FBN Construction Fine remodeling. Custom construction. · advantage of smaller-space units in the city is a prime concern for our clients. For this project, dramatic architecture

FBN ConstructionFine remodeling.

Custom construction.

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A B U S I N E S S M A N A G E M E N T M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E B U I L D I N G I N D U S T R Y

Greater Boston

FBN Construction Fine Remodeling. Custom Construction.

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PROJECT: Condominium Remodel on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MADESIGNER: C & J Katz Studio

“Our 80-year-old house required knowledgeable contractors. FBN Construction is the only contractor we felt comfortable

with. They’re knowledgeable, professional, transparent and honest. We almost wish the job didn’t end.

— BONNIE AND STEVEN CROOPNICK, HOMEOWNERS

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PHOTOGRAPHER: DAN CUTRONA

TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED, underplayed or flat-out forgotten in today’s technology-driven, access-to-everything culture, is the importance of perhaps the most significant aspect of

American business: superior customer service. While it may be part of virtually every business model, customer service is the single driving force behind FBN Construction of Hyde Park. With a particular

concentration on urban renovation and construction projects in down-town Boston, FBN allows and, in fact, urges close client participation in its projects that range from kitchens and baths, complete homebuilding and remodeling to ongoing home care, expert advice and beyond.

“First and foremost, we built our company by listening to clients and hiring the best people to deliver on their vision,” says Bob Ernst,

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LIGHTING: William E. Luce Licensed Electrician, Inc. Glass mirrors: Allstate Glass

The grand staircase was refinished, and the glass railing at the bottom kept the space open and bright.

Custom-built cabinetry accents the marble.

President of FBN Construction. “We conjoin the customer’s ideas and goals with our resources and expertise to provide a finished project that exceeds their expectations while adhering to budget limitations. Since our company’s inception, a transparent, open-book approach to building, remodeling and ongoing home care has always been at the heart of FBN’s goal of providing the utmost in customer service.”

Though not totally confined to downtown Boston, the majority of FBN’s projects involve a large volume of urban remodeling, which further defines the company’s customer service philosophy.

“City projects require an extra measure of attention, as we are working in multifamily buildings with limited space,” Bob says. “Homeowners living in the same building can have very different

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GRANITE COUNTERTOPS: TBR Marble & Granite, Inc.

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“We recently had the pleasure of working with FBN Construction on our bathroom renovation and are beyond thrilled with the results. Our bathroom remodel turned out amazing, and we can’t wait to use FBN on our next project. This was our third renovation project with FBN, and we can’t imagine using anyone else.”— HARRY CAREY, HOMEOWNER

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needs. When confronted with such situations, builders need to employ the most creative architects, interior designers, carpenters, plumbers and painters to achieve the client’s goals within existing boundaries that cannot be expanded as they do when working on a single-family suburban home project. Regardless of constantly changing municipal building codes and building management variables, if the client has a need, it’s our job to take care of it. Fortunately, our staff is highly capable and, most importantly, completely understands the meaning of teamwork and putting the customer’s needs first in order to build on their success as industry professionals.”

The FBN Construction Executive team includes Chris Magliozzi, Clayton Schuller, Peter Griffin, Marc Murray, Larissa Cook and Bob’s partner, Bob Murray.

“Bob and I have been together for over 30 years, and thanks to our staff, we are going stronger than ever,” he says. “Also, keep an eye on Larissa Cook, who knows the company from top to bottom and inside out. I see her as a future company leader.”

FBN Construction employs 34 full-time professionals. Bob Ernst started his first business in 1986, after remodeling

several restaurants. “That’s when I fell in love with the construction business, although I

knew little about its operations,” Bob recalls. He ran his own company for nine years, until he reached a pivotal point

in his career journey. “It was when I met the late John DeShazo and soon after joined the

Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston that things really

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took off. John owned FBN at the time, and we decided to merge our two companies, while retaining the FBN name. Sadly, John passed away in 2011 but had already laid the groundwork for the company to grow. We’ve actually doubled in size since John’s passing. The real beauty of the Builders Association was that it educated John and I on how to run a business, not just how to build. There, we associated with mentors and peers, shared each other’s knowledge, and made lifelong friends.”

Bob is now serving his second year as President of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston.

“I look at my involvement with the association as a way to give back for all that I learned there.”

Bob’s prior experience outside the building field, such as the restaurant, rental car and golf industries, fueled his passion and honed his customer service skills that would one day distinguish FBN Construction.

“Working in those one-on-one, people-to-people situations showed me just how important customer service would be to attain success. I simply segued what I learned then to what I do as a builder,” he says. “Establishing relationships and fostering trust is part of my personality on and off the job.”

Especially on urban projects, architects and interior designers play a crucial role for the company.

