For those of us who view a home purchase as a lifetime investment, top quality building materials are of the utmost importance. The components with which your house is constructed determines not only the aesthetic value of your home, but also the longevity and durability of your investment.

Paradigm Construction Company homes are undeniably beautiful – Matt and Jim work with top architectural firms during each step of the planning process, and when it comes time to build, Paradigm hires a team of master crafters for every aspect of the job, which is immediately apparent when walking through their 2012 Spring Parade of Homes showcase house. The barrel roll ceiling in the entryway alone took one man an entire workday to complete, and it truly is a work of art.

A common aspect of newly constructed homes is to use composite materials as superficial finish work, but Paradigm considers each component of the home to be integral to the structural integrity of the home.

The exterior of each Paradigm home features solid cedar plank soffit construction; durable tinted stucco that requires no additional maintenance once in place; solid slate roofing tiles for a completely water-tight, rock-solid roof; and treated, stamped concrete walkway and patio that is as visually appealing as it is practical.

The interior of every Paradigm home is built to uphold the high standards set by the quality construction of the exterior. Every door is made from solid, stain-grade wood; the molding, shelving, and trim is all crafted from alder, which is very durable with a beautiful grain finish; the floors throughout are entirely comprised of travertine, marble, hardwood, and wool carpeting; and the beautiful, exposed timber crossbeams featured on the main floor of every Paradigm home are as much prized for their visual appeal as they are for their solid structural integrity.

Every detail of a Paradigm home shows their commitment to quality, but the true test of their credibility comes from the clients themselves. Matt, Jim, and their capable crew are currently building six custom homes, and last year alone they constructed and sold 50 new dwellings. Clearly, their reputation for the highest standard in home construction is well deserved.

If you would like the opportunity to experience a Paradigm home, please be sure to stop by our 2012 Spring Parade of Homes showcase house in the lovely Lakemoor subdivision of Eagle, Idaho, happening May 5 – 20.

Last week, I told you about some of the many incredible features offered in Paradigm Construction Company’s 2012 Spring Parade of Homes showcase house. This week, I’d like to focus on one particularly impressive detail – the appliances that come pre-installed in this beautiful French country style home, located in Eagle, Idaho.

Paradigm co-owners Matt Knickrehm and Jim Larkin feel strongly that their homes should be constructed with nothing but the very best of materials, and they take this dedication particularly seriously when selecting home appliances.

The kitchen comes entirely equipped with Wolf appliances – oven range, refrigerator, microwave – it’s all restaurant-grade equipment. Wolf is known for their uncompromisingly reliable, efficient, professional-grade gas ranges; as they say on their website, Wolf is “deliciously precise.” Every Wolf appliance is made in the USA, and their headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin, which means that anytime you have a question about your Wolf product, you can call their customer care center and be guaranteed that you’re speaking with someone who knows the company well.

Not only does Wolf run their assembled products through a rigorous diagnostics test before approving the appliance, they test each individual part before handing it off to their assembly department. Wolf is consistently ranked highest in customer satisfaction surveys, which is why Paradigm spares no expense when equipping their kitchens.

The outdoor kitchen is also fully outfitted with Wolf appliances. Every Paradigm home comes standard with an outdoor kitchen, which is fantastic in itself, but to go the extra mile and install Wolf outdoor appliances as part of that standard guarantee is truly remarkable.

The wash room comes with a full-sized washer and dryer made by Asko, a Scandinavian company that consistently outshines all other product lines in every aspect – performance, reliability, efficiency, design – you name it. Much like Wolf, Asko is ranked highest in customer performance reviews, and also recently received the Green Good Design Award.

When it comes to design, Scandinavian producers are known for their attention to detail and sleek, minimalist appearance. For Asko, elegant design is as much about function and ergonomics as it is about creating an attractive home appliance. Every Paradigm home comes standard with an Asko washer, dryer, and dishwasher.

The Treasure Valley’s 2012 Spring Parade of Homes runs May 5 – 20, and if you plan to take a tour, Paradigm Construction Company’s latest masterpiece is certainly not to be missed.

For this week’s blog, I’m going to step outside of my usual ghost role as the weekly voice of Paradigm and tell you about my recent visit to Paradigm Construction Company’s 2012 Spring Parade of Homes showcase house, located on a beautiful waterfront lot in the Lakemoor subdivision of Eagle, Idaho. PCC co-owners Jim Larkin and Matt Knickrehm were kind enough to take me on a personal tour of this gorgeous 4,300 square-foot French country style home, and I was truly blown away by the quality and craftsmanship of this home.

