“We have all these, things that we didn’t have before and whether it’s control systems or it’s how they build the products. We have two learning curves. First we have to learn the new components and we have to learn how they work and how they function. But we also have to learn how they work in situ.. how do they actually integrate with the construction. Where can we alter our physicality or the aesthetics that’s being driven.

Our industry is being pushed on that as we should be. We should be challenged as much as possible to make what we’re doing look good. But when, do we have trouble maintaining the performance and the serviceability of equipment at the cost that is not apparent in day one or year two? But it’s very apparent in year three and year five of living in the house!”

— Brad Keyes

Home Owners leading their renovation or new construction projects should consider the role the heating and cooling systems have in the success of their project. While these systems are often very complex, an understanding of the options, constraints and limits is helpful. 

Today Brad Keyes, a mechanical engineer and business owner practicing in the greater Boston area, helps us understand the basics of the design and construction of mechanical systems. Brad's firm, Keyes North Atlantic, Inc., has designed and installed unique HVAC systems for over 40 years.

 Brad Keyes is mechanical engineer and business owner practicing in the greater Boston area. His firm, Keyes North Atlantic, Inc., has designed and installed unique HVAC systems for over 40 years.

You can find out more about Keyes North Atlantic here  

 Fred Gutierrez is the host of "Home Owner's Institute" , podcast, and runs the company ShepherdPMC with his partner Mike McHugh. Fred was a licensed architect who worked as a custom home builder in Boston MA. ShepherdPMC has dedicated their consulting services to help engaged owners lead the realization of their dream homes confidently and with purpose.  

In this episode Brad, Mike and Fred are joined by a friend and local design and construction  professional  Anuraj Shah. Anu works  in the greater Boston area. 

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, we would love to hear from you.

Home Owner's Institute is now on Instagram 

Home Owners leading their renovation or new construction projects should consider the role the heating and cooling systems have in the success of their project. While these systems are often very complex, an understanding of the options, constraints and limits is helpful.

“.... hopefully it can set an example of authentic vulnerable discourse, because the more of that, that there is in the public domain, the more authenticity there is in the public discourse, the better off we all are...not just on this topic, but many other topics.

I mean, I know I would much prefer to hear that., then the prideful assurance many people are speaking with in the public domain these days. ”

— Ben Broughton

In this episode Ben and Fred have a discussion about home owner's creativity and leading with vulnerability.

Ben Broughton builds custom homes in Austin TX in order to support a nasty philosophy habit. He has recently returned to custom homebuilding after a foray into real estate development that served to remind him that he is a craftsman at heart. Ben’s love language is using dialectics to better understand the world of construction and in that regard, Ben appreciates Fred.

Fred Gutierrez is the host of "Home Owner's Institute" , podcast, and runs the company ShepherdPMC with his partner Mike McHugh. Fred was a licensed architect who worked as a custom home builder in Boston MA. ShepherdPMC has dedicated their consulting services to help engaged owners lead the realization of their dream homes confidently and with purpose.

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

In this episode Ben and Fred have a discussion about home owner's creativity and leading with vulnerability. Ben Broughton builds custom homes in Austin TX in order to support a nasty philosophy habit. He has recently returned to custom homebuilding after a foray into real estate development that served to remind him that he is a craftsman at heart.

“Oh yeah, this is going to be fantastic. If you’ve got a builder that shares your passion and is just as excited about your project as you are, that makes all the difference”

— Mike Doiron

In the episode Mike McHugh and I talk with Mike Doiron who is the owner of the Housewright Company. They specialize in the renovation and reconstruction of older homes on the North Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. The conversation highlights are how to find a builder that aligns with your values. We get into how to pace the work with your ability to be present. Mike shares a story on how one of his owners expressed her gratitude mid project and how meaningful this was towards the craftspeople working on the project.

There are two Mikes on the Mic today so don't be confused.

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

In the episode Mike McHugh and I talk with Mike Doiron who is the owner of the Housewright Company. They specialize in the renovation and reconstruction of older homes on the North Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. The conversation highlights are how to find a builder that aligns with your values.

“Participants, they can author the success or be part of the authoring of the success...Listen, there’s a way to do this and you bring a lot more control and sort of juice to the situation than you might. ”

— Bruce Irving

Bruce Irving is a real estate agent and home renovation consultant based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His 30+ years’ experience with houses includes 17 years as producer of television’s This Old House, where he earned an Emmy and learned the hallmarks of quality design and construction. He brings his house knowledge to bear when helping buyers and sellers as a realtor, and works to put together successful projects for his renovation clients by drawing on his extensive contacts in the design and construction community.

Irving writes about architecture and design for several publications and is the author of New England Icons, a book about the region’s built environment. A graduate of Williams College, he lives with his family in Cambridge, where he serves as chairman of the city’s historical commission and as a council member at the Cambridge Historical Society.