“Again, because of the confined space, the architects and designers we partner with must be among the very best,” Bob says. “I’m proud to say that they are. Thanks to their inspired ideas and incredibly clever solutions, we are much more efficient as a company, and our clients are much more satisfied with the results.”

In regard to carpentry, most work is facilitated by FBN staff — with some exceptions, according to Bob.

“We usually perform our own carpentry and finish work, which is a big part of our success because our team has adapted to the urban niche projects we do. On larger jobs, we bring in an extraordinary group of trusted subcontractors who have come to understand our standards and expectations within the urban building environ-ment. We have an excellent relationship with all of our subs, whom I often refer to as ‘partners.’”

Taking customer service to its highest level, FBN “stays on the job” long after the project is completed by leaving behind a comprehensive, printed guide packed with useful information about home maintenance and efficient operation.

“As an added value to our clients, we offer a fact-filled book to assist them in their daily lives as homeowners,” Bob says. “They know they can call FBN for any future needs, from changing a light bulb, cleaning gutters, adding a room or adapting the latest technology to their homes for maximum comfort and efficiency. Additionally, the client who wishes to eventually sell the home can pass the book along to the prospective buyer. This shows the new owner that the home has been properly taken care of, updated and maintained.”

Award-Winning Work » 2015 Silver Prism Award Winner for Best Restoration

» 2015 Gold Prism Award Winner for Best Kitchen

» 2014 Gold Prism Award Winner for Rising Star of Year

» 2014 Gold Prism Award Winner for Best Living Area of a

Private Residence

» 2014 Silver Prism Award Winner for Best Kitchen Renovation

» 2013 Gold Prism Award Winner for Best Bathroom Remodel

» 2005 Builder of the Year

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A beautiful, functional room was added on the lower level.

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PROJECTS THAT PUT THE CLIENT FIRST, EVERY TIMEFBN capitalizes on its vast, niche market experience established

in downtown Boston with an ability to navigate the unique challenges presented by urban building and remodeling.

Condominium Remodel on Commonwealth AvenueThe company performed a complete remodel project on a

traditional style, three-level building. The architect’s challenge was to incorporate modern elements preferred by the clients into the classic structure’s spaces. Most elements were new, but highly skilled painting, refinishing and carpentry were required to bring the classic and contemporary together successfully. On the second f loor, the original large bookcase and surrounding molding required remediation. Using his well-documented skills, Michael Murphy was able to restore the bookcase without having to refinish it.

“As usual, Michael did an outstanding job,” Bob says. “Taking advantage of smaller-space units in the city is a prime concern for our clients. For this project, dramatic architecture with texture and shadow made the tighter spaces work. On the lower level, walls were opened, leading to the basement. Sections of wall were cleverly replaced with glass, a terrific architectural detail from C&J Katz, which featured a curved section of glass on top. It was difficult to achieve with the structural considerations to meet

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PROJECT: Contemporary Remodel on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MABUILDER: FBN Construction

“Having worked with Bob Ernst and FBN Construction as a homeowner and then as designer on several projects, I experienced first-hand their professionalism, attention to detail and passion for fine building. Their crew is dedicated and highly experienced, and their network of industry professionals and tradespeople is well-established. I promise my own clients the finest workmanship. The trust I have with FBN means that I have peace of mind that my designs will translate into a beautiful reality.” — CRAIG TEVOLITZ, DESIGNER AND HOMEOWNER

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code but we were able to pull it off. The glass wall transitioning to the basement permitted light to flow down, making for a more welcoming space.”

“FBN was the perfect fit for this project,” says Elly, the home’s owner. Renovating an older home is full of surprises, as walls and ceilings are opened. Some of these pose challenges, while others offer unexpected opportunities. FBN stays flexible as design decisions necessarily change along the way. Their exper t cra f tsma nship a nd problem-solving skills resulted in the excellent final product. The same goes for our outstanding architect, C&J Katz. They discovered unexpected opportunities and treated each design obstacle as an opportunity to enhance the initial plan.”

Contemporary Remodel on Commonwealth Avenue

Just down the street from the con-dominium remodel on Commonwealth Avenue is an ultra-contemporary con-dominium project in an iconic Boston building, whose structure was weakened due to fire, reconstruction and time. The clients, one of whom wa s a n interior designer, lent many significant ideas to the project’s success.

“Along with one of the homeowners, a team of extraordinarily talented architects, designers and carpenters created a jewel box of a home,” Bob says. “Small spaces dic-tated a creative approach, which involved several hidden doorways and multi-use appointments, such as a TV wall that pivots to hide the device and slides partially away, revealing a hidden bar. The backside of the wall became a separator to a stairwell high-lighted by niches for display while allowing light to enter the space. Going upstairs to the loft bedroom, the spiral of the existing staircase was removed and steel beams and a glass rail were installed to offer a striking view of the entire main unit below. This also brought in natural light through the French doors opening to the balcony.”

