’s customized to you and your family. If you have kids, then creating a homework station right from the start is a good idea. This way it’s part of the plan, not an after-thought, and you can customize it for your child’s needs.

If your child works best in his/her own space, it may be best to find a corner of the bedroom to consider for a homework station. However, if you know your child needs some supervision, consider talking to your architect about space near the kitchen for a homework station. You can always have a space ready in their own room when you know they can work alone.

Built-ins are a great option for homework stations, allowing for space to store books so that in the “off season” the homework station can double as a reading nook. This might also make the space seem more relaxing and inviting in general.

Baskets make decorative and functional options for holding everything from markers to journals and they come in a huge variety of sizes and colors. Because they’re so versatile, you’ll be able to use them in many different ways over the years.

Consider a desk that works for your child. Maybe your child needs drawers and storage space. Maybe he or she prefers a table with plenty of room to spread out. Consider not just their homework, but their hobbies too. Bulletin boards, chalk board walls, and marker boards are all wonderful additions and they allow for creativity too.

Even a closet, as pictured above, can make a great homework area. Because it can be closed off when your child isn’t studying, it provides a literal sense of “closure” when the work day for your child is through.

If you’re building a custom home with us, let’s talk about “extras” that you may need, like a homework station!