Jet Dock
By Brenda Lawrence

The floating dock may be a dream come true for boat owners. Available for the past 15 years, the concept originally was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For five years, Joe Terracina has been selling Jet Dock Drive-On Floating Dock Systems, manufactured by the Cleveland, Ohio, corporation, from his Louisiana warehouse. “Jet Dock developed and owns all of the patents on the design for drive-on technology,” he said. “Thousands are in the water along the Gulf Coast.”
“At boat shows, comments are very positive about how easy it is for people to get their boats into the water and how much more often they use them. Some people use their platforms to fish from.”
The modular system accommodates personal watercrafts, skiing or fishing boats with outboard or inboard engines, up to 17,000 pounds. Warranted for a lifetime, Jet Dock’s large cubes lock together in a patented design. High-density polyethylene cubes are durable, waterproof, and UV resistant. Molded with holes for cleats, pipes, or winches, they interconnect in any configuration.
Runners guide the keel, keeping boats level. The material is “softer than a hull, so it won’t scratch fiberglass.” To attach the platform to land, at least two PVC-covered galvanized pipes are driven next to a fixed structure like a bulkhead, dock, or pilings.
This gives Jet Dock the ability to “rise up and down with the tides, as long as you don’t try to restrict Mother Nature.” Even during storm warnings, platforms “can stay in the water, as long as they’re attached to something more secure. A lot of these made it through Katrina.”
Joe’s building industry experience is helpful during setup and installation. For docks accommodating boats 18 to 24 feet, he needs only four to six hours. In his spare time, of course, Joe likes to be on the water himself. “I have a 16-foot Jet Boat; it’s a great boat for this system.” For an estimate, call Joe toll free at (877) 362-5482.
For more information, check out the website at www.jetdock.com.

Destin Design Center
By Brenda Lawrence

Imagine a place where all building and remodeling needs are under one roof: appliances, countertops, flooring, cabinets, even interior designers.
In a perfect world, this one-stop retail community would provide an endless variety of options. And instead of do-it-yourself guesswork, professionals would be available to help with the details: from the blueprint stage to choosing finish colors.
A place like this does exist. The brainchild of Clayton Bonjean, the Destin Design Center has the makings of a permanent home show. “It was obvious,” said Bonjean, vice president of Lovelace Interiors. “Customers have such a need for it, and it’s convenient for them. They love it.”
After opening in October 2007, the center held an open house in February. “We had a phenomenal turnout,” Bonjean said. Local architects and builders attended, as well as longtime Lovelace Interiors customers.
“We have everything to build or remodel a home, or a space, or a room,” said Bonjean. The center boasts a lighting showroom, unique sinks, stoves, granite countertops, glass shower doors, closet organization systems, and security systems. There is also an audio-video dealer onsite for integrated sound systems. Available kitchen appliances include Viking, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, and Gaggenau. Flooring choices range from reclaimed and pre-finished wood to tile and travertine. Cabinetry is custom built or factory made. The center carries furniture by Henredon, Lexington, Stanley, Drexel, Century, and Barbara Barry. Art by local artist Donna Burgess is available, as well as custom framing.
In addition to these fabulous vendors, the center also provides the designing expertise of Lovelace Interiors, the local building trade’s preferred designer, according to Bonjean. With their two showrooms and staff of twenty, including ten designers, Lovelace Interiors provides a streamlined process and competitive pricing.
“Because we’ve been engaged in working relationships with them,” explains Bonjean, all vendors at the Destin Design Center are personally recommended by Lovelace Interiors. But customers do not pay a premium for the convenience of so many vendors in one place.
“Whether customers require plumbing fixtures, countertops, or cabinets, this center helps vendors provide a better product,” said Bonjean. Many of the vendors know each other and have worked on projects together in the past. Such cohesion improves a project’s scheduling and communication, Bonjean said. The Destin Design Center staff can provide additional vendor information to interested customers.
In the past six years, Lovelace Interiors has won five Best Interior Designer awards from Emerald Coast. They have been featured in Florida Design, Veranda, and Architectural Digest magazines. The firm designed two idea houses for Coastal Living, as well as one for Southern Living that was featured on the cover.
Lovelace Interiors offers complimentary design services for customers who choose to purchase Lovelace furniture, art, and accessories from the Destin Design Center. Consultation for finishes, tile, and flooring is also available. “We work with the architects. Our approach helps the homeowner ‘live’ in the space first, by planning and analyzing it,” said Bonjean.
“We can also recommend a contractor for major work, if necessary,” Bonjean said. “We encourage anyone who is just browsing, too. Our center is a great resource for ideas.”
With plenty of room for new vendors, the Destin Design Center is located at 12870 US Hwy. 98 West, between Destin and Sandestin. Call Lovelace Interiors, at (850) 837-5563 for more information.

