"Jerry led us to Micheal Parks Construction, and Micheal took very good care of us," says John Janofsky. "He gave us a spreadsheet every two weeks, which detailed expenditures and where we were in the construction process.  That made a big difference.  It really helped us to see, especially since we couldn't be there, where the money was going and how the project was coming along.  He also made himself available to us at night and on weekends, which was great for us as out-of-town clients because we were so often unsure of what was happening.  And of course the quality of his work is exceptional." 

In the end, not a single room of the Janofskys' original residence remained unchanged.  The work included opening up the entire beach-facing end of the house to create a glassed-in living room, dining room, kitchen area; sacrificing a bedroom to expand the three remaining bedrooms and accommodate a third bath; adding a fireplace, hardwood floors and built-in bookshelves to the living room, and updating the kitchen and all of the baths.  The front entry approach was reconfigured and the entire house was repainted. 

 

 

As the job neared completion, Susan Wennerstrom was brought in to provide the finishing touches that make a house a home.  "Now that the house is done, you can't tell the problems we were having making up our minds," says Jackie Janofsky.  "So much of pulling a house together requires decision-making on a thousand details.  We found ourselves becoming ambivalent, and vacillating on what should be done. But Susan knew what would look good and stuck to it. And she was right. The house looks great."

 

 

What makes a good   artisan great?  Often it's the seeming effortlessness with which the artisan gets the job done.  That's the case with master plasterer Ray Lara.  He makes his work look effortless, seamless, timeless.  From graceful sconces that seem to have grown organically from the wall, to arched doorways, voluptuous fireplace surrounds and even stove hoods, Ray Lara does things with plaster that just aren't possible with other materials--or executed by less accomplished plasterers. 

 

With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Lara has contributed his masterful work to many of our projects, including this month's featured residence, the Janofsky beach house on Padaro Lane, where he built the fireplace surround.  "I enjoy working on jobs designed by Jerry Goodman.  He often needs specialty work, which is what I like to do.  It's a challenge, and that's what's fun--figuring out how to get it done."