The holiday season is traditionally when we invite many people into our home, and hosting a Thanksgiving celebration also becomes an educational opportunity for master planning the perfect home.

Having lots of people in our homes at the same time is when we see our place in a different light.  In day-to-day living, we tend to overlook inadequacies in design and function because we’re used to it. But bring in a large group of family and friends, and the weaknesses can become obvious.

Let’s think back to Thanksgiving Day (or the last large gathering), and review how our house performed.  Key areas of observation include:

• Was there enough room in the kitchen for multiple cooks to work together?

• Was there enough room for both cooking and socializing in the kitchen?

• Was there a particular room or space nobody seemed to use?

• Where did everyone naturally congregate, and was there enough room for them?

• Did traffic flow smoothly or was there a lot of “pardon me”?

• Was there constantly a wait to use a bathroom?

• Was there adequate lighting for people of all ages?

• Were guests with crutches, walkers or baby strollers able to come in and out easily?

• Was there enough hot water, water pressure and electricity to accommodate everyone?

The answers to these questions naturally create a list of ways to improve the function and design of our homes.  It is these type of questions that Mosby Consultants ask homeowners during the design phase of a home remodeling project, and the answers form an outline for the master plan of the perfect home.

The important first step is creating a list of needs, wants, repairs and desires, and then prioritizing these items by urgency, cost and value.  Mosby Project Planners are active listeners and problem solvers, so this is a great opportunity to work with home enhancements professionals who help organize multiple tasks into manageable timelines.

Mosby Building Arts would love to have a conversation about your home.  To explore the benefits of home master planning, call the office at 314.909.1800 or click here.

Join us this Saturday, November 21^st from 7 - 11 p.m. at the Third Degree Glass Factory for the 3^rd annual Art Fix auction and party. Help us support Rebuilding Together’s mission to revitalize neighborhoods in partnership with the community by rehabilitating the houses of low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners so they may continue to live independently in comfort and safety.

Scott Mosby returns as emcee for this unique ReBuilding Together event. You can participate in the bidding of donated original works of 29 artists, sample food and libations from 7 local restaurants and dance to music by the Matt Rowland Band, all for $35 in advance, $40 the day of the event.  All proceeds will go directly to helping bring volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of fellow St. Louisans.

Click here for all the details about this popular fall party, and we look forward to seeing you there.

(l-r) HGTV's Monica Pedersen, homeowner Hence Forland and Scott Mosby at the kick-off to the remodeling project in June 2009.

This Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11^th, please join us at the Moolah Theatre for a viewing party of a special HGTV episode of Change the World: American Heroes.

We joined with ReBuilding Together St. Louis, hundreds of local volunteers and HGTV to remodel the home of Hence Forland, and now we all come together once more to see the final results of our collaboration.  Hence is a Desert Storm veteran who opens his home to homeless veterans, so it is appropriate that on Veteran’s Day we honor his dedication with the ultimate gift of transformation.

The Moolah Theatre doors open for this free event at 6 pm.  The special will be broadcast on the big movie screen promptly at 7 pm.  Celebrate with us and all the volunteers, veterans, and recipients involved in the restoration of the Windsor Transitional Home.  This effort was a year in the making, and you can experience the first viewing of “the reveal” on HGTV with all of us.  Click here for more viewing party details.

Here are two trailers for this episode of HGTV.

And here’s a recap of the events from this past June.

This was one of the most inspiring projects we’ve been involved with, and the sense of community pride it created remains with us always.  Come share the energy and celebration at the Moolah Theatre on November 11^th.

Mosby Building Arts' Planning & Design manager Bill Wakefield (left) with president Scott Mosby and their BBB Torch Award.

Mosby Building Arts is honored to have received a 2009 BBB Torch Award for honest business ethics and exceptional customer satisfaction.

The customer service intent of the Better Business Bureau award means so much to us because our vision is proudly stated as, “Make a positive difference in people’s lives everyday.”  Or as our president Scott Mosby explains, “We think differently about remodeling; we know it’s not just about floorplans, selections and construction schedules. We help people improve their lives by improving their surroundings, so the people come first.”

Our approach to client service is unique in the remodeling industry, because projects are a team effort including us and the homeowner.  “We do things with you, not to you,” says Scott with a chuckle.  “Our approach is less painful and more sympathetic. We help you avoid the confusion and trouble often associated with home improvements. ”

The BBB was impressed with the continual training and process improvement of our deep bench of Mosby professionals.  This translates to serving the best interests and long-term needs of our clients.  Scott summed it up as, “We’re on the same team together with our clients.”

See photos from the BBB Torch Award ceremony.

See video from the BBB Torch Award ceremony.

Mosby Building Arts thanks the Better Business Bureau for bestowing an honor that represents an ethical and professional commitment to our clients and our community.  Good projects come from good relationships, and the Torch Award is a testament of respect for our clients.