Metal Benders - Fine Art Jewelry on the Gulf Coast
By D. Fran Morley

At Metal Benders, a jewelry designer’s gallery in Fairhope, Alabama, owner Bill Wismar combines Old World integrity and workmanship with contemporary design to create one-of-a-kind pieces that will become treasured family heirlooms.
A designer and goldsmith with 35 years’ experience, Bill learned the craft as his father’s apprentice; his father also learned from a master. “The most important things I learned from my father was to not take short cuts and to create jewelry that will last for generations,” Bill said.
When he was just 19, Bill took over his family’s business, located in the Houston area. Running a traditional jewelry store didn’t fulfill his creative desires, so in 1999, he took a sabbatical and moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. “But in the back of my mind, I knew that if the right opportunity arose, I would get back into design.”
Bill and his wife, Susan, fell in love with Fairhope after a visit to the annual Arts & Crafts Festival. Three years later, a job opportunity with another jeweler in the area surfaced, and Bill and Susan jumped at the chance to move to Fairhope. After a short, time, Bill knew he needed to open his own gallery, and in a town filled with creative people, his beautiful designs quickly earned attention. “Right from the start, we seemed to fill a niche for quality design. It’s been great,” he said.
Bill’s bold designs reflect his Texas background, “but there’s a Gulf Coast influence is in my work too, in graceful, natural forms with a contemporary flair,” he said. “All of my work is original, made from scratch, you might say, so I can design to match any idea a client has. But all of my work reflects my high standards for quality.”
Even with his master craftsmanship, Bill says his works are affordable, especially when weighed against comparable, mass-produced pieces. “I emphasize high quality metals, diamonds, and gem stones with custom design, but without outrageous prices.”
To see Bill’s work, visit Metal Benders at 314-A De La Mare in downtown Fairhope or on the at www.metalbendersgallery.com. Call 251-928-5858 for more information.

Shedding light on the subject of lighting
By D. Fran Morley

In 1993, Charleston Lighting and Manufacturing began creating molds and patterns for two models of copper lanterns. Their quality, handcrafted quickly found a market with homeowners, builders, and developers on the Gulf Coast and around the country. he company expanded and offers 28 models of lanterns, mailboxes, chimney caps, and specialized bronze fixture casting. new line of Magnolia Copper SinksSM 14 models.
“Market conditions, our ability to project our presence, and our expertise are the main reasons for this growth” add that the company was recently awarded three contracts totaling over a half million dollars for projects in Rosemary Beach, Florida, and in Montgomery and Southside, Alabama.
Shannon Woods, ice resident of perations, the ability to manufacture and deliver multiple fixtures and decorative poles to a job site is no small task. “We could have 300 lights and poles or more for one job. When you have a general contractor, architect, and developer asking that different tasks be performed in harmony, this takes expertise.”
Darrel Williams of Darrel J. Williams Associates Charleston Lighting does not have “tunnel vision” when it comes to their work. “On a recent job, a fixture required a special mount, and they made several trips to the location to work out the final design. That’s customer service.”
Dan Banks City Loft Corporation he chose Charleston Lighting because of their expertise. “We found that many of the manufacturers we were dealing with had a lot to say about lighting but could not deliver on the critical points. Charleston Lighting attended meetings with city engineers and utility representatives, and that reduced our work load dramatically.”
Charleston’s lanterns can be equipped with natural gas ropane wired for electricity. The can be wall mounted, and most can also be mounted on a pole or from a chain. ll the fixtures are CSA certified. “That’s of key importanceThat means that they have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that they meet national and local safety specifications.” Cornell advised customers to always ask for a copy of the certificationrely on a manufacturer’s claims. “The home you save may be your own”
All Charleston Lighting products are available in black, bronze, and Verde finishes the own CopperGoldSM natural patina. Charleston Lighting can also develop and manufacture any commissioned lantern in bronze.
Charleston Lighting and Manufacturing is located in Mobile at 212 E. I-65 Service Road North, next to Spring Hill Lighting. them 251-478-0072 or 800-661-9224. isit them online at www.charlestonlighting.com.

Paving the way
By Brenda Lawrence

Romans used them to beautify their city. Now you can, too.