Classical Remodel of Neighboring Unit

Located immediately below the con-dominium remodel on Commonwea lth Avenue, t h i s remodel’s present at ion couldn’t be more unlike its upstairs neigh-bor — beautiful 15th century aesthetics are in visual control.

The TV wall pivots to hide the TV and slides partially away, revealing a hidden bar.

The interior of the entrance is papered to

make the bathroom door blend in with the walls for

a more elegant foyer.

The custom bathroom door was crafted by FBN Construction.

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“We think FBN Construction is fabulous! They are conscientious and courteous, and they perform great workmanship. We absolutely plan to

use them again and again on projects both big (hopefully within the next couple of years) and small (which seem to come up quite

often). We definitely recommend them to our friends.— SARAH FLECKNER, HOMEOWNER

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The contemporary upstairs bedroom features glass stair rails to open up the room to the light and space. The glass rail shows views of the downstairs and the street.

The powder room features a unique countertop made of marble by TBR Marble & Granite.

“This was a special job because the project’s foreman also worked on the contemporary job upstairs that was so vastly different,” Bob says. “The client’s primary objective was to develop formal entertainment and dining areas to accommodate business associates. We installed recessed ‘shells’ which vaulted the ceiling for a more open look. An impeccable paint job was completed by a decorative painting professional. We also took advantage of nooks and crannies by creating a ‘disappearing wall’ that pulls out to form an interesting closet space.”

The Mandarin BuildingSited in downtown Boston, this condominium penthouse unit

remodel grew commensurately in size with the client’s appreciation for designer Leslie Fine’s ideas.

“The project started small, but it gradually evolved with Leslie’s problem-solving prowess,” Bob says. “From new soffit lighting, to gorgeous millwork and a complete kitchen and bath redo, our subcontracting partners really shined on this project, especially in the area of plumbing because the fixtures could not be moved. Equally impressive was the multi-depth tile material installed in the bathroom — a unique touch to the home. The tile professionals who were able to perfectly match the surface heights of the tile performed outstanding work.”

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PROJECT: FBN completely renovated this condominium in a beautiful 15th century building on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA.

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“We worked with FBN

Construction on an amazing kitchen

transformation and were very impressed

by their focus and craftsmanship.

They are very motivated and

driven to provide the best possible

solutions for their clients and, from what I observed,

always follow through. It was a

pleasure working with them, and I

hope to do so again in the near future.

— A COLLEAGUE AT G&S INSTALLATIONPH

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PROJECT: A remodeled condominium penthouse in the Mandarin Building, Boston, MA

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“My architectural firm has collaborated with FBN Construction on several projects during the past 10 years. We share the philosophy that working with clients as part of a truly collaborative triad produces the best results. Their work is of the highest quality, and we can always count on them to turn our vision into a beautiful reality. — A COLLEAGUE AT FOLEY FIORE ARCHITECTURE

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FBN Construction is a high-end construction firm that has been a pleasure to work with! Their team approach and attention to detail make it so easy to refer our clients to them without hesitation.— DAVID SHARFF, COLLEAGUE WITH ARCHITECT, P.C.

Elegant bathroomDESIGNER: Leslie Fine Interiors

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Office space with TV

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“FBN has been by far the most professional and organized high-level contractor I have worked with. The extremely complicated project they built with me was completed on time and on budget. All the employees and principals have the right attitude. The tradespeople they collaborate with are A-plus. They are always positive and are excellent problem solvers. I would definitely recommend them to my clients in the future.” — FRANK ROOP, FRANK ROOP DESIGN INTERIORS

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Rowes Wharf Waterfront CondominiumsThis kitchen and bath remodel took place in a condo in one of

Boston’s most revered marine settings, where FBN has worked for 13 years.

“We have one foreman in particular with whom we joke, ‘he should just live there because he’s done so many projects at Rowes Wharf,” Bob says. “All kidding aside, he is a very talented foreman and supervisor who has built a tremendous relationship with building management, which makes our job much easier. We strive to be good neighbors to both building management and the building’s residents, and we go the extra mile to affect them as little as possible.”

The project entailed a kitchen update-remodel which was partially completed years ago.

“We worked with designer Rosemary Porto who has a real knack for creating the right style, finding the right product and pulling it all together using her very special design sense,” Bob says.

The bathroom was also redone to mimic the feel of the new kitchen. “Here, we moved partitions, jogged walls and created a decidedly different space for the client,” Bob notes.

FBN is known for its services rendered beyond the borders of downtown Boston, as well.