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

Bruce Irving is a real estate agent and home renovation consultant based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His 30+ years' experience with houses includes 17 years as producer of television's This Old House, where he earned an Emmy and learned the hallmarks of quality design and construction.

“What exactly, do you want to invest your money in and how can the design and construction project be a vehicle to do that? It would be an investment vehicle for you essentially.”

— William Scholtens

Bill Scholtens of Elements Architectural Group in Chicago shares with us his ideas on the benefits testing and failing in the design and construction process. We discuss the inequity of information owners have at the beginning of the process and how good architects and builders can bridge the knowledge gap. He shares experiences on how to set budget expectation before the introduction of the contractor. And how choosing the right contractor for your project is essential in building a team that will respect and work collaboratively towards mutual success. Bill also shares the joy of his childhood home and how it influences his current practice of designing restful spaces intentionally.

Bill Scholtens was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He met Fred Gutierrez while pursuing his Master of Architecture degree at MIT. With a unique skill set as a trained architect, carpenter and counselor he founded Elements Architectural Group in 2006. He is deeply aware that a home project is the most expensive purchase a client will make in their lifetime. To that end he created The Elements Way- a proven process for creating one-of-a-kind homes that are high design, client care that is high touch, and projects that are high value. To learn more visit www.elementsarchitects.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

Bill Scholtens of Elements Architectural Group in Chicago shares with us his ideas on the benefits testing and failing in the design and construction process. We discuss the inequity of information owners have at the beginning of the process and how good architects and builders can bridge the knowledge gap.

“This is a much a challenge of material construction, design and building as it is a sociological one, of understanding what it is and why it is that people are engaging in construction”

In this conversation, John talks about the sociology of why people engage in the design and construction process. We then talk about the relationship between the owner and their builder and what can build trust and what kind of rode at it. We also talk about the fluidity of budgets and seeing projects in total. This an interesting perspective where John advocates for seeing the project several years out after the completion of the project.

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

John Comaroff is an owner with experience renovating in Chicago, Boston, England, and South Africa. John and his wife Jean are both professors of African and African-American Studies and Anthropology, at Harvard University. John shares his observations on the sociology of design and construction.

“Participants, they can author the success or be part of the authoring of the success...Listen, there’s a way to do this and you bring a lot more control and sort of juice to the situation than you might. ”

— Bruce Irving

An interview with Eve Isenberg, Principal of the women-owned InkStone Architects in Concord Massachusetts. InkStone Architects specializes in renovating Mid Century Modern Homes in New England.

Today's talk is with  Eve Isenberg. Eve and I met in 2005 when I was a project manager at a construction management firm. We built a particularly challenging, special project together. We talk about that project a little, but we start the conversation with her current work, where Eve runs an architecture firm with her partner Brigette Steines, their office InkStone architecture focuses on mid-century modern homes.

If you're not familiar with mid-century modern homes, do a little research. I think you'll find a lot of the mid-century modern aesthetics carry into the contemporary architecture we see today.

InkStone's practice sustains the legacy  of the mid-century modern architectural style while renovating these older homes with today's modern envelopes and mechanical systems. 

Eve shares good advice for both the first time homeowner doing a project. And then we talk about some of her more seasoned owners and how they experienced projects differently.  

At the end, Eve and I have an outtake where we reflect on the project we built back in 2005. We talk about the lessons learned from that project, how decisions we made back then played out today. It's an interesting conversation.

 So enjoy. And if you're inclined to ask questions, please reach out. I'd love to include your questions or discussion on future podcasts.

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

An interview with Eve Isenberg, Principal of the women-owned InkStone Architects in Concord Massachusetts. InkStone Architects specializes in renovating Mid Century Modern Homes in New England.

“Focus where you need to focus and that way your creativity is not sucked away from you by the worry, by everything you see on social media, by what your in-laws are telling you, by your own concern about how much all this is going to cost, all those things you could just let them go. ”

— Jackie Lopey

She didn't know it, but Jackie Lopey's days as an advertising executive were numbered when she bought and renovated a 1950's bungalow. She soon went back to school and started her own design studio. Jackie is an award-winning, certified interior designer and the founder of Wide Canvas.

We welcome Jackie Lopey for a conversation about her evolution as a Interior designer via business school. Jackie has a passion for process.  It's process that can  free the mind and allow us to focus on what is import at the appropriate time.  Jackie's company Wide Canvas is how Jackie is sharing her life long learning with "Do It Yourself" home owners that strive to lead their projects professionally.  I learned a lot from Jackie today and I've been in the business for 30 years. 

If you would like to contribute to the podcast with question or comments you can find us here at ShepherdPMC.com

If you or a friend would like to share what made your project successful, I would love to hear from with your questions or comments- Thank you Fred Gutierrez Listen on Apple Podcasts here

An interview with Jackie Lopey founder of Wide Canvas. Wide Canvas provides resources for serious DIY home owners who are interested in managing their own projects.