“Brick pavers have been around for centuries,” explains Brigette Reynolds. “Romans paved their streets and courtyards with clay and granite.” Today, this ancient technique is available to modern-day homeowners and commercial property owners, for driveways and walkways, courtyards and pool decks, walls and even streets.
G & D Construction Earthworks LLC provides and installs interlocking concrete paving systems. They can repair existing applications or create new ones. Owned by Ms. Reynolds and her father, David Peleschak, G & D has been run from their Baldwin County base for eight years.
Mr. Peleschak’s experience goes back 25 years, beginning with the excavation of granite pavers from a downtown Chicago street. Now a Certified Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute installer, he works with modern materials manufactured by various companies, including Pavestone.
“This is a high-end product for people wanting an alternative to asphalt or concrete,” explains his daughter. “It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. It really enhances curb appeal.”
Installed paving systems “can be picked up, moved and re-installed to accommodate underground irrigation or sprinkler systems, plumbing or electrical systems. There are no seams and no patching, and they’re ready to use immediately,” she added.
“With pre-engineered strength and structural durability,” explains Brigette, “pavers provide more than twice the strength of typical concrete driveways and they make a good, strong bond. Underneath, we install layers of sand and compacted aggregate.”
Work by this father-daughter team and their staff, can be seen in Gulf Shores, at Enclave at Oak Hill, Laguna Key’s pool deck, Crystal Towers pool decks, and Colonial Properties development. In Orange Beach, they installed a system at Shoal Water, and in Pensacola, at Mannheim Auto Auction.
Installation of a typical two-car garage driveway takes up to seven days. For an estimate, call G & D Construction Earthworks LLC, at 251-955-5560. For more information, visit their Web site at www.gdearthworks.com.

Reel Screens
By Brenda Lawrence

“Natural ventilation is the most efficient way to keep your home comfortable. Just a gentle breeze can make it feel several degrees cooler,” said Christine Drake, president of Reel Screens of the Florida Panhandle. “Unless you have allergies or there are smog alerts, outdoor air is often less polluted than stale indoor air.”
Reel Screens Disappearing Screens for Doors and Windows come in various colors, are custom built, and are installed by certified installers. They fit any door, from French doors and front doors to sliding pocket doors and garage doors.
“These allow homeowners to enjoy the feeling of being outdoors, without the shortcomings of traditional screens,” Christine added. “They appear to be part of existing doors or window casings on virtually any window or door framing.” Reel Screens can screen off a garage area for gym equipment or a home office.
“Homeowners with French doors and casement windows have an effective and beautiful way to screen and use these openings,” explained Christine. “Large openings like garage doors or even commercial applications can be covered with screens and sunshades. They require no effort to operate. Moreover, once retracted, screens are clean, safe, and ready...guests do not even realize you have them.”
Reel Screens are uniquely designed to be installed on the inside of the door or window frame, “in a non-invasive, but eye-pleasing way,” Christine asserted. “If someone leans into the mesh, it will give way, avoiding injury to person or product. This breakaway feature makes Reel Screens safe for any family member.”
“They have more standard features and options of any retractable product on the market.” Products are maintenance free, and frames are lifetime warrantied. Manufacturing was initially established in Italy, in 1976, but Reel Screens are now made in Alabama. Reel Screens is the largest U.S. producer of retractable screens. “We are now positioned to be the leader in the industry,” Christine stated proudly.
Serving Northwest Florida, Reel Screens have a “ready supply” of materials, in eight standard colors or stock mill finish with custom powder coating. “We’re continually improving our products, and developing new ones…the pride we feel is due to positive customer feedback.”
Reel Screens also installs Phifer sun control products, providing total sun block-out for day sleepers or a nursery. These have a 6-year warranty.
To find out more about Reel Screens, call (850) 654-5964 or visit www.realscreens.com.