“Kitchen remodels are a major part of our business,” Bob says. “We work with common stock cabinets as well as sophisticated

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PROJECT: Rowes Wharf Waterfront Condominium, Boston, MA

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PROJECT: New custom cabinetry and a total remodel to update the bathroom

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This cherry kitchen with dark green counters belied the size and openness of the space in this newer home in Lexington. In addition, a few poorly placed partitions and a generally bad layout made the space cumbersome for a large and growing family. The palette and even the workmanship dated the kitchen, leaving a mid-1980s building-boom-era feel — not necessarily our industry’s finest and most creative time.

Taking advantage of the natural light and creating a central and accessible platform for family communication as well as plenty of working space for preparation and serving of meals required a considerate layout and implementation. With a new baby on the way, the homeowners’ need to make timely decisions and quick adjustments was paramount. In addition — and not so evident from the pictures herewith — the need for maintaining clean air and a minimal level of inconvenience to the expectant mother and other family members was important. This required constructing a serviceable and relatively complete temporary kitchen in the finished basement, utilizing the removed cabinets, counters and appliances and temporary utility hookups, while paying attention to budget considerations.

The design intent was to incorporate multiple textures and finishes so the newly opened large space was not cold and expansive, but warm and welcoming — an area in which everyone was comfortable. Mixing the materials and their respective properties of dimension and interaction, as well as the manner in which they transitioned seamlessly, required collaborative problem-solving among the homeowners and design and building teams to manage priorities achieve desired outcomes.

PHOTOGRAPHER: ERIC ROTH

PHOTOGRAPHER: ERIC ROTH

PROJECT: Lexington, MABUILDER: FBN ConstructionINTERIOR DESIGNER: Daher Interior Design

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PROJECT: West Newton kitchen redesign — winner of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston’s Best Kitchen Remodel at the 2015 PRISM AwardsINTERIOR DESIGNER: Vani Sayeed StudiosBUILDER: FBN ConstructionThe cluttered and claustrophobic kitchen in the heart of a family home in Newton needed updating and creative solutions to make it more functional. Taking advantage of every inch of space and keeping it open and bright was paramount to making this happen. Exacting measurements and technical installation of the various cabinets and shelving components created extra storage space and got things off the counter. Great layout and clean lines allow for a modern and aesthetically pleasing look. Small details such as the “routed-in” drain board, hidden appliance garages, and the narrow but voluminous cabinetry for the

bar area gets rid of clutter and enhances the kitchen’s aesthetic appeal. Removing dated tile and matching the hardwood floor levels with the existing rest of the house helped integrate the kitchen into the design intent of the house as a whole. New LED lighting throughout the kitchen mimics daylight and makes for a bright space that is easy to work in and doesn’t cast shadows on work spaces. The backsplash is pure white Thassos glass tile that bounces light around the room. Because kitchen sinks are often placed beneath windows, Sayeed created an internal window above the sink with a view into the family room. Despite the narrow parameters within FBN Construction worked, everything fit.

A built-in banquette offers cozy and comfortable seating around a custom-designed, steel-base white oak breakfast table and includes spacious under-storage. Metallic finish on the wood in the bar area adds warmth and the appearance of more space.

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“FBN Construction is a truly exceptional

business. As an interior designer

in the Boston area, I’ve had

the pleasure of working with

them on several projects,” says designer Vani

Sayeed. “They are consummate

professionals—honest,

intelligent and great to

collaborate with. They have a

fantastic attitude entering every

project and dealing with

every challenge.”

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custom cabinets, depending on the client’s preferences. At a home in Lexington, for example, the job was to merge contemporary with traditional styles into what we call ‘transitional’ and develop an end product that works well aesthetically and functionally for the family. In Newton, we did a kitchen remodel for homeowners who were so impressed that they have us now working on another part of their home.”

Bob reflects on his career — and future — as straightforwardly as he operates his business and relates to his customers.

“Aside from working with exceedingly talented people, I’m most proud conducting FBN Construction in the same way I live my life — openly, honestly and respectfully.”

FBN Construction is located at 17 Wolcott Court, Hyde Park, MA. For more information, call 617-333-6800 or visit fbnconstruction.com. n

“If there is one thing you are lucky to find it’s a good contractor. When I found FBN I felt as though I had won the lottery! For the past six months I have been working with FBN and haven’t stopped raving about them. They are truly in a league of their own. I’ve never met people who are so consistently reliable, responsible, timely, detail oriented and knowledgeable.” — MARJORY BOHLIN

Mandarin Building, Boston, MA Mandarin Building, Boston, MA

PROJECT: A remodel of a condominium penthouse in the Mandarin Building, Boston, MA BUILDER: FBN ConstructionINTERIOR DESIGNER: Leslie Fine

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Continued from p. 27

Reprinted from Greater Boston Builder+Architect

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Documents

FBN Construction Fine remodeling. Custom construction. · advantage of smaller-space units in the city is a prime concern for our clients. For this project, dramatic architecture