Paradigm spares no expense when constructing a home; every detail is planned and executed with the utmost care and consideration. Here are just a few of the many features of this dwelling that particularly impressed me:

• The garage floors are sealed with epoxy, making any oil leaks or liquid spills easy to clean and giving the floor a lifetime of durability. The garage also comes “smart car ready” with a high-efficiency electrical outlet conveniently pre-installed.
• The entryway ceiling is an impressive, custom-built barrel roll design, and the ceilings throughout the main floor are a lofty 12-foot height, with 10-foot in the kitchen and 9-foot in the upstairs.
• The floors are done in top-quality travertine throughout the main floor, marble in the master bathroom, and 100% wool, stain treated carpeting in the bedrooms and upper floor.
• The kitchen is fully equipped with Wolf appliances and a 1,200 CFM ventilation system. It also comes with a full-sized, temperature controlled wine room, and every counter surface is constructed with 1 ¼ inch thick solid granite slabs.
• The study features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves made of solid, stain-grade alder, and a sliding ladder.
• The theater room is an entirely sound proof room that comes with a professional grade, 3-D ready movie screen, surround sound speakers, and an entertainment bar with a mini fridge and washing station.
• The master bedroom has its own private doorway to the back patio, with a full window view of the lake. The room also comes with a unique “secret room” that features an entrance disguised as a bookshelf and contains a large, sturdy safe that’s actually framed into the wall. The bedroom also features a two-way gas fireplace that can also be enjoyed in the large master bathroom, right above the air therapy tub.
• The back patio is a beautiful, fully covered stamped concrete area built right on the lake, with a custom-designed water feature cascading to the lake’s edge and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, using all outdoor Wolf appliances.

I could list countless other details that make this home an incredible feat of superior home construction, but I think the best way to fully grasp Paradigm’s uncompromising commitment to quality is to come see it for yourself. Please take the opportunity to visit this beautiful home during the Spring Parade of Homes on May 5 – 20^th. It’s truly a place worth experiencing.

Boise weather has been balmy and wonderful the past few days, which has everyone thinking and talking spring. Just as sure as we all know that warm spring days are on their way, we also know that spring cleaning days are here. To help you get started with your spring home projects, Paradigm would like to offer some tips on how to get organized and make the most of these beautiful spring days by clearing out the clutter and scrubbing away the film of winter weather so that you can get the most out of your summer.

Thanks to the folks at RightAtHome.com, anyone can get organized and start their cleaning process out right with their free, downloadable spring cleaning lists. They even have their lists sectioned out by area – outdoors, utility room, kitchen – you name it. This is a fantastic way to get started, and each list includes a handy product guide that will help you find the best cleaning agents for every project.

Perhaps the most tedious task on any spring cleaning list is washing windows. Our standard with every Paradigm home is to install top-quality windows with easy to remove screens so that your window cleaning experience is as simple as possible, but until someone invents self-cleaning glass, your windows still need to be cleaned at least once a year. Here are some tips from TLC Home on how to get that glass diamond-bright:

• Wash one side of a window with horizontal strokes and the other side with vertical strokes so you can pinpoint which side of the window has a streak.
• Use a squeegee on a long handle or a sponge/squeegee combination to prevent streaks on large windows.
• Eliminate tiny scratches on glass by polishing the affected areas with toothpaste.
• Washing windows should be done on a cloudy day, because direct sunlight dries cleaning solutions before you can polish the glass properly.
• Use a soft toothbrush or cotton swab to clean corners.
• To give an extra shine to window glass, polish it with well-washed cotton T-shirts or old cloth diapers. Or rub a clean blackboard eraser over a freshly washed and dried window to give it a diamond-bright shine.
• Polish windows to a sparkling shine with crumpled newspaper. The paper also leaves a film that’s resistant to dirt.
• Wash windows from the top down to prevent drips.
• Remember that cleaning agents can damage woodwork – don’t let them drip on the windowsill where they can harm the paint or varnish.

At Paradigm, we’re always looking for new ways to help our clients keep their custom home looking as beautiful as the day they moved in. Our company commitment to the very best in building materials and appliances makes spring cleaning a much simpler and more enjoyable task, and hopefully the tips provided here make that job even easier.

We’d love to share our vision of top-quality custom home construction with you – please stop by and visit our latest masterpiece for the 2012 Spring Parade of Homes in beautiful Eagle, Idaho on May 5 – 20th.

When asked by Build Idaho’s Trey Langford during their August 2011 feature interview what makes Paradigm Construction Company such a successful custom home business, company co-founder Jim Larkin’s response couldn’t have been simpler and more effective – he said, “We just talk to the client.”

Isn’t that what we all want? When making plans to invest in anything personal – whether it’s something simple, like having a suit altered for your cousin’s wedding, or something life changing, like laying plans for your family’s custom home – invariably, the key factor is finding someone willing to talk to you and figure out exactly what you want.

According to economist Robert Murray, residential construction remains one of the hardest hit areas in the U.S. employment market, seeing only 2% growth in 2011 and just under 8% growth in 2010, most of which was due to an increase in demand for multi-family housing such as condominiums and apartment complexes. But even when faced with such grim development prospects, Paradigm held steady – they built and sold 50 custom homes in 2011, far exceeding expectations for similar construction companies in comparable market areas.

Part of what makes Paradigm stand out is their eye for architectural style – not only are their homes expertly crafted, they are also uniquely suited to each client’s wishes. One stellar example of Jim and Matt’s commitment to their client’s vision is a stunning 12,000 square-foot home in the Two Rivers community of Eagle, Idaho. The home includes custom copper roofing and a full-size basketball court with 26-foot ceilings, all done exactly to the proud homeowner’s specifications.

Jim and Matt have a knack for creating homes that embody Idaho’s gorgeous Treasure Valley perfectly – classically rugged with a polished, elegant finish. Their use of top grade wood and stone is masterful – the signature that makes it a Paradigm home.

If you’d like the opportunity to tour one of Paradigm’s outstanding custom homes, then be sure to join us at the 2012 Spring Parade of Homes, happening May 5 – 20.