An ENCO home makes living a little easier
By Dylan O’Leary

Well beyond the fiction of James Bond, any home engineered by ENCO Electronic Systems becomes fully automated for the owner at the touch of a button.
“On entering, the homeowner presses a button and the house starts up,” said ENCO’s president, Ronald Murphy. And by “starts up,” Murphy means comes alive.
Just select a pre-set mode and the touch panel inside your front door kicks on the mood music, softens the house lighting, starts the Jacuzzi, lights the fire place, sets the thermostats, and shakes the martinis. Well, maybe not the martinis—but the doors of the wet bar can be motorized to open up as Sinatra croons.
In fact, the mode or mood you engage in the house can be any setting you want, like “Light up the house! The kids are here!” or “Shut down the house, I’m off to work,” or “Goodnight, set the thermostat, draw the drapes, see you in the morning.”
An ENCO Electronic Systems home allows you to do all of these at the click of a button: adjust the heating or AC, dim or raise lights, go online, scan your security cameras, turn on the TV, and draw the curtains in any room and from any room.
All of that in a remote control, too.
Murphy began ENCO in 1995 in his home town of Dothan, AL, with partner Lance Beasley. Murphy comes from a career in communication systems design and noticed a niche for homes with more advanced home electronics.
“We saw the future of total home engineering from the ground up,” Murphy said. “We knew that if we could start with the architects design process instead of viewing electronics as an afterthought, these homes could be fully integrated with newer technologies and work better and more easily for the homeowner.”
One of the main tools for a well designed home electronics system is a good control system and client interface, either as a wireless touch panel or built into the wall in as many rooms as you want. They’re essentially small, touch-screen computers. ENCO relies a lot on Crestron’s state-of-the-art products.
“The Crestron Touch panel comes as a blank slate,” Murphy said. “Then we program them from scratch: Each interactive screen is designed by us to fit the unique needs of the client’s lifestyle and equipment.”
And ENCO designs every aspect of the screens, as though each one were a Web site. How it looks, what the buttons look like, and what the background is can all be tailored to fit any theme you want. For example, when retired Chicago Cubs baseball pitcher Terry Adams had ENCO design his home theater, the remote’s screen had elements of the Chicago Cubs. The background and buttons are all Cubs images, the buttons are baseball leather, the background is Wrigley Field, and the numbers are on a scoreboard—and a little man comes out to change the numbers. It even goes to neon at night.
So think of a Martha Stewart theme for mom’s remote and SpongeBob for the kids’. You can even get a James Bond theme. Imagine the buttons.
A nice security “side effect” of Murphy’s background is a special feature on the Creston remote. It can remember your lighting levels from last week and repeat it, so if you’re on vacation, the house’s lights operate as if you were still at home.
Fundamentally, these “gadgets” are about ease of living. From your kitchen table, drinking your morning coffee, you can scan the Creston’s many screens, looking at all of the systems in your house, adjusting everything that has been wired. In short, systems integration is exactly what it sounds like. It leverages the investment of all of the client’s individual sub-systems to work together. It integrates everything.
“It should never get too gimmicky,” Murphy advised. “It is easy to make things too automatic and become useless. This is where our experience pays off; we fit the customer’s needs with the technology and design an intuitive user interface.”
Contact ECNO Electronic Systems at (334) 983-6269 or visit them online at www.encoelectronics.com. Also, ask them for a viewing of their demo condo. They completely renovated a condo in Destin, FL, integrating all of their technology from the ground up, to give customers a good look at and feel for the kind of ease and style they can wake up to everyday.

Hiring a Landscape Designer
By Taris Savell

Daylight saving time affords us the opportunity to appreciate the daffodils that emerge from the muddy depths, as well as the saucer magnolias, redbuds, and cherry trees that signify pleasant days and early evenings.
Most of us have visions of what we want our yards to look like, including which plants we like. However, determining which varieties of plants are appropriate, what light and shade requirements they have, how much water they require, and how to maintain them can become a bit daunting to the average homeowner. All of us desire beautiful yards. We spend most of our lives at home. In fact, our home is typically the biggest investment we will ever make. We want it to be beautiful and to feel personal. The question then becomes where to start.
One consideration for diminishing this burden is to hire a professional landscape designer with knowledge and training in plants and landscape construction. A landscape designer can provide you with drawings, installation details, and descriptions of plants and their attributes. In addition, a landscape designer can help you to understand basic landscaping.
Communication is the key to creating a successful relationship with your landscape designer. Be as clear and precise as you can when describing your preferences. Pictures of landscaped yards that you like are a great way to convey your ideas. Garden magazines can be a wonderful source. Collect pictures of plants and garden styles that appeal to you. Then, allow your landscape designer to explain how to best utilize these concepts and materials in your yard. Be upfront about how much you intend to spend and whether you are willing to do the work in stages to achieve a long-term design scheme.
Once you decide to hire a landscape designer, you might want to consider placing a call to him or her sooner rather than later. If you want your work done in a timely manner, select a design early and begin the installation schedule immediately.
Landscape design and planning are essential to a successful garden. As an extension of your home, a quality landscape design can ensure the reflection of your personal style. Plan and invest wisely, and you will enjoy the rewards for years to come.
For more information on hiring a landscape designer call Wallace Landscaping at 850-932-5871. The company also installs irrigation systems, pools and hardscapes.